Graphic Novel Reviews: Play Ball by Nunzio Defilippis & Christina Weird Published by Oni Press

Play Ball 

(advance reader copy from NetGalley.com)

available for purchase from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Half Price Books.

Written by Nunzio Defilippis & Christina Weir

Artist: Jackie Lewis

Published by Oni Press

I am not regularly interested in reading anything related to sports. It is just not my particular cup of tea. I decided to step outside of my comfortable reading box though and give this a chance. I did this primarily because it was about a female trying to get on a sports team. I find it interesting when people work on going outside of what the world deems appropriate for their gender. This book did not disappoint in that sense either.

The story of "Play Ball" is about Dashiell Brody who has just recently moved to a new school. She hears that the school has a baseball team and immediately is interested in trying out for it. The book shows the struggles that she has to overcome in a male-dominated field, even if it is set in a high school. She has to fight stereotypes that women are simply not as able to play baseball because they are weaker. She has to prove herself at every chance, which isn't easy when even your teammates are telling you that you shouldn't be there. It is an uphill battle that she takes on, but I won't spoil how it ends because this isn't one of those happily ever after tales. This story actually had a rather nice ending that fit for the story. I loved that Defilippis and Weir did not just give us a cookie cutter "she did it" ending. Their ending had depth, which made me enjoy the sports story more than I thought I could. 

The artwork by Jackie Lewis was what one would expect from this type of story. It wasn't breathe-taking in the way that some other more prestigious graphic novels are done (think any marvel or dc book), but the style fits perfectly for the world that Dashiell lives in. It lends a softer tone overall to the feeling of the book, which I think is needed due to the discrimination she faces at the beginning of the story. If the artwork had been harsher it would not have worked on any level. Instead we are able to feel secure that things are going to get better because the artwork isn't making us feel dark or mysterious.

The fun of this book is also in the development of the relationships between people. We see Dashiell's family develop over the entire story. Her sister goes from hater to supporter. Her mother deals with a lot because of what appears to be her ex-husband. The background characters do not remain static, but push Dashiell's story forward in ways that added so many needed layers. Those layers make her so approachable because we feel her emotions. Those emotions are universal, so we can relate our own experiences somewhere to hers. Other characters, like some of her teammates, develop in surprising ways. One in particular moves from a deep hatred of Dashiell to something significantly more meaningful. The way these progressions are presented in the writing makes them feel natural and not out of place, which could have been the place in a less writers hand. I would love to pat these two writers on the back for presenting a story for even the non-sports fan enthusiast. 

Until next time... Stay Optimistic!!!!