Book 35: Dog

Book 35: Dog


By Daniel Pennac
Scholastic Corporation
US 2004
Rating:
3

From School Library Journal


Grade 2-5–Dog, raised by Black Nose in a dump after surviving near drowning as a puppy, is soon adrift when Black Nose is killed by a falling refrigerator. He makes his way through the harsh realities of the dog pound, life on the street, travel on the Metro, and a stop with a kindly man and dog before landing with an erratic and manipulative child, Plum, and her indulgent parents. Plum initially cherishes her new companion but abandons him when her interests (and the plot) wander elsewhere. Dog runs away, but later rejoins the family, only to have Mr. Muscle and Mrs. Squeak, as he refers to Plum's parents, dispose of him. He rallies his companions to trash the apartment but save Plum's room, and ends up with her once again, but this time, supposedly, loved and cherished by the child and tolerated with some respect by Mr. Muscle. Italic passages conveying Dog's depressing thoughts and terrified dreams, plus rueful asides from the author, contribute to the overall weight of the story. While the narrative has some of the tone and misanthropy of Roald Dahl's Matilda (Viking, 1988), it more closely resembles Meindert DeJong's more kindly, better focused, and ultimately more satisfying Hurry Home, Candy (HarperCollins, 1953).–Susan Hepler, Burgundy Farm Country Day School, Alexandria, VA

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What Do I Think?
I first read dog in fourth grade, and decided to pick it up again this year. Dog has helped me see the pint of view the way a dog would see it. It's not the best book, heck I wouldn't even say it's a "good" book. But it's all right. I think I'll keep this one.