alusetti's review against another edition
4.0
A sweet story about a girl finding her way. Makes me think about what is Hound Dog True about kids I meet.
notneb's review against another edition
4.0
Read this along with Landis, who was assigned the book in his reading class. This was lovely and sparked lots of conversation about friendship and anxiety and the ways kids can be cruel or kind to one another.
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the characters and the language in this book. It will definitely speak to kids who are shy about letting their hound dog truths show.
Review: http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2011/09/hound-dog-true.html
Review: http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2011/09/hound-dog-true.html
krismarley's review against another edition
3.0
I've heard wonderful things about Linda Urban.. And don't get me wrong, she's a talented writer...think I started with the wrong title? Not sure if this coming-of-age story lacks punch or I'm growing tired of the formula (gasp!). Probably a combination of both.
amyoakley70's review against another edition
5.0
Cute book for middle readers about a shy girl learning what it takes to be brave.
thebumblegirl's review against another edition
5.0
I truly wish that I had been able to read Hound Dog True as a child. Linda Urban's writing is sweet and refreshing, heartfelt and insightful - a book for all ages to read, experience and be inspired by.
Mattie has one week to adjust before becoming the new kid in school again. She decides that maybe this time it won't be so bad if she can convince her Uncle Potluck, the custodian to her school, to let her become his apprentice in order to avoid any moments to where she would have to be forced to talk to her classmates. She is very observant and records all of their odd jobs in her notebook.
Will her idea work?
Then the neighbors niece comes into town for the week. Mattie's mother and Uncle would like them to be friends. But Mattie is awkward and doesn't know what to do with Quincy who looks to be older and outspoken, the complete opposite of what Mattie is.
Will Mattie be able to trust Quincy to be her friend?
Mattie's mother, although very loving and caring, is flighty and in denial. Her motto being "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." After getting some advice from Uncle Potluck, she decides that it is finally time for her and Mattie to stay put for once. That they weren't going to run anymore 'when the going gets tough'... Mattie doesn't agree at first. She is having a tough time adjusting and wants to get going... will they?
Will Mattie stay "Hound Dog True"?
It is a coming of age story of a painfully shy girl; a fifth grader who overcomes some of her fears by accepting what is, opening up and accepting how good things can be if she allows herself the opportunity.
I truly recommend reading this book!
Mattie has one week to adjust before becoming the new kid in school again. She decides that maybe this time it won't be so bad if she can convince her Uncle Potluck, the custodian to her school, to let her become his apprentice in order to avoid any moments to where she would have to be forced to talk to her classmates. She is very observant and records all of their odd jobs in her notebook.
Will her idea work?
Then the neighbors niece comes into town for the week. Mattie's mother and Uncle would like them to be friends. But Mattie is awkward and doesn't know what to do with Quincy who looks to be older and outspoken, the complete opposite of what Mattie is.
Will Mattie be able to trust Quincy to be her friend?
Mattie's mother, although very loving and caring, is flighty and in denial. Her motto being "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." After getting some advice from Uncle Potluck, she decides that it is finally time for her and Mattie to stay put for once. That they weren't going to run anymore 'when the going gets tough'... Mattie doesn't agree at first. She is having a tough time adjusting and wants to get going... will they?
Will Mattie stay "Hound Dog True"?
It is a coming of age story of a painfully shy girl; a fifth grader who overcomes some of her fears by accepting what is, opening up and accepting how good things can be if she allows herself the opportunity.
I truly recommend reading this book!
rustyreader's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
couillac's review against another edition
4.0
Urban is so astute in her portrayal of a cripplingly shy 10 year old forced to move to yet another new school district by her vagabond mother. I'm not sure whether young readers would enjoy being in Mattie's head so much, but I was completely won over by her personality and her struggles. Urban makes her relatable, sympathetic, and interesting despite her withdrawn nature, and the supporting characters are lovely, if a bit idealized. I'd like to read it again.
theartolater's review
3.0
A Crooked Kind of Perfect remains an all-time favorite book of mine, in no small part of Linda Urban's ability to tap directly into the feelings and thoughts of the kids in her books. The great news is that it makes for a voice that is very rare in books for kids, but the downside is that, often, those books fall a little flat.
Hound Dog True is a short story about Maddie, who had been bullied at her old school but has a new school year coming up at a new school. She wants to be her uncle's apprentice, as her uncle is the school custodian, and the story follows Maddie as she works up to this.
It's a sweet story. It just...doesn't do much. It doesn't go very far, which might work for some readers but doesn't provide a ton of punch. The emotional hit that Perfect tossed me was nonexistent for me here, and while it's unfair to compare books like that, it's ultimately what I was looking for.
Hound Dog True is a short story about Maddie, who had been bullied at her old school but has a new school year coming up at a new school. She wants to be her uncle's apprentice, as her uncle is the school custodian, and the story follows Maddie as she works up to this.
It's a sweet story. It just...doesn't do much. It doesn't go very far, which might work for some readers but doesn't provide a ton of punch. The emotional hit that Perfect tossed me was nonexistent for me here, and while it's unfair to compare books like that, it's ultimately what I was looking for.
autumnalreads94's review against another edition
5.0
The first book I've read that has a shy person being shy and it was wonderfully done