Protecting Marie

by Kevin Henkes

Relates twelve-year-old Fanny's love-hate relationship with her father, a temperamental artist, who has given Fanny a new dog

Genres: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Dogs, Childrens, Animals, Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Kevin Henkes is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. As an illustrator he won the Caldecott Medal for Kitten's First Full Moon (2004). Two of his books were Newbery Medal Honor Books, Olive's Ocean in 2004 and The Year of Billy Miller in 2014. His picture book Waiting was named both a 2016 Caldecott Honor Book and a Geisel Honor Book. It was only the second time any author has won that combination of awards.

Reviews

[Moima · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of my all time favorites. I absolutely love it. It's an easy read, but still it brings tears to my eyes.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was only well over midway through Protecting Marie that I realized that I had read this book as a young teenager, and I had loved it then as well. This is an excellent book, convincingly written, that will resound with young and old readers alike. Through Fanny, the twelve-year-old main character, I recalled vividly how powerless it felt to be a kid and how powerful parents could seem, especially if you had one that was strict and moody and sometimes a little unpredictable. In fact, the relationships between the characters in this book reminded me more than a little of the relationship between my own parents, as well as my own childhood relationship to my mother and father individually.

Protecting Marie also works well because it is a touching and realistic dog story. When her stern father one day impulsively surprises Fanny with a puppy, she is elated. However, the puppy’s rambunctious behavior is more than the man can stand, and Fanny is forced to say goodbye to her pet—given away via a newspaper ad. The loss of a beloved animal is one of the worst experiences of childhood—even more painful, I think, if the pet is given away by a parent. However, later Dad brings home yet another dog—an already-trained adult this time. Can Fanny trust her father or is her setting her up for heartbreak once again? A fine young adult novel.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read another Kevin Henkes book last year, and decided to pick this one up based on the dog-theme. The book reminded me what it was like to be a child and to feel powerless- the main character is 12 year old Fanny, who basically has a good home life with a mother and a father- but her father is imperfect. He's a moody artist who is often difficult to deal with. When she was younger, her father gifted her with a puppy- she had always wanted a dog and was thrilled. After a while, the puppy proved to be too much and her father gave the dog away. You feel this heartbreak deeply as a reader, and for many it may bring up old childhood memories. Fanny still wants a dog badly, so her father brings home Dinner, an older dog who is loveable, well-trained and who quickly becomes Fanny's best friend.

I appreciated so many things about this book, mainly how sensitively Henkes writes about a difficult topic- learning to forgive and understand a parent who is imperfect. I hated Fanny's dad through much of the book, but eventually as Fanny learns to forgive him, and he begins to compromise, as a reader you see that even parents are imperfect and require patience and understanding.

Probably best for tweens, younger teens and some adults.

[Lucy Horne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never lived in a troubled family with an untrustworthy father, but reading Protecting Marie by Kevin Henkes made me feel like I did.
Fanny had always wanted a dog, and for a short while, she had one. The little black lab mix, Nellie, was everything Fanny wanted. But, Nellie kept wandering into Fanny's father, Henry's studio while he painted, and, because of the disruption, chewing, and barking, Henry decided to give her away to a farm family. Fanny hated her father for that.
When Henry missed his own sixtieth birthday party, Fanny's mother, Ellen, began to turn away from him.
When Henry finally called home, he said he was sorry and that he'd bring home dinner, but Ellen and Fanny were still furious. But, Henry came home with Burger King, and Dinner, an older German shepherd mix.
Fanny realizes that she was protecting Dinner like she was protecting Marie, a flimsy paper doll, from being thrown away as a result of the dreaded Stupid Hunts she hated so much as a little kid.
Other features in the book are a person in a red cap who wants to take Dinner away, terrible studio disruptions, and only one kind of Christmas cookie.
If you want to find out what happens to Fanny and Dinner in this fantastic book, you'll have to read Protecting Marie.

[Morgan (= · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly thought this was an exceptional book-in fact, I enjoyed it so much that I gave it 5 out of 5 stars.

The book was about a girl, Fanny, who had wanted a dog her entire life. She doesn't get along with her Dad who is 60 years old, an artist, very private, aloof, and struggling with his age at this time. Years before, Fanny had requested a puppy and gotten one but her father had refused to deal with it chewing his furninshings, peeing on the floor, and generally becoming a distraction. Her father gives the puppy away when she's away at school and breaks fanny's heart.Two years later, fanny's father adopts dinner, a trained three year old. Fanny is in the process of becoming attached to dinner and mending a broken relationship with her father.

[Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and touching read. The main character Fanny is growing up, and dealing with the imperfections of her parents. In this case, the dad is as immature as the child.... sound familiar? It was frustrating to read, but certainly nothing unusual. A sweet story that girls will love. PS- I love the new paperback cover with the black and white photo-- finally, a publisher that read the story!

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book, and enjoyable to read.

[Monkey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. It is very easy to read. I read it in 2 days. The title seemed strange but you will have to read the book to find out why.

[Rishmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it cuz it was about dogs!

[~Joe Jonas lvr~ Karishma · Rating 4 out of 5]

AH-MAZING BOOK WITH FEELINGS OF FANNY JUST UNBELIEVABLE

[Domenica · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's a good book.i've read it before.

[Shanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fanny obsesses over getting a dog. Her desire for one is matched by her father's aversion to the idea. Not much happens in this story. I didn't like any of the characters and didn't understand their actions. Everyone is moody and Henkes includes a lot of minute, unimportant details which drag out the uneventful drama. For example (mild spoiler): Fanny finds a jar of inedible cookie decorations. Her mom throws it away, but then Fanny fishes it out of the trash and hides it in her room. Much later she gets them out, crushes them up for some random reason, takes one lick of the powder, then hides them again. The entire scene was completely pointless. I frequently found myself asking "Why would (s)he do that?" and "Who cares?"

[Jade Michaelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this book as a kid, and while I could empathize with Fanny, I didn't realize how much anxiety her father gave her at the time. Taking things away from her that were so precious to her; he had good intentions and half the time didn't even realize how much it upset her. I bet psychologists could really dig into this kids book.

It brought back memories that I had forgotten, and things I remembered but didn't know where those memories had come from. This really is a wonderful story about trust broken and regained, learning how to sift through and understand your feelings, and fighting for things you care about. And how much some people care about you, even when they don't always have the words or actions to properly express it.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This realistic story of a girl and her love for her dog utterly transported me. Suffering from anxiety that governs her waking and sleeping life, she arranges her life in anticipation of her father’s temperamental moods, and still manages to talk herself into standing up for herself and finding safety in the world. It is a hopeful book that depicts how difficult life can be for our children when we are too oblivious or self-absorbed to notice their complex social lives. I’m not sure how much of the subtext I would have noticed if I’d read it in my pre-teen years, but as a parent, the emotions were stark. I ache for this character while cheering her on.

[Monica L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kevin Henkes has always captured the border between childhood and teenagehood in young girls so beautifully, and this book demonstrates that capacity. Olive's Ocean was a gorgeous reflection on that time of transition, and while this book doesn't quite have the magic that that one does, it still solidly yet gently examines the dynamics of a young girl navigating a world that doesn't always make sense, that isn't always fair, and with people who aren't always perfect.

[Rob Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book to my daughter. We LOVE Kevin Henkes children's books: Lily's Purple Plastic Purse, Owen, Chrysanthemum, etc.

And his novels are just as sweet natured. There's a quiet loveliness to his stories of parenting and childhood, honoring both the difficulty if the former and the autonomy of the latter. And let's not forget the characteristic Henkes cadence in his prose. You'll know what I mean when you read it.

Protecting Marie was beautiful.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover doesn't quite match the story, but the story is very well-worded. Reading this book as an adult, I can all the places where the family dynamics aren't all that healthy, but it's subtle enough that maybe someone younger wouldn't see what's going on but still recognize some of the behaviors as familiar. Ultimately, an enjoyable book that doesn't end in heartbreak like I thought it would.

[Becca Wierwille · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the depth and complexity of emotions in this story about a girl and her tumultuous relationship with her father. The narrative is poignant, the language is descriptive and vivid, and the characters are believable and feel like real people.

Note: There is some swearing in this book, which I personally did not feel was needed, especially in a story meant for kids.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my. How did I miss this gem when it came out in 1995? I've been sitting on an advance reader copy since then and just now cracked it. Read it almost straight through. Absolutely spot on book about a
twelve year old girl and her doubts about her temperamental father. How can Kevin Henkes, a grown man, get inside the head of a girl on the edge of growing up. Amazing. Loved it. Yay Kevin Henkes.

[Judine Brey · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the numerous references to Madison, which helped me visualize the scenes, the plot felt a bit thin. I know Fanny's dog, Dinner, is supposed to be her coming of age tale, but it didn't always ring true.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl her rough family life and the beautiful dog who makes her life worth it all. I love this book. I had a similar life and 3 dogs made my teen life amazing as well. IF you know and love dogs this book although for younger readers is worth a read. Beautiful.

[Jennifer Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Fanny tries to understand her father, she runs into a few surprises about him and about herself, as well. As in his other stories, Henkes is adept at revealing the small details that help us come to know his characters at their cores.

[Dorian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to admit this book was pretty boring and the main character was fairly whiny. I can't remember the last time I read a book with so little plot. Mostly just a lot of thinking by the main character.

[Lachlann Kepley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. A lot of books now are fun to read and fast paced, but don't have a lot of real meaning or value. This book made me feel accomplished after reading it. It was also easy and fun to read. Not a chore. Great for 8+

[Jenni Jex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a sweet story dealing with the powerlessness a preteen often feels growing up. I admire the main character’s eventual courage to confront her father and give him the chance to understand her perspective.

[Katherine Kapellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't really put my finger on what was wrong with it, but I didn't really like this book that much.

[Kati Gegg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book

I would say that this is one of the best books I've read in a while. Almost every chapter makes you want to read more and I ended up reading this book hours at a time.

[Hayley Cerza · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn't very interesting in my opinion, b0ut some parts were sad and I like sad books.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story but didn’t like the characters, too stressed with the unhappiness of the girl and her dad was flat out unpleasant. Felt real but not in a way that I like to escape with a book.

[Pollypan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it a lot as a kid, adult me is wildly unimpressed with dad. Would be good for kids to read about parental betrayal and regret. Donate