has a lot on her plate, and if she doesn't balance it correctly, she may have to drop something and disappoint her family and herself. Though D.J.'s family members don't talk or emote very much, they are everpresent: the farm and her father are always on her mind, and she misses her brothers in fits and starts. It is about growing up on a farm, about growing up in a small town, and simply about growing up. Though these books have been strongly received by sports fans, please note that there's more to these stories than just football. When two other family members become hurt in debilitating ways, the Schwenks have to come together in a big way - and have to make even more sacrifices. Further complicating matters are D.J.'s mixed feelings about Brian and her strained relationship with her best friend. Then she gets injured, which obviously and completely changes her athletic schedule. continues to juggle her school life, her home life, and her sports life.

also goes through a rough patch with her long-time best friend, Amber, and almost doesn't believe it herself when the two girls argue and drift apart. Some folks think she shouldn't simply because she's a girl. She enjoyed it so much, in fact, that she decides to go out for the team when the school year starts back up again. does so reluctantly at first, only to strike up a friendship with him - and realize how much she herself enjoys the game.

She helped them train for football while she trained for track and basketball.ĭuring the summer, she has to help train Brian, the quarterback for the rival high school's football team, as a favor to the coach, a longtime friend of her father's. Her two older brothers, now away at college, were big hometown football stars. who has to pick up the slack on her family's farm when her father's hip injury prevents him from doing the bulk of the work. Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock tells the story of a girl named D.J.

Dairy queen murdock