A review by uncle_remus
Boys Are Dogs by Leslie Margolis
4.0
I think this book presents real-world problems and offers possible real-world solutions. I see Annabelle facing several problems: (1) moving to a new home (gaining new friends / losing old ones), (2) living with a new parental figure (where she never had a male figure before), (3) moving to a new school, (4) dealing with several bullies (5) training a new puppy. I found the main character Annabelle to be a positive role model, and not in a superhero sense, but someone in which the teen girls reading could realistically aspire to become.
I thought the solutions were realistic for this age group, and the comparison (per the title) to dogs seems appropriate. However, in real life, I doubt the solutions would work, or work as easily or succinctly as in this book. But, Annabelle finds her voice. Hopefully the girls reading this will find their voices, too.
Not being a 6th grade girl, I cannot say whether they find it as slow paced as I did, or more interesting. I think some things are dated (cordless phone, Meatloaf / Red Hot Chili Peppers), but not overly so. 3.5/4 bumped up because of the positive role model.
As per my shelving, while I would not call a 6th grader a Young Adult, but I wouldn't think of them as children either (as in Winnie the Pooh - age). This book is somewhere in between.
I thought the solutions were realistic for this age group, and the comparison (per the title) to dogs seems appropriate. However, in real life, I doubt the solutions would work, or work as easily or succinctly as in this book. But, Annabelle finds her voice. Hopefully the girls reading this will find their voices, too.
Not being a 6th grade girl, I cannot say whether they find it as slow paced as I did, or more interesting. I think some things are dated (cordless phone, Meatloaf / Red Hot Chili Peppers), but not overly so. 3.5/4 bumped up because of the positive role model.
As per my shelving, while I would not call a 6th grader a Young Adult, but I wouldn't think of them as children either (as in Winnie the Pooh - age). This book is somewhere in between.