Dairy Queen

Reader reviewed by RIn

After her father becomes injured, a teenager called DJ must do all the farm work such as milking the cows, in order to keep the farm.

Then her montonous life is changed when, because of her family's reputation as good football players, she is asked by a family friend to coach the rival's quaterback called Brian.

At first the road is rocky but slowly DJ learns more about what she wants and who she is as well as who Brian is and what he means to her. Similarly, her relationships with her friends are also fleshed out more and DJ discovers a secret about her best friend that she'd never thought possible.



Sadly, I didn't feel this book rose to my expectations. It went very slowly and I couldn't relate to the characters in the slightest.

Reader reviewed by Caitlyn

so hi hi this book is not so good and i would give it a try thought because you might like it well it is a kind of a good book and i would read it again and maybe again and it is kind of like that but i mean it is a good book and all but i didn't really like it but not saying that yo won't and you just might like it well i don't know i don't evan know how is going o read this and so yup bye hope you liked the book if you try it not saying like you have to read it or or else not like that just give it a try plz.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

A cow. That's what Brian Nelson calls D.J. Schwenk on the first day he works for their farm. D.J. is a cow because she does everything her injured but grumpy father tells her to do, which is basically to run the farm by herself, forced to give up her athletic passions along the way. Brian's accusation may be harsh, even after he apologizes and they start becoming friends, but D.J. is forced to admit that what he said is true. Most people in the world, she realizes, simply do what they are expected to do, whether they know it or not.

And certainly a bigger group of cows there can not be than her own family, the Schwenks. They are poor and uncommunicative and repress their feelings when it would be better to speak up. As a result, D.J.'s older brothers don't talk to the family anymore. Her mother hides away in her active principal's office even during the summertime. Her younger brother Curtis speaks about once every month, and her dad simply complains about D.J.'s faults without helping one bit.

The summer before her junior year certainly gives D.J. new things to think about. She's stuck on Brian's cow comment, for example, and how she can make herself stand out from the "herd." She learns something shocking about her best friend Amber. Most of all, she's experiencing a totally new emotion with Brian, who is popular, athletic (under her training, of course), smart, good-looking...everything she will never allow herself to hope for.

Maybe, however, junior year and her new decisions will make her life turn out a lot differently than what she expected.

DAIRY QUEEN was a joy to read! D.J.'s troubles may begin to sound like a soap opera after a while, but her down-to-earth farm-girl manner of talking keeps things fresh and interesting. D.J. may put herself down, but readers will not hesitate to want to befriend her, and to find out what happens in this great books sequel, THE OFF SEASON.

Reader reviewed by Sara

"When you don't talk, there's a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said.
Harsh words indeed, from Brian Nelson of all people. But, D.J. can't help admitting, maybe he's right.
Stuff like why her best friend, Amber, sin't so friendly anymore. Or why her little brother, Curtis, never opens his mouth. Why her mom has tow jobs and a big secret. why her college-football-star brothers won't even call home. Why her dad would go ballistic if she tried out for the high school football team herself. And why Brian is so, so out of her league.
Welcome to the summer that fifteen-year-old D.J. Schwenk of Red Bend, Wisconsin, learns to talk, and ends up having an awful lot of stuff to say."

I really didn't think that I'd like this book, but I ended up completely loving it! D.J. is such a loveable character. I can definately relate to the way she feels in most of the book. She was so funny too... The drama was real and believable and I walked away having learned a few lessons about life. Even if the story did talk about football a lot. :)

Reader reviewed by Hana

Dairy Queen is a fresh and original book that took me by surprise. DJ is a farm girl in a small town in Wisconsin. Her whole town revolves around football and her 2 older brothers are legends. When the quarterback from her town's rival comes to practice football at her home, she slowly befriends him. She surprises everybody when she goes out for boys' football, and the opposing teams have a climactic scrimmage that left me breathless (and I don't even like football).

This is a captivating book, told from DJ's perspective and just begs to be reread over and over! DJ is hilarious and is so blunt you just have to laugh. Enjoy this book, and when you are done, pick up the sequel, the Off Season.

Reader reviewed by Courtney

I wasn't to sure about this book when I checked it out at the library, but I had heard good things so I got it anyway! I LOVED this book!! D.J is funny and totally relatable!This book made me laugh out loud! The second I finished it, I was own my way to the book store to buy my own copy!

Reader reviewed by Jen

I have never loved a book as much as I love Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock. This novel tells the story of D.J. Schwenk's seemingly lackluster summer before her junior year. Going through the ups and downs of D.J.'s farm life was not even close to being boring. This was in large part due to the fact that her rival school's QB ends up working side-by-side with her while she trains him. This novel soon became my favorite and I give my personal guarantee you will not be disappointed!

Reader reviewed by Tammy

I have to say i really loved this book! I didn't think i would love it so much at first, so i just started to read. Then it got so interesting that i finished the whole 300 page book in two days. Let me tell you a bit about it.

There is a sixteen year old girl named D.J. and she is a poor girl who works on a farm. Then a guy from her rival school, who is their quarterback comes and she has to train him. After spending her summer running the family farm and training the quarterback for her school's rival football team, sixteen-year-old D.J. decides to go out for the sport herself, not anticipating the reactions of those around her. And of course i think you know how the boy felt when he learned about her being on a boy's football team. Not only that, but they love each other. Read this book to find out what happens!

Reader reviewed by Laura

At first, when someone gave me this book, I didn't think I'd like it to much. I mean, it's about a country girl's summer...what could possibly be so great about it? But after the first few sentances, I was already addicted.

So many things happen in this book that I could relate to! It's basically about a girl named D.J. who lives in the country...on a farm. She has so many different problems going on in her life. Her mom works two jobs, her two collage football playing brothers won't call home, her dad won't even consider letting her play football, her brother Curtis doesn't talk, and the boy she has to train, and just happens to like, is way out of her league. Oh, and not to mention, someone has a crush on her, too. Her best friend, who happens to be a girl!

I loved this book because I could relate to the problems. It kept me reading, and I could never put it down. If your looking for a funny, addictive, touching book, then this one is great. I got to know the characters so well that when I was done with the book, I was mad it had ended. This is a great teen read!