by
3.36 of 5 stars
In Senior Year, Dan Shaughnessy focuses his acclaimed sportswriting talent on his son Sam and whether his final high school baseball season will en... read full description

reviews

Jul 19, 2011
Christine rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Shaughnessy writes about the impact that sports had on his life, from an early age and weaves in parts of his son's story along the way. Written well with humor, I wonder if perhaps it was too much too soon. He seems to be trying to strike a balance between analyzing his love of sports and baseball and all it did for his life and career, against the interest of his son. Any good kid would be hard pressed to want to intentionally disappoint a loving parent, and Dan certainly makes clear he doe More...
Feb 28, 2009
Lee Ann rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Thanks to the Dan Patrick show I often hear Dan Shaughnessy on the radio. I find him to be funny and interesting (even if he is a Red Sox fan). Because of the DP Show, I decided to give "Senior Year" a go. I also happen to love books about baseball, and sports is an interest I too share with my dad. All in all, it was a nice read and very much enjoyed. Baseball lovers should read this one.

Thank you Mr. Shaugnessy for letting us into your life. Although, I do wonde More...
Jul 26, 2007
Marie added it
I loved this book for so many reasons. My daughter is a dancer and not a baseball player but I sure could appreciate looking over the past years and thinking of all the practices, competions, dancers and familes that are part of my life and soon will not be. I will gladly give up waiting for the college acceptances, that was so nerve wracking!! Going through Senior year was not what I had expected, too many ups and downs. Like Dan, I too recived the warni More...
Aug 01, 2011
David rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I loved this book. I don't know why I didn't rate it five stars, maybe one day I'll go back and change that. I've heard from prominent teachers that they all have books that they are unwilling to share with their classes (even though they have an enormous desire to promote reading), and this will be the the book for me. I never thought I would keep a book all to myself (or in this case between me and my dad), but this one is it for me.
Feb 04, 2009
Kara rated it: 2 of 5 stars
I enjoyed the first 2 chapters very much. They made me cry and laugh, but the rest of the book was dissappointing. While the father certainly had a passion for baseball, the son lacked a love of the game. It seemed that his success with the bat and the attention he got from that was more important to him than the comaraderie of the team, the senior year bonding, or the game of baseball itself. It left me empty at the end. I couldn't relate to this kid at all.
Mar 12, 2008
Karen & Gerard rated it: 2 of 5 stars
Senior Year is nonfiction about Dan Shaughnessy's (Boston sports writer) son's Senior Year and the stress he as a parent had. It gives insight into a parent's feelings and thoughts about raising a senior. The son was a ballplayer and the dad was very much into watching his games and hoping he would get a sports scholarship for college. The father often compares his son's actions and events to his own memories from when he was that age. It covers the following issues: grades, driving, prom, More...
Nov 17, 2009
Lisa rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Loved this book. I remember Dan from high school, always smiling and busy going place to place, person to person. It was fun to read about the people and places I'd known growing up, almost like being there. Not being a sports fan, I would glaze over reading the technical descriptions of games, but this book was heartfelt and a wonderful read.
Jan 10, 2009
Joe rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Good book by well known sportswriter and kid kids senior year in High school, parenting, role of sports in fatherhood etc...
Dec 19, 2008
Daigo rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Awesome book with tons of good baseball quotes. I'd like to re-read it when my son gets older...
Sep 16, 2007
Brian rated it: 2 of 5 stars
This was an OK read about a father describing his son's senior year of high school and comparing it to his own senior year some thirty or so years earlier. The book is centered around the son's high school baseball team in a suburb of Boston. The author is a sports writer for the Boston Globe.

There were some definite "truisms" and interesting points made by the author in comparing how things used to be back in the 1970's versus how things are today - I could identify wi More...
May 17, 2011
Brendan rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Not bad. Not great. Good solid 3 stars. Hit home in a lot of ways.
Oct 24, 2007
Donald rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Never as good as I wanted it to be. Not as funny, not as touching, not even as much baseball as I expected. It was a good glimpse into the author's family life, though, and what sports means to a small New England town. The writing wasn't even as engaging as I expected. Dan Shaughnessy seems to have just knocked this one off in between other writing gigs.
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Apr 01, 2009
Gina rated it: 3 of 5 stars
If you graduated from Newton North High School you should read this book. Yes ladies, its about fathers/sons and baseball but it's still worth it. A really quick read that will bring you back to the halls of NNHS.
Jul 29, 2008
Maura rated it: 3 of 5 stars
This book was very quick and more fun to read if you have played or coached in the Bay State League in Boston. It also makes seeing Dan Shaugnessy's son play baseball more interesting. If you like baseball and live in Massachusetts, I would recommend it.
Dec 16, 2009
Hillary rated it: 3 of 5 stars
More about parenthood and father-son relationships than baseball, which is good because baseball is not one of my favorite topics for reading. but mr. shaughnessy's book makes the baseball language extremely accessible to the non-baseball fan.
Jul 17, 2010
Scott rated it: 3 of 5 stars
High school reunion coming up, seemed appropriate. Good summer read
Sep 17, 2008
Scott rated it: 4 of 5 stars
A great father/son look that any parent can relate to, regardless of a baseball appreciation. It helps, but isn't necessary.
Jun 29, 2008
Art rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I am a sucker for anything Shaughnessy writes. Especially recommended for parents of athletes.
Jan 30, 2012
Steve rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Jan 15, 2012
Lexie rated it: 2 of 5 stars
Nov 28, 2011
Jeff rated it: 2 of 5 stars
Nov 18, 2011
Betsy rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Jan 17, 2012
John rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Oct 20, 2011
Sarah rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Oct 14, 2011
Kelly rated it: 2 of 5 stars
Sep 18, 2011
Frank rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Aug 29, 2011
Dominick is currently reading it
Aug 11, 2011
Pauliec33 rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Jul 26, 2011
Brian rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Jul 25, 2011
Anne-Marie added it