Official Review: Dynamite on the Diamond by Donald B. Lucas

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Dynamite on the Diamond" by Donald B. Lucas.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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14-year-old Chip's greatest passion in life is playing baseball; he plays in a youth league from Forest Ridge called the Badgers. Chip is hoping that if his team plays their cards right, they will earn themselves a spot in the state championship. Fortunately for him, this is a very likely scenario because his best friend Dyno is on the team.

Dyno is a force to be reckoned with on the pitching mound. Dyno's strong arm and his incredible ability to throw curveballs make him one of the best pitchers around. Still, much like his wild pitches, Dyno has a temper to match, which often causes him to fly off the handle in the eyes of conflict. When Dyno becomes increasingly irate, and Chip notices a bruise on his face, he worries for his best friend and the team's fate.

Will Chip be able to help his friend through this challenging time and ensure his team will make it to the state championship?

Dynamite on the Diamond by Donald B. Lucas is a YA novel about friendship, family, and of course, the love of baseball. The book is told from the first-person perspective. It follows Chip as he learns important lessons about working as a team and being a supportive friend. The story is geared towards youth between 11-13 years old but would appeal to older teens as well.

The thing that I enjoyed most about the charming story was the friendship between Chip and Dyno. It was apparent from the get-go that Chip thought very highly of his best friend. This was shown through the constant praising of Dyno's pitching ability and the concern for his well-being when Dyno seemed out of sorts. The author did an excellent job of creating two opposite personalities that brought out the best in one another.

I certainly got my fill of baseball terminology in the novel. The author knew the game well and ensured that readers were kept up to speed on each play. I was pretty limited in my baseball knowledge, but the author filled in the blanks regarding innings and pitching styles. I also enjoyed how the author was able to add excitement to the game atmosphere by describing fans' reactions on the sidelines; it made the reading experience fun and realistic.

While I admired the author's passion for baseball, I disliked the lack of detail regarding personal relationships. Dyno's family life was rocky, and it seemed that his relationship with his father was stilted. Still, readers weren't given much more information. Without giving anything away, I felt that the conflict at the beginning of the book was resolved too quickly.

Dynamite on the Diamond was professionally edited; I didn't find a single error! The writing was easy to follow and flowed beautifully. With that being said, I have chosen to give the book a rating of four out of four stars. Donald B. Lucas has created an endearing story that highlights the importance of teamwork and the power of friendship.

If you have a preteen who loves baseball, grab a copy of Dynamite on the Diamond! The in-depth commentary is perfect for someone who understands the sport and enjoys books about being a team member. The novel is a clean read with no swearing but slightly touches on illness and abuse, which may upset some readers.

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Dynamite on the Diamond
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[MsH2k]

This sound like a great way to address illness and abuse with this age group. The focus on baseball may help take the tension off the other issues—for the characters and the readers too!
Thank you for a wonderful review!

[natasha juhl]

This seems like a book that I would greatly be interested in reading, however it is out of my normal comfort zone in terms of genre. Your review did a great job of addressing all of the topics that would make me curious to read the book and you did a great job being honest about your opinions as well. However, the way that it is format is very lengthy and there are too many paragraph divisions in my opinion. Great review overall though!

[Saint Bruno]

I don't know much Baseball, so learning about it from an entertaining story as this is very welcome. Thanks for the engaging review and recommendation.

[billday10]

I love how your review starts with a few paragraphs that really sell the book and wouldn't be out of place on the book jacket's inner flaps! I'm also thankful you pointed out both the book's strengths and shortcomings - it really helps to have a better idea of what to expect before diving in.

[Adelle v]

Great review. I think this book will help you teens to overcome some issues, to believe in strong relationships with friends who will stand by them no matter what.