Review by Booklist Review
When pickleball fanatic McHugh breaks her hand and can't play, what does she do? She writes a book about the "most enjoyable game on the planet"--with one hand! The text includes essentials of the game, from its origin to the equipment needed to get started, as well as a guide to pickleball rules presented in an easy-to-digest layout with bullet points and boxed sidebars. McHugh writes with a lighthearted tone and a sense of whimsy that captures the lure of this wildly popular pastime. McHugh emphasizes that pickleball is a social sport--see the martini glasses on the cover--and even includes recipes for postgame snacks (sandwich bites made from peanut butter and, of course, pickles). There's also a chapter called "Cancelometer," which breaks down what kind of a friend you are by how much advance notice you give before canceling a game. Notable, too, are Jackie Besteman's bold, colorful illustrations, which nicely enhance the jaunty tone of the text.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this whimsically illustrated manual, McHugh (So Who's Counting? The Little Quote Book About Growing Older and Still Kicking Ass) lays out everything readers never knew they needed to know about the "pickleverse," from rules of the sport of pickleball to its quirky lingo and which cocktails to serve courtside. A sidebar provides a history of the game, while McHugh contrasts the paddles, court, and scoring with those used in badminton, tennis, and ping-pong. Though pickleball was falsely rumored to have been named after a dog named Pickles, McHugh sets the record straight about its origins (Pacific Northwest in 1965) and moniker (after a boat, not a pup). In addition to sharing tips for those interested in starting this "crazy game," the author offers a bonus section suggests appetizing pickle-themed recipes such as peanut butter and pickle bites and a cornichon martini. Hipster-styled drawings by Jackie Besteman typecast game players such as "The Urban Ninja," "Nouveau Scruff," and "The Gladhander." As well, celebrities who "jumped on the pickleball bandwagon" are name-dropped, including Brené Brown, Owen Wilson, and Savannah Guthrie, who's quoted as saying, "I like a sport where you could do it barefoot while holding a rosé." McHugh scores with this witty look at an oddball game. Agent: Chris Tomasino, Tomasino Agency. (Oct.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Pickleball is a hugely popular pastime, largely because of its uncomplicated setup and equipment requirements and its accessibility to people of all ages and ability levels. Books on pickleball seem to come in two varieties: traditional how-to/strategy manuals (Mary Littlewood's Pickleball Fundamentals) and lighthearted looks at the sport, generally written by devoted fans (Marlene Bell's Pickleball: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly). As its title suggests, this book by McHugh (So Who's Counting; National Parks: A Kid's Guide) falls into the latter category. McHugh begins fittingly with pickleball's origin story, including anecdotes from descendants of the game's creators, followed by a rundown of necessary equipment, the game's components, lingo, and rules, and some pickleball variations. Next is a section called "the pickleverse," an eclectic combination of game add-ons (optional accessories, drink and snack recipes) and straight up humor (fake pickleball quotes; lies to tell when you're ditching work to play pickleball). The final two sections focus on pickleball etiquette and spreading the word about the wonders of the game. VERDICT An eye-catching book that's both easy to read and informative. Will appeal to anyone curious about pickleball and to those who already love it.--Sara Holder
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