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Rascal: A Dog and His Boy

Name: Rascal: A Dog and His Boy
Author: Ken Wells
ISBN: 9780375866517

by Ken Wells, Christian Slade (Illustrator)

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Overview

Rascal may be the happiest beagle ever to live. He used to live on Voclain’s Farm, with its whole jambalaya of dogs, but now he lives with his very own boy, Meely. Together they explore the Louisiana bayou, bunny chasin’, coon and squirrel huntin’, and crawfishin’. But when Meely gets stuck on a rotting bridge deep in the bayou, it’s up to Rascal—with a little help from his old friends at the farm—to save his boy from danger.
In the spirit of Huckleberry Finn, Rascal is a classic coming-of-age story, but from a dog’s perspective. With unforgettable characters, heart-stopping action, and charming black-and-white line drawings that capture it all, this zesty gumbo of a book is one to savor long after it is finished.

About the Author, Ken Wells

KEN WELLS grew up on the banks of Bayou Black, in south Louisiana’s Cajun country, on a farm where he and his five brothers romped with a dozen or so mostly adopted dogs, including a spectacular beagle named Tootie and a goodly number of barn cats. For a while, his family even kept a pet monkey.
Wells, a career journalist, is the author of six previous books, including Meely LaBauve, a coming-of-age story that was an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults. Wells lives in New York City with his wife, Lisa Newmark. They have two grown daughters, Sara and Rebecca.

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Editorials

Children's Literature - Annie Laura Smith

Rascal and his boy, Meely LaBauve, go on adventures like bunny chasin', coon and squirrel huntin', crawfishin', and exploring the Louisiana Bayou together. When Meely gets stuck on a rotting bridge in the Bayou, it is Racal who must come to the boy's rescue. The beagle enlists the aid of his barnyard friends and former owner for this endeavor. The author effectively incorporates Cajun dialect into the narrative. A "Glossary" in the back of the book defines Cajun terms and expressions, and provides a guide to their pronunciation. This allows the reader to be much more involved in the story as the Cajun language and the southern Louisiana setting come to life. The definitive, well-placed black-and-white line drawings capture the characters and events as the story progresses. The action and adventure are non-stop. Rascal's humorous personality shines through the entire story. This is an excellent story for a multicultural study in the classroom. The "Author's Note" provides an in-depth history lesson about the Cajun people of southern Louisiana. This novel is a sequel to the author's coming-of age-novel, Meely LaBauve, published in 2001. Reviewer: Annie Laura Smith

Kirkus Reviews

In this new novel geared toward younger readers, Wells brings back Meely LaBauve, the hero of his young adult trilogy set in the South Louisiana bayous. Taking center stage this time and telling his own story is Rascal, a mischievous dog who likes to chase the chickens on Nonc Noon's farm. When Nonc Noon gives Rascal to Meely, Rascal couldn't be happier. He and Meely traipse all around the swamps until the day Meely is severely injured. Rascal has to fetch Nonc Noon to get Meely some help, and he has to get past an enormous snake to do it. A full cast of spunky animal characters, including several dogs, a feisty Mama cat and two snakes, keeps this one interesting. Because animals and humans alike speak in Cajun dialect and phrasing, the going may be a bit slow at first, but once readers become accustomed to it, they will find themselves fully immersed in this South Louisiana swamp adventure and likely feeling quite the envy—hankering—for another one just like it. (glossary) (Animal fantasy. 8-12)