Official Review: Willy B. Superstar by Dennis N. Ricci

Gabriel Merêncio · Post by **Gabriel Merêncio** » 28 Jul 2019, 13:19

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Willy B. Superstar" by Dennis N. Ricci.]

2 out of 4 stars

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Willy B. Superstar: Willy's Ballgame Continues is a sports novel written by Dennis Ricci. As the sequel to Willy’s Ballgame, the book follows the career of Willy Mae Beal, the first woman to compete in the major league. Hired by the New York Diamonds, Willy’s biggest dreams are about to come true, but not without many trials. Can she handle the cutthroat world of big-league baseball while dealing with the unique challenges she will face as a female pitcher?

The novel features a huge cast of characters: players from many teams, their partners, journalists, and other associates. No knowledge of the previous novel is strictly required since most characters get reintroduced, but having so many names thrown at once can feel overwhelming, especially during games. The reader does need some working knowledge of American baseball, however, as familiarity with jargon and the inner workings of leagues is assumed.

Perhaps the greatest flaw in Willy B. Superstar is how long it takes to start telling its story. The first chapters consist of inconsequential games interspersed with short character moments that do little to advance the plot or develop these characters. For example, there’s a moment when Willy is anxious about her poor batting and talks to a teammate called Demeter, who gives her some tips. This could’ve been a great chance to explore these two and their relationship, but it comes off as cold and technical; one might as well just read a baseball manual.

Even Willy feels more like a prop than a character in the beginning: almost none of her “failings” are her fault, her critics come off as irrational, and the novel keeps reinforcing how much everyone loves her. This setup pays off later on when Willy gets thrown under the bus, in large part thanks to the unrealistic expectations placed on her. It’s an important point, but it didn’t need that many chapters to be established.

Chapter eleven is roughly when the plot kicks in and we get reasons to be invested in the narrative: Willy has to face several challenges and make tough decisions to continue chasing her dreams. We see her at the lowest, most vulnerable point, rooting for her as she rises again. All of her efforts culminate in a nail-biting climactic game that ties everything together. Despite not being a baseball fan, I couldn’t help being sucked into the game’s tense atmosphere and cheering alongside the fictional audience.

One unfortunate issue plaguing the novel is the abundance of typographical and formatting errors. Lack of spacing (for example, “Alexandria Dukes’game”) and misuse of quotation marks are the most common typos, while formatting problems range from misaligned paragraphs to vertically written sentences.

Willy B. Superstar: Willy's Ballgame Continues is an overall decent novel featuring a charismatic protagonist and an engaging storyline. Deducting two points for the lackluster beginning and poor editing, I rate it 2 out of 4 stars. The book is suitable for older teens as it contains occasional vulgar language and discussions of sexual themes, but there aren't any erotic scenes. The reader doesn’t need to be the hugest baseball fan to enjoy this novel, but I don’t recommend it to those unfamiliar with American baseball.

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Willy B. Superstar
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Post by **Ngozi Onyibor** » 04 Aug 2019, 08:18

The content of this book will fly over my head as I know nothing about baseball at all. I'm a little confused; is the book a work of fiction?

Gabriel Merêncio · Post by **Gabriel Merêncio** » 04 Aug 2019, 20:14

Michelle Fred wrote: ↑04 Aug 2019, 08:18 The content of this book will fly over my head as I know nothing about baseball at all. I'm a little confused; is the book a work of fiction?

It is, as far as I know, though I'm sure the author drew inspiration from real life to create some of the characters and teams. I wouldn't be able to tell you what these inspirations are though, since I'm a baseball novice myself. Thanks for the comment!

maggi3 · Post by **maggi3** » 05 Aug 2019, 21:21

The premise of this book sounds great. I have a very basic understanding of baseball, but it would be interesting to see how Willy deals with being the only female player. However, due to the editing issues and the slow beginning, I think I’ll have to skip this one. Thanks for the review!

Wyland · Post by **Wyland** » 06 Aug 2019, 06:24

I'll be interested in reading about a strong female protagonist who is also starting a big baseball career. I hope she survives the cut-throat competition. Nice review.

Prisallen · Post by **Prisallen** » 06 Aug 2019, 07:56

I enjoyed reading your review, but I don't think this book is for me as I'm not a huge sports fan. Thanks, though!

Gabriel Merêncio · Post by **Gabriel Merêncio** » 06 Aug 2019, 18:32

Wyland wrote: ↑06 Aug 2019, 06:24 I'll be interested in reading about a strong female protagonist who is also starting a big baseball career. I hope she survives the cut-throat competition. Nice review.

Prisallen wrote: ↑06 Aug 2019, 07:56 I enjoyed reading your review, but I don't think this book is for me as I'm not a huge sports fan. Thanks, though!

maggi3 wrote: ↑05 Aug 2019, 21:21 The premise of this book sounds great. I have a very basic understanding of baseball, but it would be interesting to see how Willy deals with being the only female player. However, due to the editing issues and the slow beginning, I think I’ll have to skip this one. Thanks for the review!

Thanks for the comments! Yes, in my opinion the book isn't very well-suited to readers who aren't baseball fans or dislike slow burn stories.

inaramid · Post by **inaramid** » 06 Aug 2019, 20:17

I just have to say that the cover is not really doing anything for the book as well. I've read books that feature sports that I know nothing about - and still come to enjoy. However, going from your review, I'd have to pass on this one.

Ekta Swarnkar · Post by **Ekta Swarnkar** » 06 Aug 2019, 23:20

I think the book epitomizes "Woman Empowerment" that makes it an interesting read, but I am also considering ratings.
Thanks for an honest review!

Dentarthurdent · Post by **Dentarthurdent** » 06 Aug 2019, 23:58

I see your point about the do-no-wrong protagonist, and how her implied flawlessness may detract from the reading experience.
Great review!

Gabriel Merêncio · Post by **Gabriel Merêncio** » 07 Aug 2019, 13:35

Ekta Swarnkar wrote: ↑06 Aug 2019, 23:20 I think the book epitomizes "Woman Empowerment" that makes it an interesting read, but I am also considering ratings.
Thanks for an honest review!

inaramid wrote: ↑06 Aug 2019, 20:17 I just have to say that the cover is not really doing anything for the book as well. I've read books that feature sports that I know nothing about - and still come to enjoy. However, going from your review, I'd have to pass on this one.

Dentarthurdent wrote: ↑06 Aug 2019, 23:58 I see your point about the do-no-wrong protagonist, and how her implied flawlessness may detract from the reading experience.
Great review!

Thanks for the comments! They do say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but... well, we do, so I agree that the author should've gotten some professional help in this regard. Yes, Willy does come across as a bit too perfect in the beginning, but it gets better later on.