Dog Days

by David Lubar

Larry can't stop thinking about the growling dog in the alley. He already has three strays in his backyard. How can he afford to take care of another one? When his brother Paul points out a strange mark in the alley, Larry has a mystery to solve. What is the dog protecting? What is really going on in that dark alley?

Genres: Middle Grade, Animals

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

David Lubar created a sensation with his debut novel, Hidden Talents, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults. Thousands of kids and educators across the country have voted Hidden Talents onto over twenty state lists. David is also the author of True Talents, the sequel to Hidden Talents; Flip, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror selection; several short story collections: In the Land of the Lawn Weenies, Invasion of the Road Weenies, The Curse of the Campfire Weenies, The Battle of the Red Hot Pepper Weenies, and Attack of the Vampire Weenies; and the Nathan Abercrombie, Accidental Zombie series. Lubar grew up in Morristown, New Jersey, and he has also lived in New Brunswick, Edison and Piscataway, NJ, and Sacramento, CA. Besides writing, he has also worked as a video game programmer and designer. He now lives in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidl...

Reviews

[Tatiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apart from lacking an original title, Dog Days boasts a simple story about a boy, Larry, who cares for stray dogs and loves baseball and is fairly industrious, which isn't a trait you see often in kid fiction these days. Unfortunately, the other characters in the story were set decorations, and the plot was a bit all over the place, even if it tied up nicely in the end.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Larry works hard to take care of stray dogs and find them new homes. He gathers cans, papers, and tries to do as many odd jobs as he can. When he finds yet another stray dog (and the first one who growls at him), how can he find the money to save this one, too?

This book shows some great work ethic and creativity for Larry to take care of these dogs without any help from his parents. Even when faced with the disappointment of not getting a paper route he was promised and with the decline in the price paid for recyclables, he's still determined to find a way. Anyone who likes dogs and baseball is probably really going to enjoy this book.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter checked this out from the library, and I read it before she got to it. For the level of book it is, I'm not sure most young readers would find interest in it because 90% of the book is about nothing but hardship. It does have a happy ending, but I told my daughter truthfully that I didn't feel like she would enjoy the book. It is an ok book, but I wouldn't recommend it.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple story about a boy with heart and resolve to care for his pets.

[Kim Burean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good little book. It's short and would be of interest to pretty much any kid in 3-5th grade.

Larry loves playing baseball, and takes pretty much any opportunity to play pick-up games with his neighborhood friends. His brother, Paul keeps interupting his games to check out a dog in the alley. The dog keeps growling every time they come by, which is unusual for Larry because most dogs love him. He acually takes in lost or stray dogs and feeds them until he finds them homes. However, his money to buy dog food is quickly declining. He must find a way to earn money to feed the dogs, or he will have to let them go.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must say that I was a little disappointed in this book. It did not have the voice, spark, or humor of the other books that he has written. I'd like to say that my more reluctant boy readers ages 9-11 would like it, but I'm not convinced. It's a very subdued story compared to the rest. Just ok.

[Troy Meany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Larry loves dogs,him and his brother,Paul try to get money to feed the stray dogs. Larry has 3 stray dogs named Hobo,Duke and 2 new dogs he finds at his house and he wants to give them a perfect home.Larry goes around the block and to every restaurant,mall and market he can find,but he cant work for money anywhere.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not to bad of a story for younger readers. I;m going to give it to my nine-year-old to see what he thinks. I picked it up because I love David Lubar. And I must say that I was a bit disappointed because it's not as clever ad witty as some of his others. Still, I liked it. It's worth a read.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for my struggling 4th grade readers. It has the look and feel of a grade 4 book, with an age-appropriate main character that won't turn off 10 year old readers but with a simple plot they can comprehend. A good find.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, gentle story about a boy and a dog.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Larry searches for a way to afford to keep the dog that he already has plus the stray dog he finds in the alley

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is sort of a mystery! Excellent story plus it helps I like stories about dogs!