The Off Season

Murdock, Catherine. The Off Season. Dairy Queen Series, Book 2. 2007. 277p. ISBN 0618686959. FIC MUR on the library shelves.

This hilarious yet heartbreaking story continues the tale of D.J. Schwenk and her family. In Dairy Queen, D.J. joined the football team and became a starter linebacker for the Red Bend High school team. She still has feelings for Brian Nelson, the rival quarterback from Hawley, and she’s still in charge of many of the dairy farm’s operations.

As her junior begins, D.J. realizes that she stands out more than her usual 6 feet self used to, now that she’s a football star. Kids who wouldn’t giver her the light of day at school are now talking to her, which she finds weird because she doesn’t like to attract attention to herself. All everyone can talk about is how she intercepted Brian Nelson’s pass during a pre-season scrimmage, and their hope she will repeat the exploit during the biggest game of the year.

D.J. is still trying to figure out who she is, and what she really wants, however, as is her brother Curtis. In 8th grade, he has a girlfriend and they are working on scientific experiments together, instead of playing football as his father would like. D.J. stands up to a freshman’s bullies and gets suspended from football, which lets everyone down. The farm is facing financial difficulties, and her best friend Amber is a lesbian and dating an older girl called Dale.

All of these problems pale in comparison to what happens to her older brother Will when, as quarterback for the University of Washington, he is tackled and breaks his spine. Now confined to a wheelchair and lacking the will to live, D.J. is Will’s only hope at recovery, but only if she can help herself first.