Sable

by Karen Hesse, Marcia Sewall (Illustrator)

Tate is overjoyed when a scrawny mutt turns up in the yard one day. She even persuades Mam and Pap to let her keep Sable, named for her dark, silky fur. But before long, the incorrigible dog begins to cause trouble with the neighbors. Will Sable have to go?

Genres: Fiction, Animals, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Dogs, Juvenile, School

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Karen Hesse is an American author known for her children's and young adult literature, often set in historical contexts. She received the Newbery Medal for Out of the Dust (1997), a verse novel about a young girl enduring the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression. Hesse’s works frequently tackle complex themes, as seen in Witness (2001), which explores the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in a 1920s Vermont town, and The Music of Dolphins (1996), which tells the story of a girl raised by dolphins. Her novel Stowaway (2000) is based on the real-life account of a boy aboard Captain Cook’s Endeavour. Over her career, Hesse has received numerous accolades, including a MacArthur Fellowship in 2002 and the Phoenix Award for Letters from Rifka (1992).

Reviews

[Jess Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see any animal-loving student adoring this book, even if it is a simpler read for higher levels. As for me, well, I am a softie for any story about a girl and her pup!

[Yamir Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought the book was great, mostly because the book is about helping homeless dogs and me as a person, I LOVE DOGS. so I enjoyed it very much. I really like the part of the book when the main character Tate was not going to give up to find Sable(the dog) due to her parents give the dog away.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an endearing story about a bond between a girl and a dog. My second and third grade readers will love this book. The hard work and compassion shown by Tate is a great example of caring for an animal you love.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy and quick read. Good for the grade 2+.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet book about a girl and her dog. Would recommend for readers who might be a little young for books like Shiloh, A Dog Called Kitty, or Big Red but still want touching dog stories.

[Loree · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet old-fashion read. A perfect suggestion book for my less than inspired readers.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a quick read about a girl who finds a stray dog and wants to keep it. Her father is willing, mother not so willing.

[Ellen]

This is a heartwarming chapter book, perfect for the sensitive and possibly reluctant reader ages 7-10. Highly recommend.

[Gwen Testa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, sweet story- very easy to read with some illustrations-grade level 2 ?
Takes place in rural Vermont- Pap is a cabinet-maker and Mam is afraid of dogs

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why did I care to read this? There was nothing to it.

[Eben Holwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. My kiddos and I enjoyed it. I like how the little girl realized she needed to SHOW how bad she wanted her dog by working and taking responsibility.

[Chelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh. I think the only reason I finished it was because it was short.

[Perry Alyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful read about a girl and her dog in which the dog doesn't die!
Great book for beginning middle grade readers! I really enjoyed it!

[meg]

Read this for my 3rd graders’ “book club.” It’s a super cute read and I cannot wait to discuss it with them!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable story about a girl and the stray dog that wanders into her family's life. The book is written at a 3rd grade reading level but even younger and older students would enjoy it.

[RC Bazan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it , i would have worked so hard to keep Sable too. I wish it would have been more of the story , but it was so cute and loved the ending .

[Amanda Palella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this bc the kids in my class did😂😭and it was actually adorableee

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third grade reader for the library. Set in rural Vermont. Girl wants the dog but mom does not.

[Ginta]

“Sable” is the story of a girl and a dog. I like stories that involve animals and this is no exception.

The story takes place somewhere in the country. It is at Tate’s (the main character) home (possibly a ranch or a farm) (Tate is the main character in the story) where a scrawny dog appears. The relationship between Tate and the dog, Sable, unfolds in this country setting.

The plot of the story is basically girl finds dog, girl wants to keep dog, girl loses dog, girl gets dog back. Tate the young girl in the story wants to keep Sable. Mam (I assume Mam is Tate’s mother although this is never disclosed) does not like dogs and eventually insists the dog must go.

The theme in “Sable” is lost and found. Tate finds a dog in need of care on her doorstep. She does not know where the dog came from but the dog is in clear distress. She loses the dog when her father tricks her into giving up the dog. The dog is found again when Mr. Cobb (a neighbor) sees him after a big storm.

The main character in the story is Tate. Karen Hesse the author of “Sable” does not physically describe the human characters in the story however she gives a sketchy physical description of the animals. For example, Eden, Mam’s cat is described as being a crimp-tailed cat; Sable is described as having “bones held together by a brown coat. “ These are extremely brief descriptions but more than what Hesse writes about the human characters. Hesse seems to want the reader to get to know the human characters through their actions. For example, we learn that Tate is a determined and resourceful girl. She obtains food for Sable not with money but by doing chores in the local store.

The story is told from Tate’s point of view.

My rating for this book is three stars. It is a good story but not an original story. I think students will enjoy reading of the relationship between Tate and Sable.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ten year old Tate Marshall lives with her Pap, a cabinet-maker, Mam, and Mam’s crimp-tailed cat Eden, in rural Vermont. Tate is lonely and wants a dog, but Mam hates dogs because she was torn up by one when she was a little girl. Then one October day a scrawny mutt turns up in the yard. It is dark brown except for a blaze of white on her chest and the tip of her tail. Tate names her Sable because her soft ears remind the girl of the sable fur trim on her Mam’s sweater.

Tate even persuades Mam and Pap to let her keep Sable. However, it isn’t long before the incorrigible dog begins to cause trouble by stealing from the neighbors. They complain to the Selectmen, and Mam and Pap decide that the dog must go, so Pap takes her to the home of Doctor Winston in Concord, NH, where he is installing some cabinets. The doctor says that Tate can come and see Sable at any time. A little later, Tate gets permission to hitch a ride with their neighbor, Mr. Cobb who has business in Concord, but when she arrives, she learns that Sable has run away. What will happen to Sable? Will Tate ever see her dog again?

Most books like this involve a boy and his dog, but this one is about a girl and her dog, though it should appeal to everyone. It is truly a touching story. Tate’s attitude is not always the best, but her reactions to various situations are perfectly natural, and everything works out all right in the end. Publishers Weekly calls it a “superbly structured work,” and the School Library Journal says that the narration “is as honest and direct as the character herself.” Young children who have dogs or have ever wanted to get a dog will appreciate this chapter book. The pencil-sketch pictures by illustrator Marcia Sewall, one per chapter, are quite homey.

[B-zee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saya memutuskan membaca buku ini karena tipis, dan ini buku anak-anak, karena saya sedang tidak mood membaca buku apa-apa, lalu saya melihat buku ini dalam timbunan. Begitulah.

Ibu Tate tidak suka anjing, tetapi suatu hari seekor anjing muncul dalam kondisi menyedihkan, dan Tate langsung jatuh hati pada hewan malang itu. Kecintaan Tate bukan sekadar keinginan sesaat, dia benar-benar menyayangi anjing itu, yang dinamakannya Sable. Dia membuatkan tempat tinggal, memastikannya makan cukup, dan melatihnya untuk mandiri. Sayangnya, Sable punya kebiasaan buruk yang sulit diubah.

Beberapa kali Tate melatihnya, tetapi kebiasaan buruk itu memicu semakin banyak masalah hingga Sable terpaksa harus dikeluarkan dari rumah. Di sinilah bagian terbaik yang membuat saya memutuskan memberi bintang lebih tinggi pada buku ini, Tate sungguh-sungguh melakukan sesuatu agar Sable dapat kembali ke rumahnya, dan yang dilakukannya sungguh menyentuh, terlebih untuk anak seusianya.

Seringkali persahabatan dengan hewan menjadi sesuatu yang lebih mengena untuk diceritakan. Apalagi anjing yang terkenal sebagai hewan yang setia, dan saya selalu melihat persahabatan semacam ini justru melebihi ketulusan persahabatan antar manusia. Jika saya sedang usil sedikit dan mengandaikan Sable adalah manusia, kisah dalam buku ini rasanya akan punya banyak perumpamaan yang cukup mendekati sifat manusia (dewasa) juga. Namun biarlah keusilan itu saya simpan sendiri.

Kisah yang indah dalam kesederhanaan buku anak. Sesuatu yang besar bisa jadi muncul dari hal kecil yang tak pernah kita sangka sebelumnya.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet, touching story about a girl and her dog. One day Tate finds a scrawny mutt on her porch and falls in love. Despite her parents' protests and reservations, they allow Tate to keep Sable, named after her silky dark coat, so long as the dog behaves. But Sable has been a vagrant mutt for too long and continually gets into trouble, despite Tate's best efforts. After her father takes Sable to a far away farm for good, Tate tracks her down on her own and tries to bring her home. But Sable has already run away from her new home. Crushed, Tate returns home. Much to my and Tate's joy, Sable finds her way home and all, including Tate's dog-fearing mom, are happy to welcome her home.
As with Runaway Radish, I don't usually go for animal stories, especially dogs. Like Tate's mom, I had few bad run-ins with dogs as a child, plus I'm allergic. So I was never an animal, or even a dog, girl. But this book really played on my heartstrings. Quite good.

Oh, one thing that bugged me: the illustrator colored Sable tan on the darn cover of the book. What color do you think sable is?! Sheesh.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

By a Newbery author (Hesse). Girl finds a stray dog, naming him Sable, and wants to keep him, but her mother is averse to dogs doesn't want to. After a short while, the dog gets to thieving neighbors' food. Pap (dad) takes his daughter and Sable to a doctor's farm, miles away, and gives the dog away to the doctor. The girl misses her dog so much; Sable disappears from the farm. The girl builds strong fence to contain Sable if he returns. Many months later, the Sable finds his way back to the girl's home, and the girl is allowed to keep the dog. Not as good a read as I expected, but nonetheless, at heart, one every child can relate to. WD Breakfast Book Club pick - 4th grade. I thought it more suited for slightly younger readers.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story about a girl who finds a dog and wants to keep her. She names the dog Sable and grows to really love her. Unfortunately, the dog misbehaves and Tate's parents decide the dog should find a new home. Tate and her dad bring the dog to Doc Winston's and Tate is devastated. After she gets home she starts building a fence for Sable. Later on in the story, Tate goes to visit Sable, but she has run away from Doc Winston's. Will Tate ever see Sable again? Will she get to feel the love and companionship of having a dog once again?
Sweet story and a happy ending. Short and easy read, about 80 pages.

[Marianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stray dog waners up to the Marshall place and is immediately adopted by Tate. But Mam isn't too fond, especially after Sable starts stealing from the neighbors. A new home must be found and it seems that the ideal one is, but Sable has other ideas. In the end hardwork on the part of Tate and persistence on the part of Sable result in a happy ending.

[Munisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book!!! My daughter and I both loved reading this book. I originally picked this book since my daughter has been asking me for a dog and I keep on saying, no. This book made me love dogs! The story of a little girl who truly loved her god and found creative ways to get her parent's buy-in. Great read!!!

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

this isn't just a story about a girl and a dog. its about caring for something when you already have so little. its about working really hard for something you want so badly. its about never giving up. and its about a girl and her dog and the way a dog can enter your life and change you and those around you. I highly recommend this to third and forth grade readers.

[Anne]

This short chapter book is perfect for book discussions. Themes include family relationships, the power do pet ownership and obedience versus pursuit of a child perceived higher good. The evolution of the mother's feelings about Sable lends itself to group discussion and development of a group understanding.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for dog books and wanted one that would be a fairly quick read aloud for my 4th graders. My students were quickly drawn into the story of Tate and the stray dog that shows up at her family's home. I loved the themes of love, friendship, working for something you want and of course, the love of an animal in this book. I can't wait to have my son read it this summer!

[Mufasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sable is the cute story of love between a girl and a lost dog that she takes in as her own. This is a story about how a girl named Tate won't give up to keep Sable. I like that Sable tries to interest the reader by Sable going somewhere, coming back, and going again. Not only did they try to, they did. That is why I like Sable.