I used to love baseball. In fact, there was one year where I watched every single game the Yankees played. That, and the strength of Dan Gutman’s baseball series, made me excited to read Two Hot Dogs with Everything by Paul Haven, a book about a boy who tries to use luck to make his baseball team, the Sluggers, win the World Series.
This is kind of a weird story, based on hidden magic rituals. I have mixed feelings about the book, because the theme of the book is taking the idea of superstitions and baseball to a whole new level.
Summary
Danny Gurkin is an 11 year old who absolutely loves his favorite baseball team: The Sluggers. The only problem is that they are an awful team. Year after year they endure horrible defeats.
Although Danny puts in valiant efforts to help his team by having two hot dogs with the right amount of toppings before every game, it seems to have little effect. He also has other rituals, from what he wears to where he watches the game.
Danny and his friends, however, come across bubblegum from Manchester E. Boddlebrooks, the founder of the Sluggers. Manchester’s house is about to be demolished, and they hope to find something valuable in it. The bubblegum, however, turns out to be much more valuable than they could have thought.
By chewing the gum Danny is able to change the outcome of the Sluggers games and make them play better. In fact, they are able to get all the way to the world series! But will it be enough to last the Sluggers through the season? What mysterious characters are still alive? And will the owner of the Tornados stop Danny before he can will the Sluggers to win their first victory in 108 years?
Review
As I said earlier, this book is really just taking baseball superstitions to a whole new level, with the magical bubblegum and mysterious characters. The whole thing is quite eery.
The book is well-written, and we are able to identify with Danny as we feel the loses of our own sports teams. For me, though, this book was just a little too weird. I could’ve been okay if it was just the bubblegum, but the whole history of it and everything was a little too much for me. Most kids would love it, however.
This book probably won’t be very well-liked by kids who aren’t into baseball. If they are, however, it may very well capture their attention. On Amazon, there is not a single negative review for Two Hot Dogs with Everything. That’s saying something.
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I love that title and the cover is intriguing. Thanks for featuring a baseball book I had not heard of. I’m preparing a future baseball themed post and this one is not on my list. Sounds like the public has declared this one a winner.
Yeah, I’d definitely include this one. It’s a pretty novel writing style and storyline, but good for sure.
I’m not a huge fan of baseball, but since watching 42, I may just mend my ways. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah, I didn’t used to be either. Baseball is a really cool sport if you can get into it. Plus, there are tons of good books about it!