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Overview
Half of me was thinking, Georgina, don’t do this. Stealing a dog is just plain wrong. The other half of me was thinking, Georgina, you’re in a bad fix and you got to do whatever it takes to get yourself out of it.
Georgina Hayes is desperate. Ever since her father left and they were evicted from their apartment, her family has been living in their car. With her mama juggling two jobs and trying to make enough money to find a place to live, Georgina is stuck looking after her younger brother, Toby. And she has her heart set on improving their situation. When Georgina spots a missing-dog poster with a reward of five hundred dollars, the solution to all her problems suddenly seems within reach. All she has to do is “borrow” the right dog and its owners are sure to offer a reward. What happens next is the last thing she expected. How to Steal a Dog is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
Synopsis
Georgina Hayes may be homeless, but she’s not hopeless.
Publishers Weekly
O'Connor (Me and Rupert Goody) blends her usual poignancy and insight in another tale set in a small North Carolina town. "The day I decided to steal a dog was the same day my best friend, Luanne Godfrey, found out I lived in a car," begins plucky Georgina. After her father "just waltzed off and left us with nothing but three rolls of quarters and a mayonnaise jar full of wadded-up dollar bills," Georgina, her mother and younger brother, Toby, were evicted from their apartment. The three now sleep in their old Chevy. Since her mother works two jobs, saving up for a place to live, Georgina takes care of Toby after school, while carefree Luanne attends ballet class and Girl Scouts with her new best friend. A poster announcing a $500 reward for a missing dog gives the heroine an idea for helping to secure lodging. She diligently writes in her notebook rules for stealing a dog, but they turn out to be more complicated than she anticipates. The devastated woman whose pet Georgina purloins (and who is not wealthy enough to furnish a reward) and a wise and caring homeless man Georgina meets also affect her plan. Speaking with at times heartbreaking honesty, this likable young narrator convincingly articulates her frustration, resentment and confusion as she comes to her decisions. O'Connor once again smoothly balances challenging themes with her heroine's strength and sense of humor. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationEditorials
From the Publisher
“Will keep youngsters totally engaged. This novel’s gentle storytelling carries a theme of love and emphasizes what is really right in the world.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review
“This is truly Georgina’s story, and to O’Connor’s great credit, it’s Georgina herself who figures out what’s right and does it. The myriad effects of homelessness and the realistic picture of moral quandary will surely generate discussion.”—Booklist
“A suspenseful and achingly realistic story.”—Kirkus Reviews
“O’Connor knows how to spin a touching story, and reading this novel is its own reward.”—The Horn Book
“O’Connor once again smoothly balances challenging themes with her heroine’s strength and sense of humor.”—Publishers Weekly
“Will give a more privileged audience much to ponder.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“A must-have for a classroom library.”—IRA
Publishers Weekly
O'Connor (Me and Rupert Goody) blends her usual poignancy and insight in another tale set in a small North Carolina town. "The day I decided to steal a dog was the same day my best friend, Luanne Godfrey, found out I lived in a car," begins plucky Georgina. After her father "just waltzed off and left us with nothing but three rolls of quarters and a mayonnaise jar full of wadded-up dollar bills," Georgina, her mother and younger brother, Toby, were evicted from their apartment. The three now sleep in their old Chevy. Since her mother works two jobs, saving up for a place to live, Georgina takes care of Toby after school, while carefree Luanne attends ballet class and Girl Scouts with her new best friend. A poster announcing a $500 reward for a missing dog gives the heroine an idea for helping to secure lodging. She diligently writes in her notebook rules for stealing a dog, but they turn out to be more complicated than she anticipates. The devastated woman whose pet Georgina purloins (and who is not wealthy enough to furnish a reward) and a wise and caring homeless man Georgina meets also affect her plan. Speaking with at times heartbreaking honesty, this likable young narrator convincingly articulates her frustration, resentment and confusion as she comes to her decisions. O'Connor once again smoothly balances challenging themes with her heroine's strength and sense of humor. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business InformationChildren's Literature -
Until her dad took off and the apartment rent came due, Georgina lived a pretty normal life. She had a friend with clean clothes and the right bracelets, a bothersome little brother, and a mom who loved her. So when she and her family are forced to stuff their possessions into plastic bags and move into their dented-up car, Georgina has to figure out a way to get them out of this bad fix. And that's how she ends up with the cutest dog in Darby, North Carolina, at the other end of a long piece of string. Stealing a dog for the reward money seems foolproof: find a dog, steal a dog, get the money. But no matter how many times Georgina tells herself things will work out, they don't. Although the book's ending is neither too pat nor too easy, Georgina learns a lesson and her mom even finds a place to live. O'Connor's latest novel isn't just about being homeless. This is a story that's fun to read while it touches your heart. Young readers may choose this book because of its tremendously appealing cover. They may pick it up to read about stealing a dog. But they will be rewarded by more than a cleverly told tale. They will learn about a family who, through no fault of its own, ends up living out of plastic crates and washing up at the Pancake House. And young readers will understand that sometimes real life can make a good person do bad things.School Library Journal
Gr 3-7 - Georgina and her family have been living in their car since her father left and they were evicted from their apartment. Mama is working two jobs to earn rent money and trying hard to hold things together. Desperate to help out, Georgina decides to steal a dog for the reward money, laying out the details of her plan in a diary. However, the dog's owner can't afford to offer a reward, and Georgina ends up feeling sorry for the lonely woman. The girl also makes friends with another adult named Mookie, a kindhearted wanderer who is camped out at the abandoned house where she is keeping the dog. He shares his wisdom and offers help, whether she wants it or not. Georgina's narrative is honest and deeply touching, as she recounts how she and her brother try to survive their circumstances. Washing off in a gas station restroom and turning in grease-stained homework become fairly normal occurrences. Readers will identify with the agony and the embarrassment caused by being different, as well as Georgina's struggles with her conscience. The book's endearing humor smoothes out the more poignant moments, and the unfolding events will keep youngsters totally engaged. The gem in the story is Mookie, who manages to sparkle even when sadness threatens to devour the moment. Though set inside a heavy topic, this novel's gentle storytelling carries a theme of love and emphasizes what is really right in the world.-Robyn Gioia, Bolles School, Ponte Vedra, FL
Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information