Brooke Conrad is on top of the world. She is the star shortstop for her high school's softball team, and it is one of the best teams in the state. But everything changes when the shortstop for her school's baseball team gets kicked out of school, and the team's coach asks her to take his place for the season. She has never heard of anything so ridiculous - a girl playing on a baseball team with boys? Can it be done? She agrees to do it but instantly questions her decision. The boys don't want her on the team, and she struggles at everything. But she doesn't give up, and she decides she needs to prove something. She needs to prove she is good enough to play baseball - to her dad, to the boys, and most importantly, to herself. "A great book. I couldn't put it down." - Megan Managan, The Kirkland Reporter If you are interested in softball books, check out all of the Softball Star series: 1. A Different Diamond ; 2. Fastpitch Fever ; 3. Dog in the Dugout ; 4. Missfits Fastpitch; 5. Silence in Center. Each Softball Star book features brief appearances (cameos) from characters in other books.  If you like Brooke (the star of A Different Diamond ) you will enjoy seeing her again in Dog in the Dugout . The cover of A Different Diamond features Amanda Tsujikawa, a junior at Juanita High School in Kirkland, Washington.  Amanda is an infielder for the Woodinville Reign, a 16u select softball team from Woodinville, Washington.  She also plays baseball for several teams in the Kirkland area. Like most teenage girls, Amanda likes music, movies, and cars.  She has younger twin sisters named Lindsay and Emily.  She is an excellent student and she'd eventually like to be an orthodontist, cancer researcher, marine biologist, or an attorney.  She graduates from high school in early summer 2012. A Different Diamond Excerpt: The baseball team was gathered together in a large group on one side of the infield as Coach West led Brooke up to them. Their chatter came to an abrupt end as he addressed them. "Thanks for gathering together so quickly, guys," he said. "I'd like to introduce you to our new shortstop. Some of you may already know her from school. Her name's Brooke Conrad." Brooke had never felt so tiny in her entire life. All of the boys, the entire team, stared at her with blank looks on their faces. No one said a word. "Brooke was the starting shortstop for the school's softball team last year," Coach West continued. "She made the All-WesCo team. Not bad for a sophomore, if you ask me. And she also plays for one of the state's elite select teams, the Eastside Angels 18Gold team. Last year they won metros, finished second at state and seventh at nationals." The boys remained quiet. Brooke's accolades as a softball player didn't seem to impress them much. Finally, the first baseman, a large senior named Blake Henry, spoke up. "Coach," he said. "That's not a shortstop. That's a girl." A Different Diamond has been included in the Baseball Hall of Fame's library collection in Cooperstown, NY. It is one of the few books in the library's collection that features a teenage girl as its main character. Reviews from fans of Jody Studdard's Softball Star series: "If u luv softball like i do you'll luv this book. It's a must get!!" (November 27, 2011) "This book was the best book i have!!!! I just wish that they had more series of this since it was so good." (February 5, 2012) "Very good books. Even if you don't like softball you can read these because they also include romance, friendships, and peer pressure." (June 13, 2012) "This book is really good, and I have the same bat as the girl on the cover!!!!!!!!!!" (February 17, 2012) "You won't be disappointed if you read this book!" (January 17, 2012) "Awesome. This is such a great book...i never wanted it to end." (March 24, 2012) "I LOVE THIS -- [Softball Star] is three great stories in one book! I was sad at the end......BECAUSE i finished the book and i wanted it to go on forever." (April 24, 2012) Jody Studdard is a big fastpitch fan, and he has worked with numerous teams in the Seattle area, including the Northwest Lady Sharks, Bellevue Blast, Seattle Spice, and Monroe Khaos.  He is the author of several novels about fastpitch, including the first four books in the Softball Star series: A Different Diamond, Fastpitch Fever, Dog in the Dugout, and Missfits Fastpitch . All four books are based, at least in part, on real fastpitch players from the Pacific Northwest.  Jody is a graduate of Monroe High School (1989), the University of Washington (1993), and California Western School of Law (1995). In addition to writing, he is a practicing attorney with an office in Everett, Washington.