Just One More Game: A Pickleball Quest

Retired firefighter Frank (Burnt) examines the allure of pickleball in this sweet if underwhelming account of why she and millions of other Americans are obsessed with the sport. After joining a friend at a community center pickleball game in 2021, Frank was immediately hooked. Here, she traces its origins to Bainbridge Island in 1965 and describes attending pickleball camp, tournaments, and the country’s first PickleCon. At each stop, she asks seasoned players why the non-volley zone is called “the kitchen”—a recurring question that promises intrigue but goes unanswered. At the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Fla., Frank, alongside thousands of other fans, watches tennis legend Andre Agassi play with the top female pickleball player. She discovers pickleball’s reach has even spread to prisons, including the Donovan Correctional Facility in California, where the Menendez brothers play. The book’s best insights explain why so many have turned to the sport: unlike golf or tennis, Frank notes, nobody has been playing pickleball since the age of five, creating a democratic environment where almost anyone can dominate. But such analyses are compressed into brief observations, as Frank focuses primarily on her personal journey. This is best suited for pickleball devotees seeking affirmation of their shared passion. (Apr.)