Play Ball Hardcover – May 8, 2012

My daughter loved this book.

It's no home run, but the batter connected with the ball, and it's going to take some clever fielding to hold the runner down to a double.But Coach is right about that (page 21): baseball isn't about a star hitter knocking them out of the park on every at-bat, it's about what a whole team can do if they hit, run and field.Dashiell Brody and her sister Arica are trying to deal with reality: the reality of a new school (and one with boys, at that), the reality of their father's absence, the reality of the many changes in their lifestyle (they've pretty clearly come down in the world).Arica approaches reality as best she knows how, trying to fit in, find a place for her in the social order. Dashiell decides to make her own reality by trying out for the baseball team (she's played softball -- now she's ready for REAL baseball). Various adults and students are agin' it, of course, but she gets to try out*, she makes the team*, she earns the respect of hostile teammates and adults*, the team has a great season and goes to the championships*.*Also of course.It is all a little bit "of course", I'm afraid. I expect it's hard to write a baseball story that deviates very far from this formula. But it's a swell ride, and it is still satisfying to see skeptics converted, soreheads punished and virtue triumphant -- at least on the playing field.Along the way, Dashiell, Arica and their mother confront other realities they can't remake, some they can't even influence, the hardest being the understanding that Dad isn't calling simply because it's not important to him.But they have each other, Arica has her friends (and a boyfriend), Dashiell has the game (and a friend who is a boy), and hey, just wait 'til next year.

De Filippis and Weir are solid storytellers, and this is one of the only graphic novels I've found centered on sports. Dashiell and her sister Arica are at a new school, and this one has a championship-level baseball team. Good news for Dashiell, a talented softball player... until the inevitable drama arises because she's a girl playing on a "boys" team. While Arica's trying to fit in, Dashiell's making waves. Add in some boy-girl drama, and everything gets a little complicated. But it's all okay in the end! The characters and the story are sweet and satisfying even though the story doesn't have much surprise factor.

Play ball by: Christina weirThis book is about a girl who moved to a different school. she wanted to play baseball at her new school they told to play softball but she said it was too girly for her. She had to show them she could play baseball with the boys. They let her play on the team because she was one of the best one. they were winning a lot of games intell one game they lost. The team that won was telling them stuff so they wanted a rematch. they played and beat them. When they went back to school every body was cheering for them.They were the best ones out of the school. What i think was the best part when they beat the guys that had beat them.The part that i did not like was at first they were not going to let her because she was a girl. I think kids my age will like this book as much as i do.By:Clarissa.Y.

This is my third experience with the graphic novel-writing team of DeFilippis and Weir. Previously, I read some Amazing Agent Luna and the first volume of The Avalon Chronicles. Although Play Ball was pretty cute, it's definitely my least favorite of the bunch.The story was definitely sweet, and I appreciate the feminist element. The plot line may sound vaguely familiar to anyone who saw A League of Their Own, which is also about women playing baseball, although not a high school girl on a boy's team. Take that movie and add a soupcon of She's the Man. You've pretty much got Play Ball.That's the real issue I had with this. It doesn't do anything new or innovative. From the opening chapters, I knew EXACTLY what was going to happen. And I was right about every bit of it. I do want to offer props though for the fact that Dashiell (who is awesome for wanting to go by a unique name) has a male best friend, with whom she didn't have to have any sexual tension. So glad when pop culture doesn't subscribe to the When Harry Met Sally mentality, even though I love that movie.The art for Play Ball also really didn't work for me. When reading something graphic, the art is often a clincher on my enjoyment level, because, well, it's kind of the point. It's not terrible, and might appeal to some, but I preferred the look of The Avalon Chronicles myself.Play Ball is a sweet, fun, fast read that I recommend to people who feel like a quick dose of girl power.

Thanks, great condition!

This was a good surprise. It could be the plot for a movie. Nice story, nice characters, nice reading. Drawings need a little bit of improvement, but they are nice.