The Comeback Season

*3.5 Stars* but rounded downThis book left me with mixed feelings. This is my second book by this author and it seems her style is to leave the reader hanging with some loose ends or to not completely reveal what has happened. Instead, we the readers must interpret what happened by the last few paragraphs or sentences. I understand why authors do this and with this book it kind of fit the story with its overall message of hope.... but I just feel like after spending so much time and energy invested in Ryan and Nick's story it's kind of a let down.Overall, I enjoyed the story but was dissatisfied by the ending. I agree with another review that this can be a kind of depressing book even though it's obvious the author's intention is hope. It doesn't come across that strongly. I did enjoy all of the baseball throughout the story because I am a Cubs fan as well. Go Cubs!!I will give this author another shot at some point in the future but after two books ending with "loose ends" I need a break for awhile. I am a Cubs fan and at least at the end of a game we know what the outcome was but at the end of this book we are left guessing.

Carving out a few hours for myself on a lazy Saturday, I decided to give this book a shot and I have to say that I was impressed from start to finish. Being an on again off again fanatical baseball fan, the parallels between life and sport set an enjoyable backdrop for a story which comes across as both heartfelt and personal. You can tell that Smith is truly a fan of the game as her enthusiasm effortlessly blends into a story balancing the emotional difficulties and triumphs found in family, friendship, and love. On top of all this, the writing itself shows more eloquence and mastery of storytelling than one might expect from a first novel in the genre. I recommend this to anyone who has a few spare hours and enjoys coming away from novels feeling as though they were just entrusted with a touching story from a close friend.

I like this author's other work, but I honestly can't recommend this book. It's a YA novel, but I'm afraid it would depress any teenager who reads it. I'm a grandmother and it depressed me. The protagonist, a teenage girl, is portrayed as too much of a victim for my taste. She takes crap from her former friends after they originally give her their support following the death of her father. She's unable to move on and accept her life, despite having a loving mother and a caring stepfather. Frankly, she's a mess, not something that will inspire any teen. The whole book is a real downer. Unless you truly enjoy sad stories, skip this one.

great gift idea

Another book that touched my romantic heart with a sad ending which caused me to cry and say , "No , it's not supposed to end this way !"

I very much liked the whole baseball loving, Chicago living approach even if they did pick the wrong Chicago team.

Title: The Comeback SeasonAuthor: Jennifer E. SmithPublisher: Simon & SchusterReading Level: Young AdultPublication Date: March 2008Pages: 256Rating: B+Plot - 16/20Characters - 19/20Writing - 18/20Originality - 16/20Entertainment - 9/10Recommendation - 10/10Total: 88/100Summary:The last place Ryan Walsh should be this afternoon is on a train heading to Wrigley Field. She should be in class, enduring yet another miserable day of her first year of high school. But for once, Ryan isn't thinking about what she should be doing. She's not worried about her lack of friends, or her suffering math grade, or how it's been five whole years since the last time she was really and truly happy. Because she's finally returning to the place that her father loved, where the two of them spent so many afternoons cheering on their team. And on this -- the fifth anniversary of his death -- it feels like there's nowhere else in the world she should be.Ryan is once again filled with hope as she makes her way to the game. Good luck is often hard to come by at a place like Wrigley Field, but it's on this day that she meets Nick, the new kid from her school, who seems to love the Cubs nearly as much as she does. But Nick carries with him a secret that makes Ryan wonder if anyone can ever really escape their past, or believe in the promise of those reassuring words: "Wait till next year." Is it too much for Ryan to hope that this year, this season, might be her comeback season?Review:I had heard so many great things about this novel, and I had high expectations. And they were filled to the brim. Smith crafted a calm, heartwarming and moving novel that will take your breath away. With Smith's composed writing style and touching characters, this book will grip tight and not let go. I read it on Sunday in one sitting, I could not part ways with it.Ryan is a brilliant and delicate in her beautiful way. Her character is truly a unique character. All the characters Smith fashioned were all well defined. Her story was strictly a stunning story of loss, love, and most of all hope. Hope for the Cubs and for Nick both.The fact that Smith added baseball as a common interest between Ryan and her dad and also for Ryan and Nick, and with out having it labeled as a 'baseball' read was fantastic. It's not about baseball, it's about the Cubs, as Ryan says, but also, like I said above, loss, love, and hope.Jennifer E. Smith created a wonderfully enjoyable and highly recommend novel that I am sure anybody would love, because what's not to love about this novel?