Dairy Queen

Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Diary Queen #1

Summary:

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. When you don't talk, there's a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said. Stuff like why her best friend, Amber, isn't so friendly anymore. Or why her little brother, Curtis, never opens his mouth. Why her mom has two 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. When you don't talk, there's a lot of stuff that ends up not getting said. 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.

Plot:

This is a very cute, unique story. At first I wasn’t that excited about it, but it definitely exceeded my expectations. Murdock’s style of writing is very interesting, and quite humorous. While it probably won’t make favourites, simply because it is such a simple story, it is very enjoyable. The story keeps you interested, but it’s not fascinating. The ending is a bit sudden, but this is a series, so it's understandable.

Characters:

The main character, D.J., who is also the narrator of the story, is very funny. She has a habit of comparing everything that happens to her to the farm where she grows up, and some of her ideas are quite humorous. She is a little childish at times, but grows up as the story progresses. Her friend, Brian, is also likable, but since the whole book is written from D.J.’s perspective, you cannot really tell what he’s thinking. The same goes for all the other characters, we only see them through D.J.’s eyes. Still, they are quirky and interesting.

Who should read this:

13+, there are some references to mature content, including a gay character, which may make younger kids uncomfortable. There is also some language. There is almost no violence, and all in all it’s a very sweet story. If you’re looking for a light read with a bit of a different setting, this is a good one for you. Don’t expect a very deep book, although it does have its moments.

My rating:

I liked this book, but it’s not very memorable. I enjoyed it, but I don’t know if I would read it again. 3/5.

Quote:

‘Then I started thinking that maybe everyone in the whole world was just like a cow, and we all go along doing what we’re supposed to without complaining or even really noticing until we die.’

I'll be reading and reviewing the other books in this series if I can find them...