The Second Base Club

by Greg Trine

Elroy's got one thing on his girls. In an effort to get to second base, he offers to tutor the hot new girl in math, forms a band with his two best friend (okay, so he gets a face full of tomato for his efforts) and joins the wrestling team. He's a little vague on the whole bases thing, but the jocks have a club dedicated to getting there with every girl they can. And now that he's a jock (sort of), maybe Elroy will find out for himself what it means to be a member of the Second Base Club.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Humor, Young Adult

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 12, 2010

About the author

Greg Trine is the author of the Melvin Beederman, Superhero books for children, which he creates with his illustrator sidekick, Rhode Montijo. He is also the author of the young adult book, The Second Base Club. He lives with his family in his Southern California hideout.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/gregtrine

Reviews

[Brandy]

Elroy has a goal for the coming school year: to score. He wants a girlfriend, and has very little idea of how to go about getting one. The guys who get chicks are the athletes, so he joins the wrestling team, and when that doesn't pan out, he and his friends form a band instead (because girls also dig guys in bands). He understands that the one girl he's comfortable with is the one he's not trying to impress, but he never gets the full "be yourself" message.

And his near date-rape of a girl is treated as "boys will be boys," instead of "what am I doing?" Misogynistic and juvenile.

[WCPL Teens]

Sixteen-year-old Elroy overhears the jocks discussing a sensitive topic he’s heard about, but doesn’t understand what it all means. He wants a girlfriend—he just doesn’t know how to attract one. Failed social attempts provide embarrassing results, the wrestling team scheme results in bruises, and his friends turn him down in his efforts to form a band. Rachel’s left hook to his cheek doesn’t stop him from attending the party, only to realize he doesn’t want anything to do with the party action or second base. (Grades 9 & up)

Reviewed by Teen Librarian Elaine D.

[Brendan]

I can't give this book a star rating because my reaction to it is complicated. Bottom line--it's mostly a three-star book, but one part bothered me so much that I think I have to give this a negative recommendation. I blogged about it at length here: http://www.brendanhalpin.com/girlinac... .

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun romp of a book with a horny, teenaged boy as the protagonist to whom most guys can relate. I think the book was a good read for the weekend and provided me with a few chuckles and memories of teen years. Predictable for the most part, but it read like a true California school year. I liked that part of it. The cover pushed it from 3 stars to 4 stars--brilliant marketing.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will add my review soon...

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

The perfect next title for those who loved Don Calame's Swim the Fly, a lighter, more whimsical look at the high school jungle through a boy's eye.

[Omar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars is because the ending was pretty weak. Greg Trine is an author I'd like to get into.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover says it all (fun, suprisingly well-written, & yes, boys will be boys). :)

[BCPL Youth Services Librarian]

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

[Jamie Olson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this for my classroom. Not impressed.