Is Dairy Queen based on real life?

You bet! When I wrote Dairy Queen, I’d heard of girls kicking on football teams, but I thought a girl linebacker would be impossible. Ha! In the fall of 2007 I had the extreme honor of meeting Holly Mangold, a Ohio high school senior who played offensive tackle for her football team. (She read Dairy Queen at preseason, and her coach called her “Dairy Queen” for a week!)

I’ve heard from several girls who, inspired by Dairy Queen, decided to play football. Sylvia Kuo, another Midwesterner (what is it with Ohio and football???) played on the Jones Middle School Golden Bears – that’s her blocking below. And Morgan is now playing in Alabama (thanks for all the emails, Morgan). D.J. would be very proud.

questions for readers   •   about the book   •   Dairy Queen awards

You were the one to inspire me to do it. Now that you inspired me, 5 or 6 girls smaller in 7th grade are trying out. I told them had to read Dairy Queen to get the full effect!

1. -Sylvia
   

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