Parents' Choice Awards : Books : Fiction
How to Steal a Dog
Spring 2007 Fiction
Ages: 8 - 12 yrs.
Author: Barbara O'Connor
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
ISBN: 978-0374-33497-0
Hardcover Price: $16.00
Review:
Georgina Hayes’ father has just left home and his family behind. Evicted from their apartment, Georgina, her mom and her little brother, Toby, are living in their car. Her mom, working two jobs to make enough money to rent an apartment, is exhausted and under a lot of stress. Georgina, desperate for a home, comes up with what she thinks is a brilliant plan to make $500: she will steal a dog and then, upon returning the dog, claim the reward.
In spite of the possibly off-putting title, How To Steal a Dog contains a cast of charming characters: Georgina who although frightened of her new life, hasn’t lost hope to recreate her old one, Carmella, the sensitive, loving and now distraught dog owner, who gently forgives the dog stealers; Willy, the small dog with a big personality; and, Mookie, the wise man who helps Georgina understand that doing something wrong doesn’t help to solve the problems in her life. A story for readers ages 10-12 who are most likely themselves trying to figure out right from wrong.
Melissa Fox ©2007 Parents' Choice
Melissa Fox has been an independent bookseller for 10 years in Potomac, Maryland. Her specialty is young adult books and she loves to personally match teenager to book. She is married and has two daughters, one in college and one in high school.
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