Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ballplayers Score, April 5, 2000
By A Customer
Maureen Holohan's first book, Friday Nights, reaches out to young girls across the country. Although this series of books is written at a sixth grade level, they are also entertaining to the parents and teachers who read them. Each book in the Broadway Ballplayers series is told by one of the characters who live on Broadway Avenue. (Molly, Penny, Angel, Rosie and Wil for example.) Friday Nights is told by Molly O'Malley, a twelve year old girl. She is a normalpretten with a hot temper, many friends and a passion for beating the neighborhood boys at any and all sports. These ballplayers play any sport within thier reach. In this first book, the story line is based around a summer basketball league for junior high aged girls thoughout the city. Molly always pushes herself to the limits to keep up with her best friend Penny Harris. Penny, who is the best at it all, has fears just as the others do. They are the smallest and youngest team in the league, but that does not keep them from having high hopes of winning the championship. Holohan's series of Broadwy Ballplayers, is exciting to young girls and boys. In reading one of these books, a child would discover the good and bad of growing up. The characters go through situations that are very similar to what the reader may be going through. In this world of violent athletes (who this next generation mimic as they look to them) Molly and her friends prove to be valuable role models for young ones who love sports and look up to those athletes. Holohan's theme throughout he rbook is to build a desire never to give in to your fears. In her books the characters learn to work as a team and to encourage one another and never belittle each other. Holohan, a All-Big Ten selection at Northwestern University three times, also was the winner of the 1994 Randolph Hearst Journalism Award for feature writing. Now this young author, promotes girls participation in sports. Holohan's Broadway Ballplayers are entertaining, well written and exciting. Her characters do most of us only dreamed of as a child. For example in Friday Nights, Molly pulls an poutrageous stunt. During one of the first league games, while shewas angry, Molly ran the ball down the court and barreled into a opposing team member. She jumped, lifted her knees to her chest and simply knocked her over. Holohan's books provide good role models for young athletes, as well as entertain them.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Holohan Scores, Again, April 5, 2000
By A Customer
Friday Nights, the first book in the six book series, "The Braodway Ballplayers," written by former ballplayer herself, Maureen Holohan. Having a background is basketball adds extra spirit to this particular book. The story lines are based upon a group of local girls who love to play any and every sport. This series is geared to those at a sixth grade reading level. This particular book was written from the perspective of Molly O'Malley, one of the five girls in the group. Friday Nights is about these five girls, Molly, Wil, Penny and Angel who complete in a summer basketball league for all girls in the city. As in any book, the main characters must have some sort of arch nemesis. For the ballplayers, it is the Hawks. Losing to them once, the ballplayers are setermined not to let it happen again. Their practices are extra tough. They force themselves to become the team they never thought they possible. And having the help of Mr. O'Malley, Molly's dad, and Mr. Harris, Penny's dad, they realize that the championship can be theirs. However, obstacles must be overcome on their way to triumph overcome the Hawks. They must come to terms with other looses and learn how to handle wins. All this glory does not come easily for the girls. Practicing with some local boys to build endurance, self-esteem and tema spirit, the girls manage to pull together and make it to the championship game. Throughtout the book the girls learn the lessons of hard work, dedication and winning aren't always the best that can happen.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Holohan scores off the court, April 3, 2000
Friday nights is the first book in "The Broadway Ballplayers" series by All-Big Ten athlete-turned author Maureen Holohan. The series is generated towards an audience of fifth to sixth grade girls interested in athletics. Friday Nights is told from the point of view of Molly O'Malley, a junior high aged girl living on Broadway Avenue. Throught the first few chapters, Molly introduces the characters and each of their unique personalities. Main focus is brought upon Penny, Wil, Angel and Rodie, who become the subjects for the next books in Holohan's series. The story is based around a summer basketball league for junior high aged girls throughout the city. The "Broadway Ballplayers," as they come to call themselves, have high hopes for winning the league championship. However, the Ballplayers face obstacles along the way, such as the infamous East Side Hawks, a monstrously huge opposing team player by the name of Sheila, and even themselves. For the first in the series and first book by an author, the "Broadway Ballplayers" series really shows promise but with extensive room to grow as an author. The books definitely appeal to a younger audience and encourage young girls who play sports. However, if the readers are totally clueless about sports, they might want to pick up a "Sports Terms" dictionary at their local bookstore because of the constant use of sports lingo that would confuse the average or even slightly educated sports dunce. Overall, this book series is a great recommendation to sporty junior high level girls looking for books that coincide with their interest in athletics. Holohan shows great promise in her work, and we'll definitely hear from her in the future.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
