Y2K-9: The Dog Who Saved The World

by Todd Strasser

In a chat room, nobody knows you're a dog. :-)

Byte's been trained to do a tough job -- he sniffs out computer bugs on missions too dangerous for humans. But lately he's just been killing time, chatting with geeks on-line. Then Byte receives an emergency e-mail. The sewer system's not quite ready for the Y2K! And as the new millenium dawns, someone's about to unleash a virus that could back up toilets till the year 3000. Byte's about to spring into action -- and he's asking the geeks to help.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Chapter Books, Dogs

134 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Todd Strasser is an American author of more than 130 novels for adults, young-adults, and middle graders.

His most recent novel is Summer of '69

Booklist review: "Drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll, those hallmarks of the summer of 1969, are all here, but there's so much more. In this loosely autobiographical novel, Strasser introduces 18-year-old Lucas, who is bright and sensitive but also a screw up…. The picture painted of the Woodstock music festival shows the dark side of peace and love, and the prevalence of drugs is on almost every page…The best part of the book, however, is the one that transcends eras: Lucas' introspection as he contemplates his place in the world."

Kirkus review: "Strasser perfectly captures the golden haze of youth and life on the cusp of adulthood. Readers fascinated with this time period will find much to enjoy... Vietnam, Woodstock, road trips, and acid trips: a sweetly bittersweet, surprising, even melancholy bildungsroman set against a world in flux. Groovy, man."

His most recent young adult novel is Price of Duty:
2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
“Compact and suspenseful, the novel raises important questions about war.” – Kirkus 
“This thought-provoking book is both welcome and imperative.” – Booklist * (starred review).
"Rather than attempting to sway the reader, it offers awareness." - VOYA 
“Tightly wound and compelling ... appropriate for an older middle school and high school audience. VERDICT: Highly recommended.” – School Library Journal 

Bio: Todd was born in New York City. When he was young his parents moved to Roslyn Heights, New York (Long Island). Todd went to the I.U. Willets Elementary school and then attended the Wheatley School for junior high and high school. His best subjects were math and science. He also liked to read, but he had trouble with spelling and grammar, and didn't do well in English. His favorite sports were tennis, skiing and fishing. Todd went to college at New York University for a few years, and then dropped out. He lived on a commune, then lived in Europe where he was a street musician.

All the while, Todd wrote songs and poems and lots of letters to his friends back home. Finally he decided to try being a writer. He returned to the United States and went to Beloit College where he studied literature and writing.

After college, Todd worked at the Middletown Times Herald-Record newspaper in Middletown, New York, and later at Compton Advertising in New York City. In 1978, Todd sold his first novel, Angel Dust Blues. He used the money to start the Dr. Wing Tip Shoo fortune cookie company. For the next 12 years, Todd sold more fortune cookies than books.

Todd now divides his time between writing books and speaking at schools and conferences. When he's at home, he likes to spend time with his children and dog, Cooper. He still likes to play tennis and ski, but his favorite new sport is surfing.

Reviews

[Koen Crolla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps not the most Important novel Strasser has ever written (I didn't realise until just now he wrote The Wave), but definitely one of the better toilet-themed dog spy stories set during Y2K you're likely to read, and a cut above most middle-grade fiction. Both its Y2K background and its pre-9/11 terrorist plot obviously date it somewhat, but not in a bad way—it's like a cozy time capsule.

(Yes I read this because of that Tumblr post.)

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haha what a book. I would have loved this so much if I read it when I was 9 or 10

[McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was really cool when the people got together for the first time and the weren't really who they said they were on the computer

[Holly Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is hilarious. If this isn’t used as a primary source for all the hysteria going into the new millennium, I’ll be upset.

[Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I tried to find words for this book, but reading it as a young kid it didn't grip me, as a preteen and teenager it had me laughing and cackling as I held a flashlight under a thick blanket. It's the kind of book you need to be teenage to adult to really get the full whimsy of. It's somewhere between a Spy Kids dog version and one of those cheesy movies you watch to laugh at more than anything. In no way is this book bad, but even the summary ought to make you snicker.

It's a short read full of laughter. I recommend it as a once-read though, not a ton of reread value, but that might just be me.

[Lana Kamennof-sine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read probably ideal for a pre-teen, early teen readership. The basic plot deals with an attempt to foil a potential Y2K threat. A concept dated for a current readership BUT the notion of the major characters being drawn from an online private chat group; and how realistically they've portrayed themselves there, is dead on.
And did I mention it features a dog called Byte, a human secret service handler called Lassie, and some fun canid and plumbing plays on words?

[Thomas Hale · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up for a penny because the cover was very, very entertaining to me. The actual contents of the book are, at best, mediocre, and at worst dreadful. Even when I was in the target age range for this book I would have been immensely disappointed.

[Anthony Pizzicarola · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great American novels

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books from when I was younger, reading it now is hilarious.

[Kasey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute! This was one of my girlfriend’s favorite books as a kid, so I thought I’d read it. It was absolutely adorable- would definitely recommend (though kids these days might not get the Y2K references lol). But it’s about a dog who can type and a rag-tag team trying to save the country. How could you not enjoy that?

[Vaughn Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is cool it has action and mysterous stuff in it thats why i like it

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an excellent book.

[Becca Marie Kocsis]

A silly thing I picked up on Amazon for a dollar because I thought the cover was funny

[C-RIS · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book