Life is looking up for D. J. Schwenk, star of Dairy Queen. Shes ever had to before.
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Feb 04, 2011
Flannery
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I love DJ Schwenk. I love that she is realistic, she isn't perfect, and a lot of the time, she has no idea what to say. This book picks up where Dairy Queen left off--DJ is playing football on her high school's team, sort of seeing the rival team's quarterback, and trying to keep her family's farm going. In the first book, I became comfortable with DJ, her family, and the entire cast of secondary characters. They actually feel like actual people and it was delightful to see the continuation of t
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Aug 22, 2011
Megan
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The Off Season is a solid follow up to Dairy Queen. We follow D.J. Schwenk into her junior year of high school as she continues to balance school, family demands and of course Brian Nelson. In Dairy Queen D.J. spent a lot of time figuring out who she is and who she wants to be. In this second installment D.J. applies the knowledge she learned over the summer. The Off Season resolves a lot of issues left up in the air at the end of Dairy Queen and shows even more what a motivated, hardworking, aw
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Feb 27, 2011
D.J. is back at it again in the sequel to Dairy Queen, The Off Season. Things are finally on the upside for D.J. She is friends again with Amber and even Amber’s girlfriend Dale, and she is still sort of dating cutie quarterback Brian Nelson. She couldn’t be more happier than playing football for Red Bend and the guys actually accept her as part of the team.
But as we know, D.J.’s life has been anything but easy. She injures her shoulder during practice and has to decide between conti More...
But as we know, D.J.’s life has been anything but easy. She injures her shoulder during practice and has to decide between conti More...
Jan 11, 2009
Jaemi
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I loved Dairy Queen, so I was very eager to read The Off Season. It took a lot of turns I didn't expect, which makes it hard for me to review it, because as always I don't want to spoil the surprises for anyone else.
Picking up essentially where we left off, D.J. has passed sophomore English and is good to go with football. The team is totally psyched to have her. Unfortunately, not all that far into things, a certain situation at school puts that all in jeopardy. Add to it a physical More...
Picking up essentially where we left off, D.J. has passed sophomore English and is good to go with football. The team is totally psyched to have her. Unfortunately, not all that far into things, a certain situation at school puts that all in jeopardy. Add to it a physical More...
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Aug 08, 2008
Rhonda
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Sometimes, after a successful first novel, its sequel may fall flat. This certainly is not true in the case of Catherine Gilbert Murdock's sequel to Dairy Queen. In The Off Season, we find D.J. Schwenk coping with even more challenges than ever, many of which could topple someone twice her age. While we know that D.J. has real style and substance, this time we find her to be more of a hero than ever. Once again, she rises to the occasion, providing the stability for her injured brother to move o
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Jun 02, 2010
kari
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This sequel to Dairy Queen is as good, if not better, than the first book . DJ isn't as confused or silently angry in this one as she was in the first. She has begun a tentative relationship with Brian, the star quarterback from her high school's rival team. They both make some mistakes along the way, purposely or otherwise.
DJ takes on a great deal of responisibility when one of her older brother's has a devastating injury and she finds strength in herself she wasn't expecting.
I rea More...
DJ takes on a great deal of responisibility when one of her older brother's has a devastating injury and she finds strength in herself she wasn't expecting.
I rea More...
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Mar 05, 2009
Kara
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Wonderful! But I want to know what happens after the book ends. Ms. Murdock will you please write another book?
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Mar 13, 2009
Steph Su
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As far as debut novels go, it’s hard to top Murdock’s DAIRY QUEEN, a winning combination of wit and heart, love and loss. But incredibly, she succeeds with its sequel, THE OFF SEASON. It is everything her first book is, and more.
As quite possibly the first girl in her state ever to be on her high school football team, D.J. Schwenk has been getting a lot of attention and publicity lately, and she doesn’t want any of it… particularly as she fears it will make her something-or-other frien More...
As quite possibly the first girl in her state ever to be on her high school football team, D.J. Schwenk has been getting a lot of attention and publicity lately, and she doesn’t want any of it… particularly as she fears it will make her something-or-other frien More...
Jan 27, 2009
Teen
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Review: “The Off Season” comes to life when D.J. gets accepted by her high school’s football coach and players as a starter. D.J. proves herself on the field during their first preseason game against rival Hawley, when D.J. scores after intercepting a pass thrown by her tentative boyfriend Brian (see review for Dairy Queen). Finally, a girl can ride the waves of adulation football players receive. D.J.’s even trying to stay on top of her homework this year. The entire Schwenk family enjoy
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Jan 25, 2012
Kaitlin
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The Off Season was a bit of a disappointment after having read Dairy Queen, the first book in the trilogy. The story takes place in the small town of Red Bend, Wisconsin. The book is written in the first person by D.J.(Darlene Joyce)Schwenk , the main character and heroine. D.J. is distinctive because she is the only female football player on her team. Unfortunately, D.J. has to make an important decision regarding continuing to play. That part of the story was compelling as was the other d
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Jan 14, 2012
Book Concierge
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Book on CD performed Natalie Moore
4****
Things are looking up for D.J. Schwenk (who first appeared in Murdock’s Dairy Queen). She’s doing well in her junior year of high school, playing on the boy’s football team, and looking forward to a great season of basketball. Her relationship with Brian Nelson, quarterback on the rival high school’s football team, seems to be warming up as well. But there’s trouble on the horizon and D J will have to dig deep to find the strength to manage e More...
4****
Things are looking up for D.J. Schwenk (who first appeared in Murdock’s Dairy Queen). She’s doing well in her junior year of high school, playing on the boy’s football team, and looking forward to a great season of basketball. Her relationship with Brian Nelson, quarterback on the rival high school’s football team, seems to be warming up as well. But there’s trouble on the horizon and D J will have to dig deep to find the strength to manage e More...
Oct 05, 2011
Kristen
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 16, 2011
Barky
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May 24, 2010
Arlene
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The Off Season by Catherine Gilbert Murdock is such a great book in so many ways. I loved it! Just loved it!
D.J. Schwenk is truly a hug-worthy and all-around awe-inspiring character. Her self-less acts and sincere motives had me applauding her efforts and truly moved at the sacrifices she made for her family and those she loved. Regardless of the hard hits she took, D.J. proved to be a fighter and came out winning in the end IMO.
About the book… D.J. Schwenk is having More...
D.J. Schwenk is truly a hug-worthy and all-around awe-inspiring character. Her self-less acts and sincere motives had me applauding her efforts and truly moved at the sacrifices she made for her family and those she loved. Regardless of the hard hits she took, D.J. proved to be a fighter and came out winning in the end IMO.
About the book… D.J. Schwenk is having More...
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Jul 01, 2010
Sue
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This is the second in a series and I definitely have to back and read the first part. This is a coming of age story where D.J. becomes the most adult of everyone. Her parents are struggling with finances, her older brother gets injured in a football game and her younger brother (the brains of the family) wins a science contest, but can’t tell anyone about it.
D.J. can’t figure out her relationship with Brian the star quarterback from her schools rival team. Does he like her or not? More...
D.J. can’t figure out her relationship with Brian the star quarterback from her schools rival team. Does he like her or not? More...
May 22, 2010
~Tina~
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The Off Season is the follow-up sequel to the inspirational book Diary Queen. I didn't think it was possible, but this book was even better then the first!
Things aren't going to well for D.J lately. With the lack of money coming in the farm, D.J has to make a decision that will break her heart. Even though things are looking up for her and her best friend Amber, some other things are falling apart. Now, D.J has to struggle and find a way to over come tragic times for her family and f More...
Things aren't going to well for D.J lately. With the lack of money coming in the farm, D.J has to make a decision that will break her heart. Even though things are looking up for her and her best friend Amber, some other things are falling apart. Now, D.J has to struggle and find a way to over come tragic times for her family and f More...
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Jun 27, 2009
Kim (magicsandwiches)
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The day after reading Dairy Queen, I discovered there was a sequel! Oh joy to the world! I forced my husband to take me to Borders (on our way to a party for which we were already late) so I could buy it. Now, I don't just go out and buy books. A book has to be tried and tested before it takes up valuable space on my bookshelf, but I was obsessed. Also, my library didn't have the sequel and I had to have it NOW. After faking my way through an evening of conversations (I didn't want to talk to re
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Jun 08, 2009
Adele
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It wasn't until I was a fair way into this novel that I realised how invested I was in Win and the rest of the Schwenk family. DJ's older brothers, Win and Bill, had been peripheral characters for Dairy Queen and with Win's injury, I realised how much I had bought into the concept of this family that worked a dairy.
The Off Season picks up from where we left off. DJ's successfully integrated into the Red Bend football team, re-established her friendship with Amber, secretly (kinda) d More...
The Off Season picks up from where we left off. DJ's successfully integrated into the Red Bend football team, re-established her friendship with Amber, secretly (kinda) d More...
Jan 29, 2012
kb
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Sad news: I didn't quite find this sequel as enjoying as the previous book. I got engaged, yes, but that didn't necessarily mean I was entertained. It was like I just wanted to get on with it and find out what all happened between DJ and Brian (his maybe boyfriend and Dale and Amber (the maybe-lesbian couples), to DJ's dad's hips and her mom's fitness goals, to DJ's brothers if they were ever making a cameo (they did - in fact, that made up half of the book and most of the story). DJ was as self
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Apr 01, 2011
Isamlq
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This was better than Dairy Queen! It still has a simple story. DJ, is still the straight talking, funny girl that she was in DQ… only this time around she has to deal with a whole lot more than playing football. Especially, with her older brothers in the picture and later Brian showing a different side.
What I like about these books are their simplicity and humor. Simple because at their core, they really just are about relationships, family, boys… brothers and friends. It’s the hum More...
What I like about these books are their simplicity and humor. Simple because at their core, they really just are about relationships, family, boys… brothers and friends. It’s the hum More...
Nov 25, 2011
Lauren
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Much like tryouts for the Red Bend High School football team, this sequel to Dairy Queen cuts the bad of the first book and improves upon the good. I liked Dairy Queen, but I adored The Off Season (and I’m skipping a plot summary to avoid giving away anything for either book). D.J.’s voice is much more consistent, and her logic and voice reminded me much more of a sixteen-year-old girl this time around. All in all, I found this one of the better YA books I’ve read in a long while. I loved that D
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May 09, 2011
Ariel
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Never have I ever wanted to hug a character in a book as much as I want to hug DJ Schwenk. I think one of the most frustrating parts of reading YA as an adult is reading a well-done portrayal of a teenage girl who is awesome but just can't tell yet. I just want to create an "It Gets Better" campaign for fictional characters, because reading about DJ and girls and guys like her flashes me back to the terrifying time when you have no idea what to do, but you know that the decision you
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Dec 02, 2009
Anna
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I read this a couple of days after finishing Dairy Queen so I went into this with some momentum. I felt like the beginning of the book dragged and I even remembered sort of asking myself Did I really want to read this? but then it picked up again and I sort of fell into the rhythm of Murdock's writing style and D.J.'s voice. I think D.J. is a great, strong female character. I like that she faces challenges and reacts in what I think are often very unselfish ways. But this book was full of challe
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Sep 03, 2010
Vanessa
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This is the second book in the Dairy Queen Series. By this point I am totally in love with D.J. and Brian. The author has given D.J. such a great voice.
This was a really great book. Not as good a Dairy Queen but still really great. It's hard for me to distinguish specific things in this book's plot because I read all three book in about a day and half so they all kind of run together in my mind. I can say this, these books definitely got me ready for football season! Go Broncos (Denver More...
This was a really great book. Not as good a Dairy Queen but still really great. It's hard for me to distinguish specific things in this book's plot because I read all three book in about a day and half so they all kind of run together in my mind. I can say this, these books definitely got me ready for football season! Go Broncos (Denver More...
Mar 29, 2010
Laura
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Following up the charming Dairy Queen, The Off Season follows Wisconsin milk farmer and football linebacker D.J. Schwank in her junior year of high school. The book begins where Dairy Queen left off–D.J. is kicking butt for the varsity football team, her flirty friendship with rival quarterback Brian Nelson continues on its upswing and her family life on the farm seems to be going well. But when things get tough (and they do, they really go) D.J. has to reevaluate everything and struggle to
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Jul 13, 2011
Say
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as usual d.j. has a lot of things going on with her life in this book. with her on the football team, and playing against brian and of course the accident that happened with her brother, win which i think made a great impact and change on the schwenk household.
the thing that i love about this series, is that it sticks with the truth....meaning what is happening with d.j's life actually happens in real life. and what i liked about d.j. is she has the guts to face it, especially the More...
the thing that i love about this series, is that it sticks with the truth....meaning what is happening with d.j's life actually happens in real life. and what i liked about d.j. is she has the guts to face it, especially the More...
Jun 07, 2011
Erin
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After reading The Dairy Queen, I was pretty excited to read this book. I really loved the first one; it was authentic, unique, and even touching at times. I think this one was also all of those things, but in my opinion it just fell short of the first book.
DJ is still the same hard-working girl we met in the first book. She's learned to communicate, thanks in part to Brian, but she still has a long ways to go. This becomes clear when her relationship with Brian becomes romantic in na More...
DJ is still the same hard-working girl we met in the first book. She's learned to communicate, thanks in part to Brian, but she still has a long ways to go. This becomes clear when her relationship with Brian becomes romantic in na More...
Nov 26, 2007
Molly
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I enjoyed this sequel to Dairy Queen way more than the original. I was actually sort of hesitant to read the follow up but I'm glad I did. The writing is clear and uncomplicated, even though the character's lives often are not. For fans of the first, this is a must. For those new to the series, I recommend this to anyone who enjoys books with strong female leads who handle tough situations with ease.
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Dec 16, 2011
Rach
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This book was even more captivating than the first in the series. For one, we already know and love DJ, so everything we learned about her in this one just proved even more how awesome she is. DJ doesn't have the easiest life, which she freely admits, but I think we both realize that the things she has gone through have only made her stronger and more of a fighter. Though Brian is well-meaning, the ease of his life hasn't made him really have to fight for anything until that summer, and even tha
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Jan 14, 2011
Riley
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Living the life of a farm girl and always having to take care of others, D.J. Schwenk soon realizes that this is what she does best, besides basketball and football. I just finished reading the book The Off season by Catherine Murdock. It is the second book after the Dairy Queen and I really liked it.
D.J. Schwenk has found herself having to make a huge decision when her brother Win is extremely injured during a football game. Her mind starts to scramble about what to do: Does she go help More...
D.J. Schwenk has found herself having to make a huge decision when her brother Win is extremely injured during a football game. Her mind starts to scramble about what to do: Does she go help More...
