Dugout, Volume 1

April 22, 2019
Twins they may be, but Stacy and Gina just don’t get along. Their rivalry extends to the baseball field, where they pitch for separate Little League teams. While Gina embraces her family’s secret, witchcraft, Stacy refuses, frustrated by related rumors that swirl around her family. But then Gina casts a spell on Stacy and her team that backfires, summoning a zombie who may not be entirely evil but definitely throws them a curveball. After Stacy accidentally curses Gina, creating a ghost, the two must push past their mutual animosity and figure out how to get rid of both unwanted creatures before their grandmother comes home. Tales of sibling rivalry may not be new, but Morse (the Magic Pickle series) uses his graphic skills to elevate the familiar themes—artfully defined facial expressions are particularly notable and amusing. The supernatural elements and their resolution allow for the girls to realize their personal preferences, physical and magical alike, and the teammates’ running gags (a kid brother deeply obsessed with boots, for example) provide a steady supply of humor. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. (June)■

May 1, 2019

Gr 4-7-Gina and Stacy, twin sisters being raised by their grandmother, can't get along. To make matters worse, they play on rival baseball teams. While Gina's team is on a winning streak, Stacy's team can't catch a break, let alone a fly ball. Her fellow Rooks are convinced the team is cursed; after all, everyone knows her grandmother is a witch. It's clear that Gina and Stacy care about each other, but they have trouble showing it. A fight between the two of them leads Gina to accidentally curse Stacy's baseball mitt, which culminates in the raising of an undead baseball player. Surprisingly, the zombie might just be the ticket to help the Rooks improve their game. Morse's artwork is highly dynamic. There's movement in nearly every frame, which can make it hard to distinguish the other players on Stacy's team. The other Rooks are all along for the ride and offer playground humor and problem-solving in equal measure. The story lags a bit in the middle, but sports fans will be so wrapped up in the baseball plot that they'll hardly notice. The zombie plot line is barely scary, making this an approachable read even for those who shy away from horror. VERDICT This madcap tale of strikeouts and sibling rivalry will do well in most young graphic novel collections.-Gretchen Hardin, Sterling Municipal Library, Baytown, TX

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2019
Grades 3-6 Twins Gina and Stacy love baseball and often play against each other on opposite teams. Gina is great at it, but Stacy . . . not so much. And, the rivalry doesn't end on the field. At home with their grandmother they are constantly messing with each other. Another thing these twinsies are dealing with? They come from a long line of witches, and once they turn 16, their grandmother will teach them everything she knows about witchcraft. One day, Gina decides to play a trick on Stacy by sprinkling corpse breath on Stacy's baseball mitt, and when the mitt hits the ground, lo and behold, a zombie arises! These twins have to learn to work together if they are going to be great sisters and witches; plus, they need to get rid of that zombie! The colorful, intricately drawn artwork is bolstered by the bold, dynamic lettering, which exudes spunky attitude. The panels and speech balloons are easy to follow, and the message?that working together is best?is a good one. A fun pick for baseball and zombie fans alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)