Book Description

"A girl doesn't belong on the all-star team. She isn't tough enough."

The coaches and parents didn't even bother to whisper. To them, I was not an all-star. I was the girl playing shortstop. I was the girl up to bat. I was the easy out.

For weeks, I went to practice and stared down a coach who lobbed me the ball and stuck me on the bench. Then I went home to a father who told me I needed to play harder and study more. Nothing I did on the field or in school was ever enough.

One day I stood up at the plate with what felt like three strikes already against me. It came down to one pitch, one swing...one moment to prove them all wrong.
-- Rosie ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A great book!
Although I am not a baseball fan, I really enjoyed reading about a girl who found the strength to make her dreams come true, no matter how hard it was. I am very excited that an author has taken the time to write sports books for girls. Read this book, I am positive that you will enjoy this book and the others in the Broadway Ballplayers series.

This is the perfect book for anyone who likes sports.
I read this book a couple of months ago for the first time and have read it about 5 million times since! Seriously, this book really made me think about and appreciate what I have. I really got into the book and am overjoyed at finding that I can get them all here! Even boys will like this funny book. Anyone else who doesn't love it is nuts! Go M. Holohan! ... Read more

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The Broadway Ballplayers In the debut title of this sports series for girls, basketball player Molly O'Malley can only think about winning the city summer league championship. But with serious competition on and off the court, Molly and her friends learn that the valuable lesson of sportsmanship, not succeeding at all costs, is most important. ... Read more

Book Description

Meet the Ballplayers -- a fearless five with a passion for sports, hanging with friends, and life on Broadway Avenue....

I'm Molly. My friends say I'm like a bull in a china shop when I play soprts. But my bruised knees and elbows never hurt when we win.

Penny's my name. Sometimes people call me Big Time or Sweet P because of my smooth moves...and when we lose, I take all the blame.

I'm Rosie. I don't really talk much. My coach doesn't like that I'm the only girl on the baseball team. I can't wait to strike him out.

Don't let my friends fool ya. I'm Wil, the best and brightest Ballplayer of this bunch. Now can somebody please tell my coach to put me in the game?

I'm Angel, the oldest Ballplayer. With my foot injuries and problems between my parents, the Ballplayers help get me through the tough times.

As the new summer basketball league kicks off, these five freinds team up to form the Broadway Ballplayers. But Molly and the others run into some serious competition both on and off the court. Can they bring the championship home to Broadway Avenue? ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Ballplayers Score
Maureen Holohan's first book, Friday Nights, reaches out to young girls across the country. Although this series of books is written at a sixth grade level, they are also entertaining to the parents and teachers who read them. Each book in the Broadway Ballplayers series is told by one of the characters who live on Broadway Avenue. (Molly, Penny, Angel, Rosie and Wil for example.) Friday Nights is told by Molly O'Malley, a twelve year old girl. She is a normalpretten with a hot temper, many friends and a passion for beating the neighborhood boys at any and all sports. These ballplayers play any sport within thier reach. In this first book, the story line is based around a summer basketball league for junior high aged girls thoughout the city. Molly always pushes herself to the limits to keep up with her best friend Penny Harris. Penny, who is the best at it all, has fears just as the others do. They are the smallest and youngest team in the league, but that does not keep them from having high hopes of winning the championship. Holohan's series of Broadwy Ballplayers, is exciting to young girls and boys. In reading one of these books, a child would discover the good and bad of growing up. The characters go through situations that are very similar to what the reader may be going through. In this world of violent athletes (who this next generation mimic as they look to them) Molly and her friends prove to be valuable role models for young ones who love sports and look up to those athletes. Holohan's theme throughout he rbook is to build a desire never to give in to your fears. In her books the characters learn to work as a team and to encourage one another and never belittle each other. Holohan, a All-Big Ten selection at Northwestern University three times, also was the winner of the 1994 Randolph Hearst Journalism Award for feature writing. Now this young author, promotes girls participation in sports. Holohan's Broadway Ballplayers are entertaining, well written and exciting. Her characters do most of us only dreamed of as a child. For example in Friday Nights, Molly pulls an poutrageous stunt. During one of the first league games, while shewas angry, Molly ran the ball down the court and barreled into a opposing team member. She jumped, lifted her knees to her chest and simply knocked her over. Holohan's books provide good role models for young athletes, as well as entertain them.

Holohan Scores, Again
Friday Nights, the first book in the six book series, "The Braodway Ballplayers," written by former ballplayer herself, Maureen Holohan. Having a background is basketball adds extra spirit to this particular book. The story lines are based upon a group of local girls who love to play any and every sport. This series is geared to those at a sixth grade reading level. This particular book was written from the perspective of Molly O'Malley, one of the five girls in the group. Friday Nights is about these five girls, Molly, Wil, Penny and Angel who complete in a summer basketball league for all girls in the city. As in any book, the main characters must have some sort of arch nemesis. For the ballplayers, it is the Hawks. Losing to them once, the ballplayers are setermined not to let it happen again. Their practices are extra tough. They force themselves to become the team they never thought they possible. And having the help of Mr. O'Malley, Molly's dad, and Mr. Harris, Penny's dad, they realize that the championship can be theirs. However, obstacles must be overcome on their way to triumph overcome the Hawks. They must come to terms with other looses and learn how to handle wins. All this glory does not come easily for the girls. Practicing with some local boys to build endurance, self-esteem and tema spirit, the girls manage to pull together and make it to the championship game. Throughtout the book the girls learn the lessons of hard work, dedication and winning aren't always the best that can happen.

Holohan scores off the court
Friday nights is the first book in "The Broadway Ballplayers" series by All-Big Ten athlete-turned author Maureen Holohan. The series is generated towards an audience of fifth to sixth grade girls interested in athletics. Friday Nights is told from the point of view of Molly O'Malley, a junior high aged girl living on Broadway Avenue. Throught the first few chapters, Molly introduces the characters and each of their unique personalities. Main focus is brought upon Penny, Wil, Angel and Rodie, who become the subjects for the next books in Holohan's series. The story is based around a summer basketball league for junior high aged girls throughout the city. The "Broadway Ballplayers," as they come to call themselves, have high hopes for winning the league championship. However, the Ballplayers face obstacles along the way, such as the infamous East Side Hawks, a monstrously huge opposing team player by the name of Sheila, and even themselves. For the first in the series and first book by an author, the "Broadway Ballplayers" series really shows promise but with extensive room to grow as an author. The books definitely appeal to a younger audience and encourage young girls who play sports. However, if the readers are totally clueless about sports, they might want to pick up a "Sports Terms" dictionary at their local bookstore because of the constant use of sports lingo that would confuse the average or even slightly educated sports dunce. Overall, this book series is a great recommendation to sporty junior high level girls looking for books that coincide with their interest in athletics. Holohan shows great promise in her work, and we'll definitely hear from her in the future.

Ballplayers score with younger readers
"Sharp dialogue, good pace and story-tellingpower... noted Kathy Miller, English teacher. Maureen Holohan'sBroadway Ballplayers series has recieved praise from teachers and colmnists alike. Her books, including Friday Nights by Molly and Everybody's Favorite by Penny, are geared toward middle school girls and boys who show interests in sports of any kind. In Holohan's first Broadway Ballplayers book, Friday Nights by Molly, she shows the struggle of trying to be the best on the basketball court through the eyes of a mediocre player who wants to play as well as her best friend. The Ballplayers have to try to overcome teams with more experience and more height. Her series portrays the problems middle school students might have with sports, such as not giving up against teams with a better record, learning teamwork instead of arguing or desiring to be as good a player as someone else. Middle school students would be drawn in by this series. END

¿Broadway Ballplayers¿ Series Hits Homerun
It seems that everywhere we turn newscasts are full of violence. School shootings, gang violence, and drugs are full of a teen's everyday life nowadays. It is in a way a relief to know authors such as Maureen Holohan promote peaceful resolutions to problems. Holohan, the author of a sports book series "The Broadway Ballplayers" has plenty of experience, as in sports. She is a three-time All-Big Ten basketball player. Her series centers around the lives of athletic city girls. One of the books in the series, Friday Nights, centers around teamwork, friendship, and trust; in basketball and in life. Friday Nights, the first book in the series, is told by Molly O'Malley. Molly and her friends; Penny, Wil, Angel, and Rosie, are invited to join a city basketball league and to compete with other area teams. They create their team "the Broadway Ballplayers" and quickly begin to practice for their games. Throughout their wins and losses, the team learns to work together and to put trust in one another. Holohan's point is that teamwork pays off. She showed that when the team fell apart, their game struggled. Molly, Wil, Penny, Angel, and Rosie all had the weaknesses of any other child. Molly, for instance, had a fight with a Hawk player, only to realize how it didn't solve anything. By creating strong female leads, Holohan created a book that promotes "girl power." Young girls interested in sports will find this book fun and entertaining. On the other hand, a person not interested in sports may not find this book as enticing. Of course, it is a book for a young girl, so it's possible a boy may not be interested. This book is an excellent choice for the sixth grade reading level. The female characters are strong, they believe in teamwork despite their differences in color, size, and personality. It is recommended the most to girls interested in sports , though, most everyone will enjoy the story of Friday Nights. ... Read more

Book Description

Sweet P. The Real Deal. Big Time.

Some kids told me they'd pay cold cash just to have one of my nicknames. Even the big-talking boys begged me for games of one-on-one. Audiences crowded the courts as I smiled politely, racked up my points, and took care of my basketball business.

The fans always rooted for me, which was cool, but I needed a break from the hoops spotlight. I thought going to soccer camp with the ballplayers would give me a chance to live in someone else's shadow for once. But when we arrived, the coaches pegged me as the superstar the second I stepped out of the car. Soon I found myself running with a few campers who bent the rules....

Meet the Ballplayers -- a fearless five with a passion for sports, hanging with friends, and life on Broadway Avenue. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Everybody's Favorite Review
Everybody's Favorite by Maureen Holohan, the third book in the Broadway Ballplayers series is a third person account of Holohan's real life experiences. Making it a great book for readers young or old.The way shewrites the books makes her readers feel like they're actually in thestoryline. The way Holohan made main character Penny Harris into an exactreplica of herself adds to the book's excitement. The storyline happenswith a little foreshadowing that helps add drama. First off, theballplayers are trying to raise money for a soccer camp that theirprincipal Mr. Gordon informed them about. They enter a jump rope contest,have a bake sale, and a car wash in order to attend camp. After raising themoney, Penny and her friends leave for camp, not knowing what would soonfollow. Throughout the camp th ballplayers meet different types ofchildren, and once again the spotlight is on Penny and her skills. Everyoneat camp thinks that Penny is the best player and all want to be near her.One of the kids she meets is Kara, who many feel is just as good as Penny,who acts snotty the first day but becomes one of Penny's best friends.From the story's beginning to end Penny displays that she wants to be likeeveryone else and not in the limelight. All of the coaches and playerstreat her like a god, which embarrasses her. Penny also feels that theattention she gets makes her friends dislike her. When anything goodhappens. she does it, but if something bad happens. she's always innocent.Putting the entire book into true life perspective made the book excitingto read. Once someone begins reading Everybody's Favorite,he won't be ableto put it down until the end.

Everybody's Favorite is My Favorite
Everybody's Favorite is a wonderful tale of adolescence and the experiences with friends. This book deals with accounts that the children of today can relate to. Not only does author Maureen Holohan send a message, but she also connects with the youth with her writing of sports.In this book Holohan stays with a subject she knows well. She playedbasketball at Northwestern University where she was a three time All - BigTen selection. Also, in 1994 Holohan received the Randolph Hearst Journalimaward for feature writing. Penny Harris is a 12-year-old girl who lives onBroadway Avenue with her friends. Penny and the rest of the Ballplayersreceive the offer to go to soccer camp. Although all are in favor of theidea, they must raise the money for the camp in just one week. As the girlsraise the money and attend the camp, they experience new friendships, toughdecisions, trouble and fun. All this pressure is put upon one person,Penny. Holohan also relates to children when she tells of the real lifedecisions Penny faces at camp. The choices between friends and the choicebetween "crossing the line" or staying at the caibn are just afew she encounters. Holohan presents areal life problem with the peerpressure Penny has to face. When the game is winding down, everyone looksto Penny for the answer. Everybody's Favorite touches many important lifelessons. Sports is a subject almost all children can relate with. In thisbook the characters play all different sports from soccer to basketball tobaseball.

Kick to the sky!
This is a kick to the sky book! I would recommend it to most girls that enjoy sports. I think that the girls in the book are very smart and would be fun to play sports with.

Awsome Book!
This book is great even if you don't like soccer.Her other books are also fantastic. ... Read more

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The Broadway Ballplayers Excitement is in the air, as Penny Harris finds out that the Ballplayers have the golden opportunity to go to soccer camp. There's one catch -- they only have a week to raise all the money they need in order to go! Along the way, trouble abounds, and it's all up to Penny to work things out. ... Read more

Book Description

I should be an all-star.
I should be player of the game!

All my coach had to do was open her eyes. Then she'd see my all-star, MVP, All-American potential and I could start filling up my trophy case. Yet for reasons beyond my comprehension, I ended up riding the pine and singing the blues ninety-nine percent of the time.

Then my volleyball woes took a back seat to the task of bringing the gold home to Broadway Ave. in the Brightest Stars academic competition. While my dad worked double shifts to pay the bills, I knew my mother was watching over me from heaven.

I had to get in the game and I had to win.

-- Wil ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Wil has a tough life, but is always optimistic and real nice
Wil is an 8th grade girl who loves her friends and sports. She has some tough problems, though. She doesn't have a mother and her dad has to work all the time. She doesn't really have anyone to go to for help except her friends. They are a big help to her! Wil is also on the school volleyball team and she doesn't feel like she gets enough playing time. Her coach just doesn't think she's good enough. Wil is smart, so her academic studying just conflicts with her sports. She is very unselfish, because she is also (while all these bad things are happening in her life) trying to help out a friend because her friend has a very sick brother. I really enjoyed this book because it is about girls my own age and they like to play sports like me! I felt it was easy to sympathize with them.

Great!! Tons of real life feelings!!
I've read a lot of Maureen Holohan's books and every one describes real feelings. This one is from Wil's perspective and I really understand how she feels about everything. How Holohan can write with so much feeling is beyond me. ... Read more

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I should be an all-star.I should be player of the game! All my coach had to do was open her eyes. Then she'd see my all-star, MVP, All-American potential and I could start filling up my trophy case. Yet for reasons beyond my comprehension, I ended up riding the pine and singing the blues ninety-nine percent of the time. Then my volleyball woes took a back seat to the task of bringing the gold home to Broadway Ave. in the Brightest Stars academic competition. While my dad worked double shifts to pay the bills, I knew my mother was watching over me from heaven. I had to get in the game and I had to win. -- Wil ... Read more

Book Description

Be strong, Angel. Be strong.

I sprinted from soccer to cross-country practice, quietly reminding myself what I had to do to make it through the season. Staying in motion was the only way to keep the pain in my feet under control.

If my friends or coaches found out how badly my feet hurt, they'd prevent me from playing both sports, from doing the only things that could take my mind off my other big secret: the problems my parents were having.

-- Angel ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great Book
I thought this book was really great! I couldn't put it down. The way Angel never stopped even when her family was falling apart, or when she was trying to beat Becky at Cross Country was just great. The book was like a real life expereance for me.

Angel's good at sports; problems with family slows her down.
Angel is a very good runner who enjoys soccer a lot! This Fall she is playing both soccer and doing track. Those things kind of monopolize her life a little! On top of being extremely busy, Angel's family is having a little trouble. Her parents aren't getting along. Will Angel overcome all the hard things in her life? Read the story to find out. I really enjoyed this book.

My favorite book ever!
Each book of the series gets better and better. Don't Stop is the best one yet! ... Read more

Book Description

Dawn Miller and Eddie Thomas must have "get under Molly's skin" at the top of their list of favorite things to do. But I'm not the only victim. They're out to terrorize everyone -- the meek, the mild, and of course, the mouthy like me. Somebody's got to put an end to this bully business.

I know, I know, no fights. I've already been warned. I came up with a better plan: form a hockey team and beat Dawn and Eddie at their favorite game.

The Broadway Ballplayers are gonna bully bust Lincoln School.

-- Molly

... Read more

Book Description

"They might be moving, but I'm not going anywhere."

With the first girls' football league kicking off, my family could just go without me. I assured them I would be perfectly happy living in my best friend's basement, close enough to the park where we had to put an end to that powder puff stuff. With full pads and helmets is the only way my friends and I play football.

Aside from scoring touchdowns, I had some serious off-the-field business. The Ballplayers and I had to score with Operation I'm Not Moving to keep my cleats on Broadway Avenue.

-- Rosie

Meet the Ballplayers -- a fearless five with a passion for sports, hanging with friends, and life on Broadway Avenue. ... Read more