Dunk: Library Edition

by David Lubar, Matt Golden (Read by)

A sizzling young adult novel about Chad, a teenager living near the New Jersey boardwalk who becomes obsessed with the Bozo—the clown who sits above a tank of water, taunting people until they pay a couple of bucks to try to dunk him. But even as he tries to master the slashing humor of the Bozo, Chad finds he also needs to learn humor’s healing power if he is to help his best friend recover from a serious illness. Emotionally rich, filled with fascinating detail about life on the Boardwalk, this is David Lubar’s breakthrough novel.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Humor, Fiction, Teen, Audiobook, School

1 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

David Lubar created a sensation with his debut novel, Hidden Talents, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Thousands of kids and educators across the country have voted Hidden Talents onto over twenty state lists. David is also the author of True Talents, the sequel to Hidden Talents; Flip, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror selection; several short story collections: In the Land of the Lawn Weenies, Invasion of the Road Weenies, The Curse of the Campfire Weenies, The Battle of the Red Hot Pepper Weenies, and Attack of the Vampire Weenies; and the Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie series. Lubar grew up in Morristown, New Jersey, and he has also lived in New Brunswick, Edison and Piscataway, NJ, and Sacramento, CA. Besides writing, he has also worked as a video game programmer and designer. He now lives in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidl...

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gonna have to do yet another adjective review. Sorry.
This is sweet and cute.
And intense.
Poignant.
And funny.
Original & creative.
The characters are lovable (even Jason's mom, but maybe not a certain cop and a certain teacher).
Mostly it's believable but it's kinda a bit like a fairy tale, too.
And I read it in one night because it was one of my toss&turn nights AND because it was truly engaging.
Lubar is brilliant... writes for reluctant readers but doesn't dumb down to them at all and so the rest of us can enjoy his stories too. I will keep reading him and I recommend you do too.

[Luong Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

The world seems to be the clown and I'm the mark, always missing my throws to dunk it while simultaneously being insulted. This book reminded me of that while also having nothing relatable to me.

Anyways, this book tells of a struggle of a kid looking for a summer job while avoiding letting his friends know who is behind the makeup.

"Pfft look at this dude, needing mask to be a joke, I can do that easy! Get on my level boi!"

I rate this book a 5/5

[Amy Triplet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can see my elementary aged son enjoying this story, but why my school district would have this as suggested material for teaching to and with 9th grade, I am a little lost. Feels way too young for the target audience I was given.

[Anna Clough]

Have you ever read a book and felt like you wanted to be in their shoes? If you are interested in a chill and relatable read, this is the book for you. I chose to rate dunk by david lubar 5/5 stars. I absolutely loved it! The book has a summer vibe and made me miss being at the beach due to the fact it is set at the Jersey Shore. This book is written in the perspective of a teenage boy who spends all his time on the Jersey Shore boardwalk. Dunk will appeal to anyone, all ages and all genders would love this read. If you are interested in the beach, young romance, family and friends you should definitely try out this book.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet little YA book that was on the "books that won't make you blush" list. While I found the writing a bit telling at times, a bit uneven, I loved the subject matter and the setting - the Jersey Shore and a boy who wants to be a Bozo in a dunk tank. This book explores the nature of why we need to laugh and had a real sweetness to it, a hopefulness - something else I think we need as a readers.

[J.H. Trumble · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Dunk is not another book about basketball, nor is it about donuts!

What it is is a terrific book about a young man who aspires to be a clown in a dunking booth. And some other stuff. I very much enjoyed the book.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, props to this book for having one of the most original concepts I have ever encountered for a coming-of-age novel. The main character, Chad, is dissatisfied with a lot of aspects of his life: his dad is a deadbeat who couldn’t hold down a job and walked out on his family, his well-meaning mother won’t let him get a summer job, his best friend has a life threatening auto-immune disease, the cops constantly assume he is up to no good with zero proof, and the girl he has been thinking about all year is going out with his school enemy. In response to his poor luck, unfortunate circumstances, and perceived sleights, Chad fixates on becoming Bozo - the insult comic clown in the dunk tank of the Jersey Shore boardwalk where Chad lives. Chad obsesses over the possibility of being able to disappear into clown makeup and get back at the world by hurling witty insults at strangers, a possibility made more enticing by Malcolm, a Bozo with mad acting skills and a tragic past with whom Chad has a love-hate mentorship.

So, given this deeply weird and awesome concept, I was prepared to like this book a LOT, and while I did enjoy it, the story unfortunately had a few flaws that forced me to knock off a star. One issue I had was that Chad’s character growth took a WHILE to get going. There is a great deal of set-up regarding why he feels so angry, hopeless, and tired of the world, and this is valid and important, but that makes his turnaround and quasi-apprenticeship with Malcolm feel somewhat rushed. Chad goes from being practically catatonic in his depression to successfully healing his friend, becoming a Bozo, and getting the girl in basically a month, which seems kind of quick. Speaking of getting the girl, I did not feel like Gwen (Guin?) was fleshed out enough as a character, and to be honest I found the entire romantic subplot a bit unnecessary. Chad had enough problems going on to justify his dissatisfaction with life and longing for the Bozo persona; the time spent on his annoyance with Anthony “stealing” Gwen was distracting and not the strongest part of the novel. Also, Chad’s character growth felt SO SLOW in this respect, as he literally would not say what he was thinking EVERY TIME they met up when it would have been so helpful! Frustrating, but maybe that is an accurate depiction of teenage boys lol.

Okay, on to the good stuff. Malcolm was a super interesting side character, and I honestly wish they had spent more time on him. How did he first start being a clown? What roles did he play when he was at Juilliard? What made him get into acting? His tragic backstory and impressions were fascinating, but I just wish we had gotten more master and padawan time between Malcolm and Chad. I also loved that this book had an ongoing examination of what it means to work, make money, and like or even love your job. This is such an important topic that people often contemplate far too late in life, so I love that it is brought up and considered frequently by a teenage main character. Finally, the entire concept of people with illnesses being helped by laughter is so cool and made me want to research it more! Kudos to the author for exploring this phenomenon and adding it into one of the major subplots with Chad’s friend.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, even with its flaws, due to the originality of its plot and the intriguing concepts explored. Chad is a reasonably likable main character, and you may walk away from the book with a newfound appreciation of classic comedy bits.

Note: I listened to this book on Spotify, which has the FullCast audio recording. It was quite good, especially since I do not typically go for audiobooks. I think I would have equally liked reading this traditionally but for some reason libraries do not carry David Lubar YA books. WHYYYYYY?! Anyway, if you have Spotify, this is a readily available option.

[Richie Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

13 August 2002 DUNK by David Lubar, Clarion, September 2002



" 'It's got to be the worst job in the world.'

" 'Uh-uh,' Corey said. 'There are lots worse. I had an uncle who was a tester for insect repellent. They'd spray his arms with different formulas and then he'd stick them in a tank full of mosquitoes.'
" 'That's nothing,' Jason said. 'Back in New York, a couple of the older kids I knew made money selling their blood. You're only supposed to sell some every two weeks, and you're not supposed to sell it at all if you're underage, but they'd go to a bunch of different places.'
" 'Yuck,' Mike said. 'But that's not a job, is it? I mean, you don't do it all day long.'
" 'Maybe, but it's still pretty rough by the third or fourth pint,' Jason said.
" 'How about fixing clogged toilets?' Corey asked. 'That can't be fun.'
" 'That's not so bad,' Mike told him. 'It's not like you do it with your bare hands. My neighbor's a plumber. He makes good money. Now, sitting in an office somewhere, the same place all day every day--that's got to suck.'
" 'Depends what you do,' Corey said. 'I can spend the whole day on my computer. No problem.
" 'Basically, working sucks,' Mike said. 'That's why I'm joining the army. You know exactly what's going to happen, and they won't fire you if business gets slow. No matter what, you get your check and you get your meals.' He plopped back on his towel...

" 'Agreed, Corey said. 'Working sucks.'
"I hoped they were wrong. Two more years of school, and then I'd be doing some sort of work. Maybe I'd really get to own an arcade. Or maybe I'd be the guy sticking his arm in a cloud of mosquitoes. I didn't have a clue where I'd end up. It didn't seem like I had any control over that right now. Or maybe ever. And even after all these years of school, I hadn't found anything I thought I'd be good at. Until now."

There are a number of important themes in DUNK by David Lubar, but I was affected foremost by that of characters finding their places in the working world.

I remember being a young child and my father coming in the back door at daybreak, in the midst of a blizzard, after working a double shift in order to take advantage of lucrative overtime pay. He was an oil burner serviceman in those days--his late twenties--before Mom persuaded him to start his own plumbing and contracting businesses. Helping on the construction jobs as a kid, I was a front-row spectator to my parents working long hours together in those years of booming growth on Long Island. I also watched my little brother--the hustler--who was flinging Newsdays at ten and repairing cars before he could legally drive them.

We all grow up with a variety of adults and young adults modeling what it is to go to work. In addition to my parents, I'd listen to the stories from my grandfather such as how, before becoming a buyer for Abraham & Straus, he'd shoveled coal on the railroad during the Great Depression, and to other relatives, and I'd hear about the working lives of neighbors and friends' parents--some of whom commuted for hours each day to jobs in New York City.

Then there were all the grownups I came to know because I would always see them at their work. I think back to the butcher who'd reach over the counter and hand me a slice of bologna when I toddled behind Mom into the old shop with the sawdust on the floor. There were my pediatricians and the ancient dentist, the teachers and librarians, the priests at church, the milkman, the guy who drove the ice-cream truck, the waiters who knew my grandparents by name, and the big kids who worked at the movies, the supermarket, and the burger places. (In fact, I just reconnected with a close high school friend who used to work at I-HOP in Commack. A few of us would walk in there late Saturday night, and Mike'd fill us a paper garbage sack full of hot fries to go.) How did all of these working people influence my own pathways and attitudes concerning work?



We see ourselves as having more choices and opportunities in our lifetimes than in previous eras when it comes to picking a career--especially more so for those not born as white males. I remind my kids and students frequently that diligence at school leads to having a greater number of those choices available to them when they arrive at that time where they'll spend a large chunk of their waking hours at work. But we also watch so many adults around us--even highly educated ones--struggle to find work that they are good at, that fulfills them, and that pays enough to allow them to do it.



" 'You'll be working your whole life once you get out of school,' Mom said. 'I want you to enjoy yourself while you can. Maybe next summer you can get a job.'

" 'But--'

"Mom took a step closer. 'Look at me, Chad. I'm thirty-two, and I could pass for forty. That's what hard work will do to you."



DUNK takes place over a summer at a resort town on the Jersey shore. At the start of the summer a local kid, Chad, becomes instantly fascinated by a Bozo in a dunk tank. The Bozo's job is to sufficiently offend the "marks" passing by along the boardwalk, so that they'll pay two bucks to take three shots at hitting the target and dunking him. Nearly all of Chad's friends work summers or after school, and work is a big issue between him and his mom, as well as the reason for Chad's attitude about his long-absent dad. In fact, Chad has a wealth of attitude, banging heads with the local police, a friend's parents, and the Bozo in the tank.

That Bozo in the dunk tank is also at the center of the book's exploration of humor: humor as the best medicine and good humor versus bad humor. This is an interesting perspective that the author explores, in light of all of the tolerance and name-calling issues we are dealing with today.

Readers are also exposed to those classic big-screen masters of the one-liner to whom I was turned onto by a member of our high school crowd.

DUNK is a deeply personal narrative. I found myself rooting for Chad, who we know is far from being a model citizen, but who transforms and gains insight through the events of that summer.

David Lubar has done a great job here. DUNK will cause young adults to pause and think for a moment as the seat tips over and they plunge toward their own world of work in the twenty-first century.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
BudNotBuddy@aol.com
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_... http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...

[Alex Moss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summer has just started for Chad, and his favorite Jersey shore boardwalk has something fascinating to him: a dunk tank. The Bozo (or the clown inside the tank) would make perfectly witty and cruel remarks to attract crowds and hook in players, moving them to buy balls and dunk the Bozo for sweet revenge, no matter how long it took. After seeing a couple of rounds himself, Chad wishes to be the one that "shout[s] and scream[s] at the world from the safety of a cage" and finally have a summer job, to the disapproval of his mom.

If you're looking for a light and fun realistic fiction book for your next summer, this book is a good suggestion. This book took an interesting original concept and turned it into a great coming-of-age book. Even if it's just about a boy who wants to be a Bozo, it has other characters and details (like Malcolm, an acting professor and new tenant living with Chad and his mom) that will keep you reading. It also has great turning points and character development. I would have definitely liked some more indication or foreshadowing for certain events, though. David Lubar did a great job with this concept, and this would be a great secondary-school-level read for the summer.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book we’re you want to be in a persons shoes, and you can’t wait to see what happens next, because the book Dunk by David Lubar is exactly that. This book is so fun and exciting and always keeps you on your feet.
This book is about a kid named Chad and Chad is a kid who once was walking the boardwalk and a bozo, the people who sit in dunk tanks waiting to get dunked, made a mean comment about chad. Then chad wasn’t happy so through balls at a target to put the bozo under water. After that day Chad got inspired to be a bozo and happened to meet someone who is a bozo, and she gave Chad some good advice. Later in Chads life he got his change to fulfill his dream.
David Lubar is a great author that wrote many different children’s books that many people loved. The way David describes his writing is fabulous. The words in this book he uses are phenomenal. And if I ever read another one of his books I’m sure I will love it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to get exited about books, and wants to be in a characters shoes, because this book is both of them.

[Gee Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A boy named Chad who wanted to be the bozo of the dunk tank. Dunk by David Lubar, realistic fiction. If you like comedy and have a good laugh read this book!.. Summer at New Jersey shore, with its boardwalk of arcades and games, sounds idyllic.. But Chad is frustrated that his summer is any but ideal!

Chad is the main character who wants to be the bozo, he’s smart and is looking for a job.. Jason, Chad’s best friend is one of the side characters and Malcolm was a teacher at an acting school, he could act like so many people in such little time, but you’ll find out more if you read it for yourself!

I like the author's storytelling because he explains how the characters feel, what they think or how they act in a certain situation. My favorite part was when Chad and Malcolm started getting along with each other, talking more and caring for one another, I think others would like this book if they like drama, comedy, and surprises!

[Sarah Pitman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good YA read that stands out because of the unique premise and driving force throughout the novel: the dunk tank. A kid who wants to exercise power in his life by taking on the role of a Bozo Clown--probably would never have thought of that concept. It sounds comical and hard to sustain through an entire book, but the details and wide world of the protagonist expand the story to make a satisfying read. Gets a little didactic at the end, and while at some points this does a solid job of expounding teenage woes, at other times this felt like a PG version of teenagehood, softened for younger readers. But direct, funny, interesting. Great character quirks and voices. Enjoyed overall, though not a remarkable read.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this book up after glancing through a few pages. It is the end of summer and the beginning of fair season so was interested in the setting of this book. The setting is an eastern boardwalk. The main character is a teenage boy living through one of his last summer's as a kid. A typical ya book...boy, his friends, teenage drama, and of course a girl. However this was a well written book so the typical story didn't really bother me. It was written in a simpler time. Before cell phones and computers.
A plus to this book was finding out my oldest son had read it when he was in middle school. To read passages that he had read was a nice connection to the book.
Very enjoyable read.

[Suzanne Crane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with my son for a 7th grade literature assignment, (they were allowed to pick their own book to read.) This title was on a list I found of good books for a 12 year old boy. We both read it so that I could keep him motivated to finish the assignment by talking about the book as we went through it together. This is a decent YA read and a good one for a 12-14 yr old boy who might not love to read. There are some good life lessons about honesty, empathy and courage. Plus the major parts of a story are relatively easy to identify.

[Cameron Meeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was quite a good read. It talks about a boy named Chad in a difficult family situation trying to do what he wants to do. He becomes a bozo in the dunk tank at the shoreside carnival. This is a job he has wanted to do ever since he saw the bozo. The person Chad sees as his favorite bozo turns out to be his loud next-door neighbor who he HATES. He talks to the bozo and eventually becomes friends with him. He tries to hide his desire to become a bozo from his mom to not sound ridiculous. In the end, he gets the dream job he always wanted and becomes a literal class clown.

[DiNapoli Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up at a book sale skimmed the synopsis, I never fully read them because too many give away too much of the plot and things I'd rather find out by reading. so I was intrigued; Bozo, Marks, Insults, Jersey Shore (I'm a Jersey Boy), I'm in! Didn't realize until I was reading that this was YA. Even so, it was well written and interesting and actually a great diversion from my normal topics and very welcome after coming on the heels of a 400+ page clunker I just finished.

[Rossana Snee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved the three prior books I read by David Lubar. This was just as great. What a phenomenal author. He has a wonderful writing style.

This is the story of a young man whose dream is to become one of the Bozos at the carnival.

He eventually gets there, but his journey is worth reading.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read. Great story of teen boy with a wonderful, loving but busy single mom. Lots of teen angst about himself, is he like his not so great dad, will the girl like him, how to help seriously I’ll friend, etc. A clean read—refreshing.

[sharra.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd give all the stars for this book. It made me smile, actually laugh, goofy, sad, inspired, and everything. There were so many "quotable quotes" and beautiful lines. I've read this 6-ish years ago and I still love the book!

[Ryk Stanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I had the print version on my School shelf for several years but never read it, even though I like David Lubar as an author, but I saw the audio on Hoopla and checked it out — funny and interesting! Highly recommended, especially in audiobook format!

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book way back when I was in school and it definitely lives up to my memory of being great. There is a couple parts that are a little unrealistic but it’s nothing that distracts you from the meat of the story. Such a great little summer coming of age story. Very underrated

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars)
Fun and satisfying realistic fiction for early teens. Also, I enjoyed the setting of the Jersey Shore and boardwalk, and I definitely gained a new appreciation for dunk tank clowns...

[Daniela Colina Uzcategui · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the book really boring and without any really impressive plot twist

[LunaLord · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. It's an easy read and a way to help you think about life.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, realistic but fascinating unexpected twists and turns throughout.

[Patricia Kaniasty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. Kept me turning the pages. Really, there was nothing exciting about this story. It was just a enjoyable read.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because it was kind of random but I like random stories.
It was about a teenager,13 year old,he had a friend named jason who loved volleyball.But his friend jason gets hurt and has to visit the hospital for two weeks.And chad,the main character,is willing to walk their everyday even though its two miles.He also what to have a job on the boardwalk as a bozo,a person who sits in a dunk tank and makes fun of people to get them mad and through tree balls for $5 to try to dunk him.In the middle of the book he helped put a roof on someone's house.
He finally did end up getting a job at he tank but he was the ball collector and he wasn't very happy about it but he got paid $27 dollars every night and he only worked for two hours.Then his friend,Jason,finally got released out of the hospital and saw that chad was working on his parents roof.
When Jason recovered in early august that's when chad found out that the guy living in his house,his mom rents the top of their house,Is the bozo,he was mad at for a few weeks but then he asked malcolm,the bozo,to help him get ready so if he asks his boss if he could be a bozo he is ready for it.By the end of the summer,two weeks before school,Jason has a volleyball tournament and Jason couldn't compete so he asked chad to do it but chad finally got his job as bozo.

[Meghan Cleary · Rating 5 out of 5]

hands down one of my favorite books. I have reread this numerous times. If i'm in a reading slump, this helps me get out of it.

[Becky Ginther · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book wasn't really my normal preferred genre (I'm more of a fantasy reader), but I have to say that I really loved it. It's about a boy named Chad who lives with his mom and doesn't really know what he wants to do with his life. He sees a Bozo, the man in a dunk tank, on the boardwalk and wants to be the one in the tank, shouting insults at everyone else. Soon he meets Malcolm, an acting teacher who also works as Bozo, and they get off to a rocky start. Chad also deals with a sick friend and a mom who is never home to make ends meet, but he ultimately gets on the right path to discover what will make him happy.

I found the characters to be very intriguing. It's clear that Chad is seen as a bit of a "bad boy" because he doesn't do well in school and spends most of his time hanging out on the Boardwalk. However, because the book is from his perspective we know what he is really like. He doesn't do drugs or anything like that, and while he might not be the best in school he is a generally good guy. Malcolm is also a great character - he is an actor, and like Chad we sometimes find it difficult to tell when he is acting in life and when he is being himself. But Malcolm carries a tragic past that we slowly learn more about.

The plot itself was interesting enough to keep me hooked and to keep reading. There were lots of questions I wanted to know the answers to that kept me turning the pages. It felt like the perfect pace for a novel of this type - not too fast that I couldn't follow, but not too slow that I got bored at any point.

And finally, I thought the writing itself was very good. There were a couple of quotes that made me stop and want to write them down because I just thought they were great. I figured I'd share them here since the writing will be able to speak for itself better than I can talk about how great it is.

“What a stuck-up lunatic. He was like some kind of vampire, except instead of sucking blood, he sucked up people’s emotions for his own use.” (p. 55)

“’Laugh at me,’ I said. ‘Laugh with me. Doesn’t matter, as long as you keep laughing. Please, don’t ever stop laughing.’” (p. 241)

“On the other hand, she’d let me work as a Bozo, so anything was possible.
And everything was possible.
I saw that now. You didn’t have to live the rest of your life with your first choice. A choice isn’t a tattoo. You can try things out, test the waters. Santa Monica didn’t have to be forever.” (p.246)

[Sally Kruger]

OK, this is one of those books that grabbed me right from the start, but I know it's going to be a tough review to write. For some reason, the books I really like are the toughest to review. Does anyone else feel that way?

Summer on the New Jersey shore is all about the boardwalk entertainment. Chad and his friends walk from one end to the other every day. With little money to spend, they carefully pick and choose which games, rides, or food vendors will get their meager funds.

This summer Chad's best buddy, Jason, is intent on playing volleyball nonstop. Volleyball isn't Chad's thing; he is fascinated by the dunk tank and a particular Bozo who works the game. The guy is amazing! He picks his mark out of the crowd and hurtles comedic insults with laser precision. Chad watches him every chance he gets and wishes he could climb into the tank and yell at the world, too. When Chad first discovers the Bozo working in the dunk tank is the same guy renting their upstairs apartment, he isn't pleased, but when the guy offers to coach him on the finer points of comedy, Chad can't wait to get started.

The summer takes a bad turn when Chad's friend Jason ends up in the hospital. Normally, a healthy athlete with energy to burn, Jason develops an autoimmune disease that threatens not only his summer volleyball, but maybe even his life. Chad's summer becomes going back and forth from the hospital to his job picking up balls around the dunk tank. He desperately tries to use his new love of comedy to help inspire his sick friend's recovery.

Author David Lubar explores the bonds of friendship and the healing elements of laughter in DUNK. Chad learns that friendship is about love and laughter and trusting enough to share the good times and the bad.