Two Hot Dogs with Everything

by Paul Haven

The Sluggers are a baseball team whose past is filled with hundreds of defeats and near misses. Year after year, they play the kind of baseball that challenges the most faithful of fans. But when it comes to Slugger supporters, there’s a whole other category. Die-hard fans who rely on elaborate superstitions to support their team. Fans like Danny Gurkin.
When Danny and his friends learn that a mansion with ties to the Sluggers’ history is slated to be demolished, they make a desperate pilgrimage to see what can be done to save it. There Danny uncovers a flavor of gum created by the original team owner, a 19th-century bubblegum tycoon. Danny helps himself to a few packs and discovers that chewing the gum gives him the ability to alter the Sluggers’ future. But Danny’s secret comes at a price and before long he’s in hot water with just about anyone who has a stake in the game.

Genres: Sports, Fiction, Middle Grade, Baseball, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Paul Haven is a veteran foreign correspondent and the author of two children's novels, "Two Hot Dogs With Everything" and "The Seven Keys of Balabad." A native of New York City, he has worked for The Associated Press around the world, including postings in Venezuela, Colombia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Spain. He has covered the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and most recently reported on Haiti's devastating 2010 earthquake. He is currently the news cooperative's chief of bureau in Havana, Cuba, where he lives with his wife and two children.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sure to entertain baseball fans and fans of The Candy Shop War. Since both are applicable in my case, I found this irresistable. The Sluggers are a fantastically down-on-their-luck (and possibly cursed) baseball team much like the Red Sox were until recently. Still, in spite of their grumbling, the residents of the town remain loyal and hopeful in the same desperate, devoted way that Chicagoans are all too familiar with. The biggest fan of all is Danny Gurkin, who has a superstition and ritual attached to nearly everything related to game day, including the two hot dogs from the title. To anyone other than a fanatical baseball fan, this might seem strange--but to Danny's family and friends, it's what needs to be done. A sudden reversal that may or may not have to do with the ball club's mysterious deceased owner gets Danny in hot water with his friends, celebrated by the community at large, and lands the Sluggers in the playoffs. Will the luck hold, though---and if the Sluggers do win it all, what might be the cost? Does any of this have to do with the shortstop that disappeared just before the curse? All of these questions are answered in this humorous story of luck, loyalty, and baseball. Although the characters could be a little more nuanced, the plot is a page-turner, and people who know a little something about baseball will deeply appreciate the detail taken with the game scenes and the affectionate jabs at superstition and the unmatched obsession of the true fan.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every sports fan has their own beliefs and superstitions to their favorite sports team and how they perform due to certain beliefs. Author Paul Haven properly demonstrates the situations and mindsets that young boys go through when involving their sports teams. Will the main characters superstitious ways pay off and help lead his favorite team to victory, or will all his ways not pay off in the end and be left for nothing in the end?

The author Haven uses a very interesting style of writing. His style of writing is very powerful and interesting. He talks about the mysterious ways of the superstitions that Danny uses, and shows the effects that they had on Danny’s favorite team the Sluggers. The specific examples used in the book make a connection with me and the superstitions that I use when my favorite baseball team the Brewers play. I do certain things every game that causes me to believe that they will win if I do each specific thing correctly before each game.

Every sports fan would enjoy this book. This book does a great job of perfecting the ballpark feel of baseball. From the smell of hotdogs and sauerkraut, to popcorn and pretzels the book makes you feel like you are at the stadium.

[Trevor W]

Chapters 1-6 review,

Danny is a big fan of the Sluggers. The sluggers are on a losing streak and Danny doesn't know why. Maybe because he left the window open, or put something wrong on top of his hot dog. Nobody knows what is going on with the Sluggers. Danny and his friends decide to bike to a mansion where clues could be. They take a tour there and find raspberry gum. When Danny got home he went to his room, turned on the radio, and to his suprise the radio said, "The Sluggers end their losing streak." Danny was so surprised that the Sluggers won. His whole family thought it was them that made the Sluggers win. For example Danny thinks it's because of the gum they found at the mansion. Danny's brother thinks it's because he finally watched the game. Danny's Mom thinks it was her because she cleaned the dishes. Nobody knows what it was but something must have happened.

So far I'm really enjoying this book. It's very entertaining and exciting. I recommend this book to all ages.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Hot Dogs with Everything is an exiting book. The setting takes place in a town that has a baseball team, the Sluggers. Danny, telling the story, is a huge Sluggers fan along with his friends,Molly and Lucas. But, the Sluggers aren't winning any games.Then, Molly discovers that the original Slugger's owners's mansion is going to be torn down. Quickly, Danny, Molly, and Lucas bike to the Sluggers Mansion. When there they get a tour from an old, strange man. When there, Danny brings some bubble gum home. During the Sluggers game that night, Danny starts to eat the gum and the Sluggers go on a winning streak.

This book was very good. One of the reasons I liked it was because sometimes there is always a way to be good. The writing in this book is effective and powerful. The strengths are the mystery about the gum and how Danny will try to do anything to help the sluggers. I would recommend this book to a classmate because it is a fun book to read. I would love if this book was in a series.

[Charlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danny Gurkin is the down-trodden Sluggers baseball team's biggest fan. Danny's family has a history of strong support for the hometown team, but Danny believes the success of the team is totally dependent on him and the luck he creates by eating two hot dogs with everything before every game, by crossing and uncrossing his legs, by holding a pencil above his lips and other superstitions that Danny has worked into a fine science. But if the team is cursed can he really undo that? It all depends upon a history between two brothers, a caretaker of a mansion, some bubblegum, and Danny's own faith. This is a humorous take on baseball and superstitions and what it really takes to be a winner. And I tried to ignore the stereotypical wealthy Texans in the book who try to put an end to the Sluggers' good luck so the Texas Tornadoes can take control of the World Series.

[Trevor L.]

This is for chapters 1-6

The sluggers go on a two game losing streak and no one knows why is it because something is on his hot dog that should't be or is it just because how their playing no one knows. The can the sluggers come back and win two games right off the bat. One day Danny and a few of his friends thought it would be a good Idea to bike to the west bubble. When Danny got home from the west bubble he noticed it was two and a half hours later then he had told his mom he would get home. Is the consequence going to be bad danny is thinking in his head.

Read the book to find out.

[Tracie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Danny Gurkin spends year after year rooting for his hometown team the Sluggers. Danny is also convinced they win only if he follows an exhausting list of superstitions the most important of which is eating two hotdogs with everything before each game. After visiting the rundown baseball-themed home of the team's late founder and most famous owner, Danny is convinced he's really found the secret to the Slugger's first success in 100 years. Baseball lover's will enjoy finding out if Danny's discovery leads his team to the pennant or another heartbreaking loss.

[Carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

as sport books go, i really enjoyed this one. in it, danny gurkin is the biggest fan of the sluggers–a baseball team with the longest losing streak in history. they’re the team everyone loves to root for with no hope that they’ll ever win. no hope, that is, until danny (who is also very superstitious) discovers a secret weapon that can help the team to win. there are a lot of baseball play descriptions in the book, but lots of other action too and i enjoyed reading it. but…. it did make me hungry for a hot dog with everything.

[Jose Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very fun and exciting book. The book was about a kid named Daniel Gurkin who believes that the sluggers are the best team in baseball. They aren't the best team but they do become the best team when Danny finds some magic gum and starts chewing it. Danny thinks it is just good luck but it is actually magic! the book talks about other superstitions in the sport of baseball. I would recommend it to people who like fantasy books. The reason I gave it a 4 star rating is because the events are perfectly ordered.

[Kate Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as another book for my sports literature class and I really liked it. It's a book about a boy and his loyalty to his favorite baseball team, the Sluggers. The Sluggers have been on a losing streak for 108 years and their most superstitious fan seems to have just the tricks to help them win. I liked that this book had a bit of the fantastical. Unfortunately I don't think many of my sports lit boys will like it, but I guess we'll see.

[Brick V · Rating 2 out of 5]

so far he is a big baseball fan and he is rushing home and he forgits about the hotdogs that he gets for every game and so he goes throught all this time like: not stepping on the cracks and dont leave the windows open or dont fall asleep when the game is on and dont recline on the sofa or dont spill the sauce on your self. my favorite character is danny becaause he is just so in love with baseball and that is kindof what i am like. i would recemend this book to anyone that loves baseball.

[Jeff Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Award winning book that one of the local librarians was raving about. I don't really get the interest for kids, as it's written like a pretty standard 1970s/1980s middle reader book, but it kept my interest enough because those are what I was reading at that age. So yeah. Nice nostalgia trip, at least, and "gets" the whole "baseball = superstition" thing which was fun, but the style pulled me out a bit too much.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

1 to 6 chapters Danny is a boy who loves baseball but he's not that good at it and neither is the team that they cheer for, the Sluggers. The Sluggers are a team that are in last place and have not won in a while. So Danny, his family think there is some type of cure or something and Danny we think figured it out. I like the book so far. It has good describing words and descriptions.

[Al Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book. I loved all the characters, especially Danny. He's just like me! I would recommend this book to anybody who loves baseball or is really superstitious or if they love funny flavored gum. It's really great and funny too. Also, I love the bubblegum tycoon Manchester Boddlebrooks and the bad guy named Diamond Bob.

[Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book 4 stars because I like baseball books. This certain baseball book wasnt just all about baseball it mixed my two favorite things Adventure and Baseball. Thats why i gave this book 4 stars.

[Tucker Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I though it was cool how they switched from the past to the present in every few chapters. Although even though it was a long time ago, I think a person could come up with a better name for a baseball team than the Sluggers.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baseball is still America's most inspirational sport.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best baseball book I've ever read. I love Danny Gurkin!

[Nava Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

funny!!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've read all year.

[Evan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was good and it made me believe a little more in good luck and it made me more into baseball.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is pretty good.

[A.C.E. Bauer]

A fun book for those who love baseball.

[Kendal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book . And Danny is so funny

[Shauna Elias · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story for young readers.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story that shows faith and unwavering hope will pay off in the end.

[Conor Decosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great! Great read for everyone!

[Blake Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book was the best book I read all summer and it was kinda funny I really like realistic fiction books and his books period

[Sebastian Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book. It is a funny and superstition book. If you like sports you will like this book.