Front And Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Pub. Date: Oct 19th 2009
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 288
Format: ARC
Source of copy: from publisher - Houghton Mifflin


After five months of sheer absolute craziness I was going back to being plain old background D.J. In photographs of course I’m always in the background . . . But it turns out other folks have big plans for D.J. Like her coach. College scouts. All the town hoops fans. A certain Red Bend High School junior who’s keen on romance and karaoke. Not to mention Brian Nelson, who she should not be thinking about! Who she is done with, thank you very much. But who keeps showing up anyway . . .



It seemed ironic that D.J was having self doubt when everyone kept telling her she could do something huge, that she could make it to the top. Ever felt like you were going to fail each and everyone who has laid their trust in you? Torn apart between choices? Why don't you have a peek at this athletic girl's life and see if you guys have anything in common? Third book in the charming chain of stories about a farm girl, Front and Center was surely a perfect wrap for the series itself as well as a brightening future for lovely D.J.

Well, before you pick up this book, let me suggest something: read the other two first. Catherine Gilbert Murdock did manage to convey the important details of the previous happenings in Front and Center which made it complete as a single book, but something still lacked. Like exactly how Brian and D.J broke up, what actually happened to her brother Win and how she was before his accident. I couldn't but feel uneasy since I didn't have a chance to figure out more about such things. However, that didn't mean I didn't enjoy the book. It was a pleasant read from beginning to end.

I was not certain that sports was the interest field of many readers, but to me it is. I found it extremely fun to read about basketball - the fear, the joy, the rush, the craziness on court. You know what was more excellent? The fact that D.J showed that basketball worked almost the same as math. Of course, Front And Center wasn't all about sports and the related objects. There were family love, teenage romance and the concern about future. It was a pity, though, that even though D.J lived on a farm, I hardly saw descriptions on farm views or activities.

D.J was a balanced female lead. She was powerful and passionate but at times she could be as clueless as any girl her age could get. She looked out for people and helped them at her best to recognize their strengths yet needed Brian's words to confirm her amazement. She was a potential best friend for us - someone with so many achievements we had to look up too, also a girl with many flaws and weaknesses. And I liked the fact that the author didn't let her jump right away back to the boy she was really into after her breakup. Her personalities just shone, not in a dazzling way, instead, very comfortable.

Try to meet, befriend D.J and let her tell you the tough but meaningful progress of really growing up in Front And Center. It'd worth it, I guarantee.

Rating: 4/5