Dunk | 
 enlarge | Author: David Lubar
Publisher: Clarion Books
Category: Book
List Price: $15.00
Buy Used: $0.39
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Avg. Customer Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 998090
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.2 x 1
ISBN: 061819455X
UPC: 046442194556
EAN: 9780618194551
ASIN: 061819455X
Publication Date: September 23, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
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Product Description
To the Bozo, the clown who sits inside the cage above the dunk tank, everyone is a "mark." Once he has zeroed in on his victim, the Bozo comes up with the perfect wisecrack?something funny enough to make people stop and listen, and cruel enough to hook the mark. Now the mark is bent on revenge, and he'll buy however many balls he needs to hit the target and see the Bozo plunge into the water. It's a game that fascinates Chad, who lives on the Jersey shore, where the boardwalk turns into an amusement park every summer. He wishes he could shout at the world from the safety of a cage?his dad ran out on him and his mom, and now everyone seems convinced that Chad will wind up a loser, too. He's determined to get a job playing the Bozo, something he knows he'd be good at. Suddenly, Chad finds himself thrown into a strange and twisted world, where humor has far more power than he ever imagined.
With a crackling plot and smart, funny dialogue, Dunk pulls readers along on a journey that exposes a universal truth: We all need to laugh.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 DUNK March 5, 2008
I first learned of this book when a former student of mine e-mailed me one day last year and asked if I had read DUNK. I hadn't, but he suggested it to me because, in reading it, he had come to the realization that the character of Malcolm reminded him very much of me.
Malcolm, the Bozo in the dunk tank on the Boardwalk at the Jersey shore, was a comedy-loving drama teacher who made some money in the summer with an odd, but challenging acting job. I am a comedy-loving drama (and English) teacher who sometimes makes money from the occasional acting job, as well. I even share a physical resemblance to Malcolm.
Though Malcolm is not the protagonist of David Lubar's book, he figures prominently in DUNK as the motivator for Chad, a 15-year-old who needs to find his focus in life.
A love-letter to the art and value of comedy, DUNK clearly understands its marks (to use an appropriate word from the book) -- young adults who can relate to the problems, desires and angst of a 15-year-old like Chad.
Having just finished the book, I can report that it serves its customers well, but, like the dunk tank at the core of this story, it's not for everyone. I really wished that Lubar had not chosen to tell this not from the first-person viewpoint of Chad, but rather from the omniscient third-person. I think that Chad's lack of ability to properly articulate his feelings, surroundings and conditions prevents DUNK from being a beautiful piece that reveals gorgeous, poetic details of the Americana of boardwalk life, as well as being able to use more elegant language to bring every aspect of this book to life.
I also found that by putting Comedy (with a capital "C") on a pedestal, Lubar's humor would have been funnier. I found his appreciation of the art form admirable, but his actual use of it limited.
As is the nature of YA books, plotting sometimes becomes predictable and stereotypical, and DUNK does not escape this problem. The seriously ill friend, the local teenage "wiseguy," the over-burdened mom, and the red-headed object of Chad's eye end up exactly where you expect them to -- and you can probably guess what that is, even with my simple descriptions. There are no surprises here; everything is pretty much what you'd expect.
With so many excellent YA novels out there, as palatable as DUNK is, it doesn't quite win the big prize.
 Gavin's Reveiw January 24, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Ah, it is summer again, a time and place when the best things can happen to you. No school, no teachers and best of all, a time to do what you want. The best? Not for quiet, witty, and friendly Chad. His life seems like it is deep under water in David Lubar's Dunk. Do not be fooled by the name or the blurb of the story because once you get into Dunk, It will feel as if the book was almost super glued to the hands your reading with. Chad's sarcasm and plain old wit will make you laugh so hard you will start to have pains in your sides. Most humorous books do not have much of a true message. This book has a much better message than other thoughtful tales.
Chad's life is all washed up in the story when Malcolm, the man who has the job he wants, moves into his house. One of Chad's closest and only friends, Jason, has a terrible disease that is killing him. To top it off the love of his life, Gwen, who he finally had the guts to ask out is dating a drug dealer. Dunk is an emotional roller coaster you do not want to miss.
Dunk's sense of what life is about is what makes this book so incredible. It really tells the reader know how life is definitely not a walk in the park. There are similar qualities between Dunk and Be more chill. Both books explore the real thoughts of a teen and how the things that happen can get the best of us. If you thought Be more chill was amazing, then you will be drenched with on going thoughts while enjoying Dunk. Dunk's message is, no matter how cruddy or bad your life is, appreciate the things you have, and remember only you can change it. It's really all in your own hands.
With laughs, love and a meaning of life, Dunk will flood you with loving thoughts.
Dunk By: David Lubar November 2, 2006
Robert DiasMod 2
Book Review
Dunk is about Chad who is a kid that wants to be the bozo in the dunk tank on the Boardwalk. The real bozo is a guy named Malcolm who helps Chad threw out the book even though Chad hates him. Towards the end of the book Malcolm and Chad become good friends, and Chad gets to be the bozo.
My favorite part of the book is when Chad becomes the bozo. He finally gets his chance to get in the tank and let loose at all of the people. When he gets into the tank he freezes and doesn't say anything. Then Malcolm tells him to be bozo and not his self. Then he starts to be a good bozo and attracts a lot of people and he has a lot of fun.
I recommend this book for many reasons. This is more of a guy book. I would also recommend it to people who like suspense. Also I would recommend this to people who like comedy. Overall Dunk was a very good book for the most part. In some parts of this book it started to boring, but keep reading because it just gets better.
Dunk By: David Lubar November 2, 2006
Robert DiasMod 2
Book Review
Dunk is about Chad who is a kid that wants to be the bozo in the dunk tank on the Boardwalk. The real bozo is a guy named Malcolm who helps Chad threw out the book even though Chad hates him. Towards the end of the book Malcolm and Chad become good friends, and Chad gets to be the bozo.
My favorite part of the book is when Chad becomes the bozo. He finally gets his chance to get in the tank and let loose at all of the people. When he gets into the tank he freezes and doesn't say anything. Then Malcolm tells him to be bozo and not his self. Then he starts to be a good bozo and attracts a lot of people and he has a lot of fun.
I recommend this book for many reasons. This is more of a guy book. I would also recommend it to people who like suspense. Also I would recommend this to people who like comedy. Overall Dunk was a very good book for the most part. In some parts of this book it started to boring, but keep reading because it just gets better.
Awesome on audio August 20, 2006
I listened to this book performed by Full-Cast Audio. The actors were fantastic, especially Malcolm!
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