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New Kids and Underdogs
When perpetual new kid Robyn signs up her special needs dogs for agility training, she gets an unexpected lesson in friendship in this “well-paced…thoughtful” (Kirkus Reviews) novel from the author of We Could Be Heroes and Susie B. Won’t Back Down.
Robyn Kellen has been the new kid six times. She’s practically an expert on the subject and has developed foolproof rules to help her get Blend in, don’t go looking for trouble, and move on. Unfortunately, Robyn’s mom has a rule, Robyn must do an after-school activity.
When Robyn discovers a dog agility class, she thinks she’s found the perfect thing—but then her dogs, Sundae and Fudge, are rejected from the class. Sundae won’t do anything without Fudge, and Fudge is deaf and blind, and the instructor refuses to change the rules to fit their needs. Luckily, the instructor’s grandson, Nestor—a legend at Robyn’s new school—offers Robyn a If she helps him with math, he’ll train Sundae and Fudge. Problem is, Robyn isn’t so great at math herself, so she’s forced to recruit the class outcast, Alejandra, to help.
Suddenly, Robyn finds herself surrounded by people who do anything but blend in—and sticking to her rules becomes harder than ever. But as Robyn learns how to adapt the rules of agility for Sundae and Fudge, she will find that some rules are worth breaking altogether.
Robyn Kellen has been the new kid six times. She’s practically an expert on the subject and has developed foolproof rules to help her get Blend in, don’t go looking for trouble, and move on. Unfortunately, Robyn’s mom has a rule, Robyn must do an after-school activity.
When Robyn discovers a dog agility class, she thinks she’s found the perfect thing—but then her dogs, Sundae and Fudge, are rejected from the class. Sundae won’t do anything without Fudge, and Fudge is deaf and blind, and the instructor refuses to change the rules to fit their needs. Luckily, the instructor’s grandson, Nestor—a legend at Robyn’s new school—offers Robyn a If she helps him with math, he’ll train Sundae and Fudge. Problem is, Robyn isn’t so great at math herself, so she’s forced to recruit the class outcast, Alejandra, to help.
Suddenly, Robyn finds herself surrounded by people who do anything but blend in—and sticking to her rules becomes harder than ever. But as Robyn learns how to adapt the rules of agility for Sundae and Fudge, she will find that some rules are worth breaking altogether.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2022
About the author
Margaret Finnegan
10 books28 followersMargaret Finnegan's work has appeared in Salon, LA Times, FamilyFun and other publications. She is the author of the middle-grade novel, WE COULD BE HEROES (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)--NOW A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION!
She lives in Southern California with her husband, two children, and her dog, Walt. She loves baking, soft-serve ice cream, and walking her dog.
She lives in Southern California with her husband, two children, and her dog, Walt. She loves baking, soft-serve ice cream, and walking her dog.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 7, 2024
Wonderful middle-grade read about a young girl who wants her rescue dogs to experience agility training. Themes about self-acceptance and friendship are woven in among the details about agility/ability training. My ten-year-old self would have read and re-read this one until it fell apart!
October 31, 2022
Fifth grader Robyn has already been the new kid in school five times because of her mom's job as a biology professor, and now San Luis Obispo will be number six. But this time will be different. This time Robyn is determined not to stick out as the new kid and she's even created a list of 10 Rules for New Kids for blending in and avoiding the judgey kids. All she has to do is stick to the list. Luckily, Robyn has her two faithful and inseparable dogs, anxious Sundae and nearly blind and deaf Fudge, her supportive dad, even if he does live in Toronto, and of course, her mom.
One thing her mom is firm about is doing extracurricular activities. So when Robyn sees a dog agility class in the park, she is sure that is what she wants to do with three-year-old Sundae and Fudge. But the woman running the class says no, they wouldn't be able to do the agility course. Then, on her first day of school, Robyn meets Lulu and Marshan who seem friendly enough to even warn her not to associate with Alejandra, who's "radioactive" and cruelty nicknamed the Grape because she wears purple every day, but she also skipped fourth grade and is a whiz at math. Later, Robyn runs into the boy who had been helping the woman in the park on the handball court, whose name is Nestor, and his cousin Jonathan. And just like that a deal is struck - Nestor, grandson of the woman in the park, Mrs. Zazueta, will provide agility training on the sly in his grandmother's backyard if Robyn brings snacks and Alejandra provides math tutoring for the three of them. What could possibly go wrong?
It turns out that Fudge and Sundae really can't to agility training, but Nestor comes up with the idea of doing ability training instead, and it really works out well for the two dogs. Before long, they are joined by William, a friend of Alejandra, and his dog. But Robyn is so set on following her Rules that she keeps telling herself that the ability training is just a business arrangement and Nestor, Jonathan, Alejandra, and now William are not really friends, enabling her to keep her distance.
On the other hand, Robyn continues to hang out with Lulu and Marshan, despite feeling uncomfortable with some of the judgey things they say. Both girls seem to get off on other people's difficulties, shortcomings and disabilities, including Sundae and Fudge, constantly remarking on their sad lives (and I kept wondering why Robyn couldn't see them for who they are).
Nestor's ability class grows bigger, and the dogs doing it seem to be thriving until one day his grandmother catches the class in action. And she was angry. Will that be the end of ability training?
I've never been the new kid in school, but I have a friend who was almost as often as Robyn. It can't be easy to make friends and have to leave them a year later. This new move may be permanent for Robyn and her mother, which would be nice, but Robyn is still very defensive about making friends. I thought that her difficulties were realistically portrayed, though, and she was lucky to have a babysitter who understood what was going on with her. Still, Finnegan shows all they ways Robyn's Rules didn't work.
The problem with Robyn's Rules is that it means all her relationships with other kids is always superficial, and she never gets to see what's below their surface, what the other kids are really like or what their story is. And they never get to see the real Robyn.
As much as I liked New Kids & Underdogs, I wish it had been a little bit shorter. I thought Robyn's dilemma went on too long and she began to get annoying. I realize she was defensive and didn't want to experience the kinds of fails she had in previous schools, but her refusal to not give in to what she wanted was just too drawn out, especially given who Lulu and Marshan are. But I would still recommend this novel. It's a fast read and does come to a satisfying conclusion, with a valuable lesson for anyone, whether they are new kids or not.
One thing her mom is firm about is doing extracurricular activities. So when Robyn sees a dog agility class in the park, she is sure that is what she wants to do with three-year-old Sundae and Fudge. But the woman running the class says no, they wouldn't be able to do the agility course. Then, on her first day of school, Robyn meets Lulu and Marshan who seem friendly enough to even warn her not to associate with Alejandra, who's "radioactive" and cruelty nicknamed the Grape because she wears purple every day, but she also skipped fourth grade and is a whiz at math. Later, Robyn runs into the boy who had been helping the woman in the park on the handball court, whose name is Nestor, and his cousin Jonathan. And just like that a deal is struck - Nestor, grandson of the woman in the park, Mrs. Zazueta, will provide agility training on the sly in his grandmother's backyard if Robyn brings snacks and Alejandra provides math tutoring for the three of them. What could possibly go wrong?
It turns out that Fudge and Sundae really can't to agility training, but Nestor comes up with the idea of doing ability training instead, and it really works out well for the two dogs. Before long, they are joined by William, a friend of Alejandra, and his dog. But Robyn is so set on following her Rules that she keeps telling herself that the ability training is just a business arrangement and Nestor, Jonathan, Alejandra, and now William are not really friends, enabling her to keep her distance.
On the other hand, Robyn continues to hang out with Lulu and Marshan, despite feeling uncomfortable with some of the judgey things they say. Both girls seem to get off on other people's difficulties, shortcomings and disabilities, including Sundae and Fudge, constantly remarking on their sad lives (and I kept wondering why Robyn couldn't see them for who they are).
Nestor's ability class grows bigger, and the dogs doing it seem to be thriving until one day his grandmother catches the class in action. And she was angry. Will that be the end of ability training?
I've never been the new kid in school, but I have a friend who was almost as often as Robyn. It can't be easy to make friends and have to leave them a year later. This new move may be permanent for Robyn and her mother, which would be nice, but Robyn is still very defensive about making friends. I thought that her difficulties were realistically portrayed, though, and she was lucky to have a babysitter who understood what was going on with her. Still, Finnegan shows all they ways Robyn's Rules didn't work.
The problem with Robyn's Rules is that it means all her relationships with other kids is always superficial, and she never gets to see what's below their surface, what the other kids are really like or what their story is. And they never get to see the real Robyn.
As much as I liked New Kids & Underdogs, I wish it had been a little bit shorter. I thought Robyn's dilemma went on too long and she began to get annoying. I realize she was defensive and didn't want to experience the kinds of fails she had in previous schools, but her refusal to not give in to what she wanted was just too drawn out, especially given who Lulu and Marshan are. But I would still recommend this novel. It's a fast read and does come to a satisfying conclusion, with a valuable lesson for anyone, whether they are new kids or not.
October 17, 2022
Robyn is the perpetual new kid, having moved every few years for her mom's work as a biology professor. She really wants to fit in and not stand out in a bad way at her new school in San Luis Opisbo. She's even developed a list of rules to help her get by, but a dog agility class and desire to train her two dogs throws a wrench in her plan. On her first day of school, Robyn does meet two girls, Marshan and Lulu who seem welcoming, but who also warn her about purple loving Alejandara, aka "the grape." Associating with her would make Robyn stand out, and that just won't do. Then she meets Nestor, who's grandma runs the agility class she hopes to join, but when his grandma informs her that Robyn's dogs aren't suitable for training because Fudge can't hear or see, and Sundae has anxiety if not near Fudge, she's forced to try and make an agreement with Nestor for training. In exchange for her help with fractions, he agrees to teach her dogs. The only problem, she's not very good at math either. Can she throw out all her rules and agree to Alejandara joining their group to make the ability training work?
New Kids and Underdogs is from the same author who wrote We Could Be Heroes, another beautiful story featuring a young boy with Autism who gets pulled into helping a girl save the dog next door. One thing that I've enjoyed about reading both of these books is the dynamics between the main characters. How they're developing their relationships and having to resolve conflicts and collaborate, sharing their own strengths. Robyn and her new friends put in a lot of effort to train Sundae and Fudge. Things don't always go smoothly, but they seem to come up with alternative plans. At times I could identify with Robyn's feelings of wanting to fit in. How she chooses Lulu and Marshan as a means of not standing out despite them being gossipy and their strange obsession with how sad people are. I get why she's leery of them. I could also identify with the feeling of jealousy when Alejandra, Jonathen and Nestor start to get closer while training Fudge. That feeling of being left out and missing out on the closeness that they shared. The story makes you think about the way that some kids navigate school looking for their pack. Their core group of friends that seemingly have your back. I also really liked how the agility training was adapted into one of ability and the ways in which Robyn changed to be a more supportive and better friend. ** A huge thank you to Blue Slip Media for the E-ARC**
New Kids and Underdogs is from the same author who wrote We Could Be Heroes, another beautiful story featuring a young boy with Autism who gets pulled into helping a girl save the dog next door. One thing that I've enjoyed about reading both of these books is the dynamics between the main characters. How they're developing their relationships and having to resolve conflicts and collaborate, sharing their own strengths. Robyn and her new friends put in a lot of effort to train Sundae and Fudge. Things don't always go smoothly, but they seem to come up with alternative plans. At times I could identify with Robyn's feelings of wanting to fit in. How she chooses Lulu and Marshan as a means of not standing out despite them being gossipy and their strange obsession with how sad people are. I get why she's leery of them. I could also identify with the feeling of jealousy when Alejandra, Jonathen and Nestor start to get closer while training Fudge. That feeling of being left out and missing out on the closeness that they shared. The story makes you think about the way that some kids navigate school looking for their pack. Their core group of friends that seemingly have your back. I also really liked how the agility training was adapted into one of ability and the ways in which Robyn changed to be a more supportive and better friend. ** A huge thank you to Blue Slip Media for the E-ARC**
November 12, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Robyn's mother is a biology professor who has been changing jobs every year and moving the two across the country, finally landing in San Luis Opisbo, where she might get tenure if she publishes enough. Robyn spends summers with her father, and is glad to get back to her dogs, Fudge and Sundae. Preparing to be the new kid in school yet again is not as much fun, and fifth grade looks to be a bit daunting. Robyn has made a list of rules, and knows the kids to avoid and the ones to befriend. Alejandra, who has skipped a grade and wears all purple, is "radioactive", and associating with her would make Robyn "radioactive" as well. Lulu and Marshan seem nice, and have more socially acceptable interests, and Robyn hangs out with them even though some of their attitudes annoy her. Forced to do an activity by her mother, Robyn is interested in a local dog agility training program, but the owner, Mrs. Zazueta, thinks that Sundae and Fudge are not suited to the training due to Fudge's poor sight and hearing, and Sundae's anxiety when not with Fudge. Mrs. Z's grandson, Nestor, learns that Robyn has been turned away, but makes her a deal; if she can tutor him and his friend Jonathan in math, he'll teach the dogs. Robyn's math isn't great, but Alejandra offers to add her skills to the pot. Soon, the four area working together and having a great time. It's still a balance to spend time with people she likes and to placate Lulu and Marsahn, but Robyn does her best. The dogs are prospering, but how far can the training go before Mrs. Z finds out?
Strengths: Robyn's grasp of how to fit in to a new school is very mature, and she does a good job following most of her own rules. Lulu and Marshan are interesting characters in that they aren't mean and they don't really do anything horrible, but they do overly sympathize with Robyn and want to hear how horrible things are for her as well as for Fudge. (Who has limited hearing and sight almost exactly the same way my dog does, so I know it's not too bad.) Robyn has a supportive mother and a college aged babysitter, Nivien, and the other children have supportive adults as well, although we do learn that Alejandra's mother has been deported. The dog training details are all very good.
Weaknesses: Robyn is in fifth grade, and there are a lot of details about classroom events and playground antics that make this more interesting to elementary students.
What I really think: I really enjoyed this and would definitely buy it for an elementary school, but because of the age of the characters I think I will stick to Behrens' The Fast and the Furriest and Sorosiak's I, Cosmo when it comes to dog training books.
Robyn's mother is a biology professor who has been changing jobs every year and moving the two across the country, finally landing in San Luis Opisbo, where she might get tenure if she publishes enough. Robyn spends summers with her father, and is glad to get back to her dogs, Fudge and Sundae. Preparing to be the new kid in school yet again is not as much fun, and fifth grade looks to be a bit daunting. Robyn has made a list of rules, and knows the kids to avoid and the ones to befriend. Alejandra, who has skipped a grade and wears all purple, is "radioactive", and associating with her would make Robyn "radioactive" as well. Lulu and Marshan seem nice, and have more socially acceptable interests, and Robyn hangs out with them even though some of their attitudes annoy her. Forced to do an activity by her mother, Robyn is interested in a local dog agility training program, but the owner, Mrs. Zazueta, thinks that Sundae and Fudge are not suited to the training due to Fudge's poor sight and hearing, and Sundae's anxiety when not with Fudge. Mrs. Z's grandson, Nestor, learns that Robyn has been turned away, but makes her a deal; if she can tutor him and his friend Jonathan in math, he'll teach the dogs. Robyn's math isn't great, but Alejandra offers to add her skills to the pot. Soon, the four area working together and having a great time. It's still a balance to spend time with people she likes and to placate Lulu and Marsahn, but Robyn does her best. The dogs are prospering, but how far can the training go before Mrs. Z finds out?
Strengths: Robyn's grasp of how to fit in to a new school is very mature, and she does a good job following most of her own rules. Lulu and Marshan are interesting characters in that they aren't mean and they don't really do anything horrible, but they do overly sympathize with Robyn and want to hear how horrible things are for her as well as for Fudge. (Who has limited hearing and sight almost exactly the same way my dog does, so I know it's not too bad.) Robyn has a supportive mother and a college aged babysitter, Nivien, and the other children have supportive adults as well, although we do learn that Alejandra's mother has been deported. The dog training details are all very good.
Weaknesses: Robyn is in fifth grade, and there are a lot of details about classroom events and playground antics that make this more interesting to elementary students.
What I really think: I really enjoyed this and would definitely buy it for an elementary school, but because of the age of the characters I think I will stick to Behrens' The Fast and the Furriest and Sorosiak's I, Cosmo when it comes to dog training books.
December 8, 2022
4.5 stars!
Robyn has been the new kid in school six times. Her mom, a university professor, has taken a new job every year since Robyn was in kindergarten, which makes Robyn very experienced at being the new kid. To help her cope, she’s developed a list of ten rules for new kids. She knows if she just follows the rules, all will be well.
Robyn’s not alone when she and her mom move. For the past few years, they’ve been joined by her Jack Russell Terriers, Fudge, who is deaf and can only see a foot in front of him, and Sundae, who is terrified of doing anything without Fudge. She may not have many friends, but Fudge and Sundae worship her.
There are a few more things that always happen when Robyn moves. First her mom hires a university student to be with Robyn after school and secondly her mom insists Robyn join some after school activities. With this move, though, Robyn digs in her heels. No more activities. That is until she sees a dog agility class in the park and immediately knows that’s the activity for her. That is, until the teacher says no to dogs with disabilities. Robyn’s not ready to take no for an answer, so she turns to the agility teacher’s grandson. Together, they and some of his quirky friends, decide to trade math tutoring for ability training for Fudge and Sundae. But if Robyn is friends with these kids, she realizes she’s breaking lots of her own rules about fitting in. Is there a time to look outside your rules and maybe follow your heart?
Many thanks to @blue_slip_media for sharing this story about finding confidence in yourself and understanding you don’t always need to blend in. It’s truly okay to just be you.
Robyn has been the new kid in school six times. Her mom, a university professor, has taken a new job every year since Robyn was in kindergarten, which makes Robyn very experienced at being the new kid. To help her cope, she’s developed a list of ten rules for new kids. She knows if she just follows the rules, all will be well.
Robyn’s not alone when she and her mom move. For the past few years, they’ve been joined by her Jack Russell Terriers, Fudge, who is deaf and can only see a foot in front of him, and Sundae, who is terrified of doing anything without Fudge. She may not have many friends, but Fudge and Sundae worship her.
There are a few more things that always happen when Robyn moves. First her mom hires a university student to be with Robyn after school and secondly her mom insists Robyn join some after school activities. With this move, though, Robyn digs in her heels. No more activities. That is until she sees a dog agility class in the park and immediately knows that’s the activity for her. That is, until the teacher says no to dogs with disabilities. Robyn’s not ready to take no for an answer, so she turns to the agility teacher’s grandson. Together, they and some of his quirky friends, decide to trade math tutoring for ability training for Fudge and Sundae. But if Robyn is friends with these kids, she realizes she’s breaking lots of her own rules about fitting in. Is there a time to look outside your rules and maybe follow your heart?
Many thanks to @blue_slip_media for sharing this story about finding confidence in yourself and understanding you don’t always need to blend in. It’s truly okay to just be you.
January 21, 2023
“Nestor shrugged, but Robyn still couldn’t quite believe that they were tossing out the rule book. Rules, after all, were her friends. Then again, any rules that only worked for the perfect Gigantes of the world didn’t seem like very good rules.”
Robyn is the new kid in school for the sixth time, thanks to her single mum’s job as a university professor. Surviving middle school can be worse than surviving a jungle, so Robyn made rules for herself.
But brokering a deal with a schoolmate to get her pair of Jack Russell terriers (rescued from a hoarder) agility trained, makes her question whether her rules to survive are necessarily founded upon the right values.
My favourite part of the book was towards the end, when Robyn realises that the popular ‘friends’ who help her to blend in, are rather hypocritical. There is a stout defence of how people or dogs are not their disability, and stinging criticism of those who feed off others’ tragedies, as well as constantly lament about others’ ‘sad situations’ without true empathy.
Robyn is the new kid in school for the sixth time, thanks to her single mum’s job as a university professor. Surviving middle school can be worse than surviving a jungle, so Robyn made rules for herself.
But brokering a deal with a schoolmate to get her pair of Jack Russell terriers (rescued from a hoarder) agility trained, makes her question whether her rules to survive are necessarily founded upon the right values.
My favourite part of the book was towards the end, when Robyn realises that the popular ‘friends’ who help her to blend in, are rather hypocritical. There is a stout defence of how people or dogs are not their disability, and stinging criticism of those who feed off others’ tragedies, as well as constantly lament about others’ ‘sad situations’ without true empathy.
January 10, 2023
Robyn Kellen has been the new kid six times. She has a set of rules for being the new kid. Her mom has promised her that this will be the last move. Robyn has heard this before. Robyn, her mom and the two rescue dogs Sundae and Fudge are adjusting to their new life. This is a great story about caring for dogs with special needs and being able to put your guard down so that you can experience life. Read this book in one sitting.
June 15, 2023
We read this as a family and we all enjoyed this book! There were three things I thought the author did particularly well:
1.) Observed and revealed the dynamic of kids in a way that isn't often portrayed in literature.
2.) Wrote about agility training in a dynamic kid friendly way. And when have you ever read about agility training?
3.) Brought in humor. Just the word "Bruce" could get my kid laughing.
Highly recommended.
1.) Observed and revealed the dynamic of kids in a way that isn't often portrayed in literature.
2.) Wrote about agility training in a dynamic kid friendly way. And when have you ever read about agility training?
3.) Brought in humor. Just the word "Bruce" could get my kid laughing.
Highly recommended.
June 9, 2023
Margaret Finnegan writes such great fiction for the middle grade age group! I've read a couple of her books now, and this one is just as charming and funny as the others, with well drawn characters and situations, especially about kids just trying to fit in. It's wit and humor, with real life mixed in. A great book for a kid's summer reading.
November 8, 2024
A surprisingly sophisticated story for middle-grade readers. The 10-year-old protagonist Robyn faces dilemmas similar to those most people face throughout life and into adulthood. I adored and sympathized with her.
Also, author Finnegan sets the story in a vivid, highly specific, realistic world which includes details of life in San Luis Obispo, CA and among dog-training aficionados.
Also, author Finnegan sets the story in a vivid, highly specific, realistic world which includes details of life in San Luis Obispo, CA and among dog-training aficionados.
March 21, 2023
Robyn has a list of new kid rules, after all she’s been that 6 times. She also has 2 adorable 🐶 who had a rough start, are full of ability, but can they learn agility? A 🤩 📕 of friendship and believing in what’s possible.
April 4, 2026
This book shows how much teamwork matters. In my opinion, this book also shows that just because you can't see or hear, or have a disability, it doesn't mean that you can't do things that other people can do. It just means that you have to work harder to be able to do that thing.
October 30, 2022
I really enjoyed this one. Between the themes of friendship and ability and add a dose of loveable dogs, readers will flock to this one.
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November 13, 2022This sure was a sweet read. The dog training put a nice twist on the moving household trope.
February 10, 2023
This is a very heart warming story about a girl who tries to blend in and not mess up at her new school. That, of course, completely fails when she accidentally makes friends with an outcast at her school, when all she wants is for her disabled dogs to be able to do agility training, too.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews