Pros: Good use of figurative language, and good story line.
Cons: Inappropriate words, it may not be good for some young readers
The Bottom Line:
I recommend this book because of its humor. It has also some hidden lessons about things we should know in life. Things may not seem easily as they appear.
David Lubar currently lives in Pennsylvania however he grew up in New Jersey when he was young. He made many books including the fantasy Hidden Talents and other favorites like for example, Invasion of the Lawn weenies. Setting
The setting in the book is in the New Jersey shore and the boardwalk. However, some minor settings are the police station, an amusement park, and the hospital. The season is currently summer in the book. The time in the story is probably in the 20 century.
Main Characters Chad: A eleventh grade teenage boy who is yearning for the perfect summer, faces to faces with the job for being the bozo, a clown in a dunk machine that makes fun of everybody so that they could pay to dunk him. He lives in a apartment near the boardwalk and is friends with Jason, a eleventh grade, muscular and well built volley ball player and Malcolm, a comical bozo and a drama teacher at a college. Chad can be described as a humorous and hard-working in the book.
Malcolm: A drama professor at a college that lives a floor above Chad’s apartment. He has the dream job Chad wants, being a bozo, a dunk machine clown that teases passers to get money so that they could dunk him. Malcolm used to have a family and a job offer for a actor, however he ends up having a car crash and breaking his limp which cause him to lose his job as a actor (Hollywood is strict about limps, pimples, inc.) Malcolm could best be described as talented and is always on the positive side. He is friends with Chad
Anthony: Anthony is a drug- using, teenager that just graduated from high school. He is Chad’s enemy because he framed Chad of stealing from a shop. On the outside of him, he looks like an innocent, charity working teen. However, he is really an uncaring monster on the inside. Anthony can be described as a criminal and a law breaker. Gwen: Gwen is a girl who lives in Montana, however comes to New Jersey in the summer. She works at the cat-a-pult game and Chad has a crush on her. However, at the end Anthony goes out with Gwen, which makes Chad furious.
Jason: Jason is a talented and brawny eleventh grader who is best friends with Chad. However, he ends up getting a sickness called autoimmune disease in which white cells fight against itself. This leads to many problems and could risk death. He loves to play volleyball and looks out on Chad, his best friend. Once, Jason even offers to carry Chad home before he got the disease. Jason could be described as calm and athletic.
Summary
Dunk is about a teenager named Chad who just gets out of school and is ready to enjoy the summer. However, while walking on the boardwalk he is attracted by the bozo dunking machine; a game where the bozo teases the passers so that they could try to dunk him. He could just imagine mocking the tourists and the visitors while the owner, Bob rakes in the wealth. Nevertheless, he tries out for the position, and he gets it! Though, instead of being the bozo, he’s just the guy who collects the balls that people threw at the target. On the other hand, the good thing that comes out is the payment! The dunk machine is not only on his mind, but he has a crush on Gwen, the worker at the Cat-a-pult game. He never has the enough courage to ask her out and that is one of his goals for the summer. But then, things come worse for Chad and before he knows it, his best friend, Jason, has a serious sickness and could die. To top it off, the police are suspicious of Chad after he is framed for stealing by Anthony! What makes it worse was that Gwen is going out with Anthony! Not only that, Chad has to face getting accused of using drugs. Plus, Jason’s mom is refusing Chad to visit his friend in the hospital! Just before Chad could think things would be worse, he ends up being accused of using drugs under-age. He figures out that Anthony may think Chad busts him for under-age drinking in the party. As a result, Anthony accuses Chad so he could get even. Will Chad escape out of his problems and have a great summer or will he have to end up in jail? I think you should get the book and find out....
Conclusion
Dunk is a fun-filled, enthralling novel that is a great book for young adults. It will appeal to your senses as if you actually are in Chad’s shoes. You will experience hatred, fear, and excitement as you read the novel. David Lubar has made Dunk, one of his best tales out of his eleven book collection. Once you begin reading you will devour the entire book! What I really like about it is that it makes you think during or after reading it. . However, some words may be inappropriate so make sure you skim through the pages to see if it’s alright for your daughter or son. Nevertheless, it is about teenager’s point of view. Not only that, it is a humorous and entertaining story and I hope others enjoy it too. This novel is perfect if you love the summer, boardwalks, and dunking machines! It would be great if David Lubar makes a sequel for the book, Dunk.
To the Bozo, the clown who sits inside the cage above the dunk tank, everyone is a "mark." Once he has zeroed in on his victim, the Bozo comes up with...More at HotBookSale
Chad finds a whole new summer occupation--he wants to be the clown who sits inside the dunk tank and goads people into taking a shot. What could be be...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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