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Ghost Dog Secrets
Each day, Rusty feeds a dog that's left chained in the frigid weather with no shelter and no food or water. When he realizes that the dog's been injured, Rusty and his friend Andrew unchain the dog and take it. Are they stealing, or are they rescuing a dog in need? With the dog living in their secret hideout, the boys face multiple challenges, including a mysterious ghost dog that tries to lead them to a startling secret, Andrew's snoopy sister, and the escalating threats of the dog's abusive owner. The fast-paced suspense builds to a surprising conclusion, which will leave young readers cheering for Rusty's compassion and determination.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2010
90 people are currently reading
1252 people want to read
About the author
Peg Kehret
74 books637 followersPeg Kehret writes middle grade fiction and nonfiction. She's won dozens of state children's choice awards, where kids vote for their favorite book.
When she was twelve, Peg was paralyzed with polio. Most of her protagonists are the age she was then.
A volunteer with animal rescue groups, three of Peg's books are co-authored by Pete the Cat."
When she was twelve, Peg was paralyzed with polio. Most of her protagonists are the age she was then.
A volunteer with animal rescue groups, three of Peg's books are co-authored by Pete the Cat."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 229 reviews
February 27, 2023
I can just picture the author asking a room of kids what they wanted her to write about in her next book and hearing "Ghosts!" "Dogs!" "Secrets!" What's amazing is that she made them work together so well, for a story that teaches us good ways to help abused animals, and is an adventure with drama, humor, scary bits, and themes of family & friendship.
There's a knitting plan for cat blankets. Links to resources. Guidelines to incorporate citizenship lessons into the classroom that will actually enable children to make a real difference. A bit about how to recognize, and report, a meth lab. Respect for service people (father died in Iraq). A cue to discuss whether dogs are property, and therefore what's the difference between rescuing or stealing one.
Of more universal relevance is a bit when Rusty tries to get a different decision from his mother: "Sometimes it's best to keep my mouth shut and let Mom think things over. If I argued now, she might feel compelled to defend her original position, but if she had time to ponder the problem, she might decide [otherwise]."
I wish there was a new cover, as this one is just wrong.
There's a knitting plan for cat blankets. Links to resources. Guidelines to incorporate citizenship lessons into the classroom that will actually enable children to make a real difference. A bit about how to recognize, and report, a meth lab. Respect for service people (father died in Iraq). A cue to discuss whether dogs are property, and therefore what's the difference between rescuing or stealing one.
Of more universal relevance is a bit when Rusty tries to get a different decision from his mother: "Sometimes it's best to keep my mouth shut and let Mom think things over. If I argued now, she might feel compelled to defend her original position, but if she had time to ponder the problem, she might decide [otherwise]."
I wish there was a new cover, as this one is just wrong.
June 17, 2013
My daughter wanted me to read this to her, and I admit that I wondered at the beginning about how much of a Ghost Story it would be. I was pleasantly surprised though, and found this book to have a good moral story, and the ghost dog in the story is not overplayed, and is a nice ghost, nothing scary.
The topics of animal cruelty and methamphetamine labs are covered, and the main dog in the story does get hurt several times, so those with sensitive children will probably want to discuss these things. The story does have a happy ending for the main character dog though.
And for those interested in knitting, instructions on how to knit a "Purr-fect Cat Blanket", an item characters in the story knit to donate to the animal shelter, is included at the back of the book.
The topics of animal cruelty and methamphetamine labs are covered, and the main dog in the story does get hurt several times, so those with sensitive children will probably want to discuss these things. The story does have a happy ending for the main character dog though.
And for those interested in knitting, instructions on how to knit a "Purr-fect Cat Blanket", an item characters in the story knit to donate to the animal shelter, is included at the back of the book.
August 30, 2011
This book was awesome i really like how they helped a dog in danger! Nice book.I love the part when they steal the dog by using oil.Cool book you should read it.
November 17, 2017
Pretty good book. Boring at first, Fun at last.
January 2, 2013
Here is something I learned this week: if you've recently read a book called Space Cats, followed by another book called Ghost Cat, it is really, really hard not to check out a book called Ghost Dog Secrets when you see it on the library shelf.
I've been a fan of Peg Kehret ever since I bought one of her junior fiction books, Sisters, Long Ago, at a school book fair in the 90s. Sisters, Long Ago involves reincarnation, past-life regressions, dog-napping, and the Egyptian sun god Ra (I read it, like, six times as a kid). Ghost Dog Secrets, written a full twenty years later (I am old, old, old!) involves a class project to assist the Humane Society, two middle school boys' efforts to rescue an abused dog, an undead collie, and the Egyptian sun god Ra.
I'm getting the sense that Kehret is big on animals and Egypt. Or, at least, Ra. I wonder how she got so into Egyptian theology?
Anyway, back to reviewing. There are some authors that I just like, and Peg Kehret is one of them. I thought the main characters' habit of talking in alliterative three-word phrases (e.g., "baneful, barbaric brat") was kind of babyish, and some of the dialogue sounded almost humorously scripted, but whatever. I liked the story, and I loved how the book had the theme that young people have the power to change their communities for the better. Like in this speech by the main character's teacher at the beginning of the book:
"When we say somebody ought to do something, we're wishing someone else would solve a problem, but perhaps we are the ones who should take action. ...Remember that you are the someone in the phrase 'Someone ought to do something about that.' Each of you. Me too. We are all the someone who needs to take action."
Isn't that cool? And to drive home the point, Kehret includes instructions on the last page for how readers can knit cat blankets for animal shelters. What a cool lady.
(If you liked this book, you might also like Standing Up to Mr. O by Claudia Mills, which is about a girl who protests her science class's dissection unit.)
I've been a fan of Peg Kehret ever since I bought one of her junior fiction books, Sisters, Long Ago, at a school book fair in the 90s. Sisters, Long Ago involves reincarnation, past-life regressions, dog-napping, and the Egyptian sun god Ra (I read it, like, six times as a kid). Ghost Dog Secrets, written a full twenty years later (I am old, old, old!) involves a class project to assist the Humane Society, two middle school boys' efforts to rescue an abused dog, an undead collie, and the Egyptian sun god Ra.
I'm getting the sense that Kehret is big on animals and Egypt. Or, at least, Ra. I wonder how she got so into Egyptian theology?
Anyway, back to reviewing. There are some authors that I just like, and Peg Kehret is one of them. I thought the main characters' habit of talking in alliterative three-word phrases (e.g., "baneful, barbaric brat") was kind of babyish, and some of the dialogue sounded almost humorously scripted, but whatever. I liked the story, and I loved how the book had the theme that young people have the power to change their communities for the better. Like in this speech by the main character's teacher at the beginning of the book:
"When we say somebody ought to do something, we're wishing someone else would solve a problem, but perhaps we are the ones who should take action. ...Remember that you are the someone in the phrase 'Someone ought to do something about that.' Each of you. Me too. We are all the someone who needs to take action."
Isn't that cool? And to drive home the point, Kehret includes instructions on the last page for how readers can knit cat blankets for animal shelters. What a cool lady.
(If you liked this book, you might also like Standing Up to Mr. O by Claudia Mills, which is about a girl who protests her science class's dissection unit.)
April 6, 2018
I read Ghost Dog Secrets to fulfill the prompt of “A book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift” for the 2018 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge. My tween/early teen nephew and nieces handed it to me and told me I had to read it, so I did.
Ghost Dog Secrets is a middle-grade book that features Rusty, a 12-year-old with a socially conscious teacher who inspires him to act when he discovers a dog he thinks is being neglected and abused. In addition to the very real dog who may be in danger, Rusty sees (and feels) a ghost dog who seems to be trying to tell him something.
The ghost dog adds the trope often found in middle-grade books of the young person being aware of, or seeing, things that an adult doesn’t. I’m a little bit tired of that, though I understand the appeal to its target audience.
Aside from that, the book takes a serious look at animal cruelty, so it may not be a comfortable read for very sensitive people, but it isn’t supposed to be. The primary theme of the book is being socially aware and engaged, in realizing that if you see something disturbing and say, “Someone should do something about that,” that you should also realize that YOU are “someone.”
I felt it delivered a good message in a way that middle-graders could relate to and understand. Rusty felt like a real 12-year-old, knowing there are rules and consequences for acting against them, but still testing limits and occasionally displaying that even though he is ready for more responsibility, he doesn’t quite have the maturity or focus level to consistently make good decisions.
A very good book for its intended audience, and one that older people can benefit from as well.
4 out of 5 stars
Ghost Dog Secrets is a middle-grade book that features Rusty, a 12-year-old with a socially conscious teacher who inspires him to act when he discovers a dog he thinks is being neglected and abused. In addition to the very real dog who may be in danger, Rusty sees (and feels) a ghost dog who seems to be trying to tell him something.
The ghost dog adds the trope often found in middle-grade books of the young person being aware of, or seeing, things that an adult doesn’t. I’m a little bit tired of that, though I understand the appeal to its target audience.
Aside from that, the book takes a serious look at animal cruelty, so it may not be a comfortable read for very sensitive people, but it isn’t supposed to be. The primary theme of the book is being socially aware and engaged, in realizing that if you see something disturbing and say, “Someone should do something about that,” that you should also realize that YOU are “someone.”
I felt it delivered a good message in a way that middle-graders could relate to and understand. Rusty felt like a real 12-year-old, knowing there are rules and consequences for acting against them, but still testing limits and occasionally displaying that even though he is ready for more responsibility, he doesn’t quite have the maturity or focus level to consistently make good decisions.
A very good book for its intended audience, and one that older people can benefit from as well.
4 out of 5 stars
June 26, 2014
My children (ages 10 & 11) and I started reading Ghost Dog Secrets as a bedtime story. Everyone in our family is a dog-lover so when the kids found out Ghost Dog Secrets was on both Division lists for the Lovelace Award it was the first one they chose for our family storytime. After finishing Chapter 7 both kids asked if we could stop reading because they were both completely bored. Honestly, I was also bored but I finished the book in order to give it a fair review.
It has a great title and a decent premise: boy loves dogs, boy wants a dog but can't have one, boy sees ghost dog which leads him to abused dog, boy rescues dog. The story, however, has several problems beginning with the fact that Rusty and his friend trespass on someone else's property in order to steal/rescue abused dog. This NEVER ends well in stories or in real life. I will also qualify my review by saying I have an EXTREMELY difficult time reading about abuse to children or animals (particularly dogs) and this story has many specific details of the dog Ra's abuse--too many for my taste.
The plot is predictable--you know how it's going to end by the close of the first chapter. That doesn't necessarily mean a book won't be good; the way a character gets to the ending is the engaging part of the story. In this case there are no surprises, no twists on the way to the ending. I was hoping the "ghost dog" aspect would provide that extra oomph in a tired plotline but, unfortunately, the ghost dog isn't present in the story enough to make any real difference.
Another reader who enjoys dog stories may enjoy Ghost Dog Secrets but for me (and my family) this one missed the mark by a mile. I would recommend One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson as a much superior story of boy rescuing dog.
It has a great title and a decent premise: boy loves dogs, boy wants a dog but can't have one, boy sees ghost dog which leads him to abused dog, boy rescues dog. The story, however, has several problems beginning with the fact that Rusty and his friend trespass on someone else's property in order to steal/rescue abused dog. This NEVER ends well in stories or in real life. I will also qualify my review by saying I have an EXTREMELY difficult time reading about abuse to children or animals (particularly dogs) and this story has many specific details of the dog Ra's abuse--too many for my taste.
The plot is predictable--you know how it's going to end by the close of the first chapter. That doesn't necessarily mean a book won't be good; the way a character gets to the ending is the engaging part of the story. In this case there are no surprises, no twists on the way to the ending. I was hoping the "ghost dog" aspect would provide that extra oomph in a tired plotline but, unfortunately, the ghost dog isn't present in the story enough to make any real difference.
Another reader who enjoys dog stories may enjoy Ghost Dog Secrets but for me (and my family) this one missed the mark by a mile. I would recommend One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson as a much superior story of boy rescuing dog.
June 29, 2013
Rusty can't get the image of a dog he saw on the way to school who was chained to a tree in the icy rain with no food or water. When his teacher asks the class to think of ways the students can make a difference and then try to make it happen, he decides to start to make a difference in that dog's life. At first, he brings the dog food and water each afternoon. Rusty begins to be visited by an apparition of a collie who seems to be watching after the chained-up dog. After telling his friend Andrew, they begin to both visit the dog regularly. Until one day they find the dog injured. After failing to get Animal Control to help, they decide to rescue the dog and keep him in their secret fort. They name him Ra and take great care of him in the fort. Soon though, the mean abusive owner comes looking for his watchdog and things get scary.
Peg Kehret is great at building the tapestry of her stories with young main characters who think through everything they do and every decision they make. Younger kids will love the classroom project of helping the animal shelter and Rusty's relationship with the Ra. Older kids will like the suspense that comes from the abusive owner trying to get back his dog.
Interest level, 6-8. Reading level, 5th grade.
Peg Kehret is great at building the tapestry of her stories with young main characters who think through everything they do and every decision they make. Younger kids will love the classroom project of helping the animal shelter and Rusty's relationship with the Ra. Older kids will like the suspense that comes from the abusive owner trying to get back his dog.
Interest level, 6-8. Reading level, 5th grade.
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October 16, 2010Rusty can’t take his mind off of the German shepherd he saw chained to a tree in freezing cold weather. At the encouragement of a ghost dog, he starts to bring food and water to the German shepherd, and soon realizes that the dog is being abused. When the adults fail to resolve the situation, Rusty takes matters into his own hands, and has to make a decision: Would taking the dog be stealing, or rescuing?
Peg Kehret does a great job of capturing the emotions of a dog lover. The German shepherd, Ra, is loveable and sweet, every child’s ideal dog. However, I don’t see it as much of a horror novel. The ghost dog subplot was an afterthought at best. Kehret does a good job of navigating the moral gray area that is sometimes associated with rescuing neglected pets. The discussion of animal abuse and rescue was a little heavy-handed at times, but it does have a lot of good tips for animal lovers. I do recommend this book for children that love dogs, but not so much for children looking for something spooky. Note: Children who like this book may also enjoy The Ghost of Cutler Creek by Cynthia DeFelice.
Review by Cherylynne W. Bago
Peg Kehret does a great job of capturing the emotions of a dog lover. The German shepherd, Ra, is loveable and sweet, every child’s ideal dog. However, I don’t see it as much of a horror novel. The ghost dog subplot was an afterthought at best. Kehret does a good job of navigating the moral gray area that is sometimes associated with rescuing neglected pets. The discussion of animal abuse and rescue was a little heavy-handed at times, but it does have a lot of good tips for animal lovers. I do recommend this book for children that love dogs, but not so much for children looking for something spooky. Note: Children who like this book may also enjoy The Ghost of Cutler Creek by Cynthia DeFelice.
Review by Cherylynne W. Bago
February 2, 2016
I enjoyed this book at the scale of about 7 out of 10, just because it was kind of a slow going book with not that much action, but their was a lot of adventure. This book was pretty good considering it had no sequel and was short. The main characters were Rusty and his friend Andrew. The setting of this book is outdoors for the most part, mainly close to Rusty's house and this other old man, who's Rusty's neighbor. The problem in this book is Rusty finds a dog chained up outside near a tree next to his neighbor's house, and it has no food or water. Rusty knows the dog is not going to survive longer without proper treatment. The only problem is that Rusty is to nervous to tell anybody but his best friend Andrew. They continue to help the dog, but the owner is vicious and continues making increasingly scary threats. Without the help of someone or something soon that Rusty can trust, the dog may be in trouble. Will Rusty and Andrew find the solution, or will the solution find them. You'll have to read the whole book to find out. If you read the book Stolen Children and liked it, then you will enjoy Ghost Dog Secrets!
October 6, 2011
At first I thought the book sounded too much like a PSA because of all the information Rusty and his teacher gave about different projects and things, but it ended up being a good book. Sometimes predictable, but the bit with Mr. Myers at the end was interesting. I was not expecting that bit.
I liked that the students were able to do a project involving the Humane Society that involved all of their different subjects. The Kitty Knitters was also adorable, and when Wendy started to make the blankets, I found myself wishing I knew how to make them as well. At the end of the book, the author includes that information! She also includes links for research on the SPCA, ghosts, and puppy mills.
I would not recommend the book to all of my students. Though the kids are younger and responsible, and they are great characters that change throughout the book and learn lessons, there are drugs and meth labs involved. Some students may be sensitive to that, as well as the ghost dog that shows up in Rusty's room.
I liked that the students were able to do a project involving the Humane Society that involved all of their different subjects. The Kitty Knitters was also adorable, and when Wendy started to make the blankets, I found myself wishing I knew how to make them as well. At the end of the book, the author includes that information! She also includes links for research on the SPCA, ghosts, and puppy mills.
I would not recommend the book to all of my students. Though the kids are younger and responsible, and they are great characters that change throughout the book and learn lessons, there are drugs and meth labs involved. Some students may be sensitive to that, as well as the ghost dog that shows up in Rusty's room.
May 3, 2016
Rusty is a 14 years old kid and kind person. He also worried a lot about the people that he know, well most of them. In the beginning, of the book it take place mostly at the Mad men house. After, Rusty and his best friend Tyler rescue the miss treated German shepherd from the Mad men. The book mostly takes place that Rusty house. Overall, I think about this book is interesting because it cool how Rusty is the only person that can see the Ghost dog with the German shepherd. The ghost tells Rusty what is going to happen if he don't listen to the ghost. After, Rusty helped the dog and bring it to his house. He feel the dog and treat it as his own. One day mad man found out where Rusty live and came by to get his dog back. While mom was away. Read this book to find out what happen next.
September 22, 2016
This book is about Rusty and her best friend, Andrew. On the way to school, rusty say a dog lying outside the owners house. Rusty feels bad so every day Rusty brought him food and water. When Rusty got caught by the owner, he drove after him and the stalking began. Rusty saw her house had been robbed, and started receiving threats. Then, the dog disappeared at night. The next day, a ghost dog lay beside him when he woke. The dog, RA was abused over night. So when Rusty saw that the dog had gone in one night, she went to see, and found a meth lab at the house. RA saved his life by biting the owner, and waited for the cops to come and arrest the man.
August 18, 2011
Remember when we rebelled against books with dead dogs? Kehret listened, and while no dog we are attached to currently dies, there is a ghost one we become quite fond of.
I loved the service learning aspect. What a good idea for a class to adopt.
I loved the service learning aspect. What a good idea for a class to adopt.
July 2, 2012
Did anyone else find this didactic? I just kept thinking -- this isn't how people really talk. The story was good, but I thought the conversations were just too unbelievable & heavy-handed, trying too hard to get the messages across. I wonder what children think of it.
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December 5, 2012It is such a sad and sweet book!
January 9, 2013
This is a good book for a fourth grader that likes mysteries. I liked the part when Rusty, the main character, saved a german shepherd that was changed up to a tree.
September 21, 2013
Sarah's favorite book from fifth grade. Good plot. Narrator is endearing and there are some good twists in the story.
May 21, 2015
Great story. I am recommending this to all the children who come into the library and stare blankly at the shelves saying - there are no good books here.
April 21, 2015
Good pacing -- nice middle grade read. And now, I've read all of the Maud Hart Lovelace Award Division 1 nominees for 2014-15!
August 22, 2014
My favorite 2014-15 Maud nominee so far.
October 13, 2014
i thought the book was interesting because it's about how a boy listens to a ghost dog to save a real dogs life from being chained to a tree in the cold with no food, water or shelter.
December 5, 2014
This was really good book. I liked the ghost dog. He was actually kind of scary, even though he was kind.The ending was great, and pretty realistic, at least for a ghost story.
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January 26, 2023I have no words for this book. It is such a good book. I just could not stop reading. This book makes you want to read more and more. I love how the story can also influence people to help animals. I also love how caring and thoughtful the characters in the story are. I recommend this book. It is great!
December 18, 2018
I have not read this book in a few years but it has stuck with me ever since I first opened it. The plot is not predictable and it truly enthralls the reader in the life of the main character Rusty. Throughout the book, I felt empathetic to his and the dogs' situations.
December 16, 2018
I could not stop reading this. I one night needed to take a shower but couldn’t cause I was at a amazing part. I would’ve been left with a cliffhanger. And I can’t allow that! 😂
October 25, 2012
Ghost Dog Secrets
Peg Kehret
192 pages
The story starts off as Rusty going to school and noticing a German shepherd dog tied to a tree with no water, food, or shelter. This makes him very emotional about the dog. In school he learns about how to tell if someone has a meth lab in a house by telling by smell or actions. His class also starts a project pertaining to animal cruelty. Then Rusty realizes about the poor German shepherd tied to the tree, and decides to help him. So every single day he would go to the dog feed him and take photos and journal entries on the neglect just in case he needs it in the future. Then he tells his best friend, Andrew, about the dog and he helps with him also. Then it comes to a point where the boys take the dog because the abuse to dog was worsening every single day. Rusty also starts to see a ghost dog which would lead him somewhere at night but he would never follow. Rusty and Andrew take the dog into their fort in the bushes and keep him there. Andrew’s little annoying sister one day follows him to the fort and discovers they have a dog with them. Later Andrew’s little sister, Wendy, spills the secret to his mom. Then Rusty’s mom is notified. So they all come together and plan on what to do. They first decide to bring it back to the owner but when they reach there they decide it is not a good idea because they could see neglect by a new dog he had chained to the tree. Rusty’s mom then notifies the Animal control and they start a case. Rusty then encounters the Mean Mr. Myers two more times throughout the book. The second encounters they have make Ra run away. So they try to find him by flyers and rescue teams formed by Rusty’s classmates. Then one night the ghost dog appears again and this time Rusty actually follow him. The ghost dog led him to Mr. Myers house where he sees Ra tied to the tree with a lock on his collar. But the ghost dog did not lead him to Ra, he took Rusty closer to Mr. Myers house. Rusty then finds out that Mr. Myers had a meth lab inside the house and that is why he wanted Ra to be a watchdog. Rusty calls the police and they come. The Myers goes to jail.
This book is very good and heart touching.This book will be very good for animal lovers. I really love this book and it is one of my favorites. The book is very easy to follow and the characters are very easy to follow. My favorite character is Rusty because he is very heart touching and has a heart for animals. Also Andrew who supported Rusty. I hate the Myers because they were abusing Ra. The book is a very good book and I recommend it to 5th to 8th graders. This book is very good.
Peg Kehret
192 pages
The story starts off as Rusty going to school and noticing a German shepherd dog tied to a tree with no water, food, or shelter. This makes him very emotional about the dog. In school he learns about how to tell if someone has a meth lab in a house by telling by smell or actions. His class also starts a project pertaining to animal cruelty. Then Rusty realizes about the poor German shepherd tied to the tree, and decides to help him. So every single day he would go to the dog feed him and take photos and journal entries on the neglect just in case he needs it in the future. Then he tells his best friend, Andrew, about the dog and he helps with him also. Then it comes to a point where the boys take the dog because the abuse to dog was worsening every single day. Rusty also starts to see a ghost dog which would lead him somewhere at night but he would never follow. Rusty and Andrew take the dog into their fort in the bushes and keep him there. Andrew’s little annoying sister one day follows him to the fort and discovers they have a dog with them. Later Andrew’s little sister, Wendy, spills the secret to his mom. Then Rusty’s mom is notified. So they all come together and plan on what to do. They first decide to bring it back to the owner but when they reach there they decide it is not a good idea because they could see neglect by a new dog he had chained to the tree. Rusty’s mom then notifies the Animal control and they start a case. Rusty then encounters the Mean Mr. Myers two more times throughout the book. The second encounters they have make Ra run away. So they try to find him by flyers and rescue teams formed by Rusty’s classmates. Then one night the ghost dog appears again and this time Rusty actually follow him. The ghost dog led him to Mr. Myers house where he sees Ra tied to the tree with a lock on his collar. But the ghost dog did not lead him to Ra, he took Rusty closer to Mr. Myers house. Rusty then finds out that Mr. Myers had a meth lab inside the house and that is why he wanted Ra to be a watchdog. Rusty calls the police and they come. The Myers goes to jail.
This book is very good and heart touching.This book will be very good for animal lovers. I really love this book and it is one of my favorites. The book is very easy to follow and the characters are very easy to follow. My favorite character is Rusty because he is very heart touching and has a heart for animals. Also Andrew who supported Rusty. I hate the Myers because they were abusing Ra. The book is a very good book and I recommend it to 5th to 8th graders. This book is very good.
April 13, 2017
The genre of Ghost Dog Secrets is fiction. I rated this book a 5 because I like the way that the author used one of the characters to express feelings. The setting is important to the theme because the setting is at home, school, and in the streets where the dog is. The setting helps us to picture what Rusty and his friend are going through.
In the story, two kids have a project to do in school which is to do something that helps someone. Later Rusty finds a homeless dog in the streets attatched with a rope next to a tree. He soon starts to feel bad for the dog and decides to help him. His teacher assigned a little project for the students which is to do something good that helps someone. Rusty was trying to help the dog by feeding him and tryin to pet him but the dog was scared. He was thinking if either his owners were gone and left him or just left him outside. Later in the story his friend helps him as well. Rusty then discovers something mysterious and suspicious. A ghost dog! He was confused and wanted to find out more information about the ghost. (Cliff hanger). The setting is in the streets and his house. The conflict is person vs society because the boys go through some trouble with other people.
The story shows that Rusty and Andrew (his friend), are caring and loving. This shows that they are loving and caring because according to the text they both enjoy helping the dog out and caring for him. They feed the dog and show love to him. The setting adds to the conflict because the setting helps us readers, to picture maybe whats going to happen. The title relates to the book because, "Ghost Dog Secrets" makes me think, there is going to be secrets about a dog maybe. And the book will probably be a mystery or a little bit scary. In the book, thats exactly what happened. There were secrets and mysteries.
An interesting thing I learned about this book is that, caring for someone will bring good things to your life. I liked the way the author presented the title using the main events that occur in the book. I also like the way he created the front cover of the book. It makes it look spooky and wanting to read the book. If I were the author I would have brought someone else to the climax part of the story. Maybe like his parents or a teacher.
I rate this book a 5 because the book made me want to finish reading it. It made me feel like I was actually part of the story. It was kind of relatable too. I actually found this book very interesting. The author as well. I would recommend this book to my friend because she likes to read kind of scary stories. This book made me kind of realize some things that the character did.
In the story, two kids have a project to do in school which is to do something that helps someone. Later Rusty finds a homeless dog in the streets attatched with a rope next to a tree. He soon starts to feel bad for the dog and decides to help him. His teacher assigned a little project for the students which is to do something good that helps someone. Rusty was trying to help the dog by feeding him and tryin to pet him but the dog was scared. He was thinking if either his owners were gone and left him or just left him outside. Later in the story his friend helps him as well. Rusty then discovers something mysterious and suspicious. A ghost dog! He was confused and wanted to find out more information about the ghost. (Cliff hanger). The setting is in the streets and his house. The conflict is person vs society because the boys go through some trouble with other people.
The story shows that Rusty and Andrew (his friend), are caring and loving. This shows that they are loving and caring because according to the text they both enjoy helping the dog out and caring for him. They feed the dog and show love to him. The setting adds to the conflict because the setting helps us readers, to picture maybe whats going to happen. The title relates to the book because, "Ghost Dog Secrets" makes me think, there is going to be secrets about a dog maybe. And the book will probably be a mystery or a little bit scary. In the book, thats exactly what happened. There were secrets and mysteries.
An interesting thing I learned about this book is that, caring for someone will bring good things to your life. I liked the way the author presented the title using the main events that occur in the book. I also like the way he created the front cover of the book. It makes it look spooky and wanting to read the book. If I were the author I would have brought someone else to the climax part of the story. Maybe like his parents or a teacher.
I rate this book a 5 because the book made me want to finish reading it. It made me feel like I was actually part of the story. It was kind of relatable too. I actually found this book very interesting. The author as well. I would recommend this book to my friend because she likes to read kind of scary stories. This book made me kind of realize some things that the character did.
November 16, 2014
I didn't realize this was juvenile fiction when I downloaded it as an e-book from my library. I'm an adult and so it was a fast, uncomplicated but still interesting enough to hold my attention read. I liked the way the book was written to make kids think and challenge their thought process. I liked the way the grown-ups said or did the right thing (even though no one is quite that perfect) and the teachers and parents allowed the children to come to their own conclusions because I think it provided a good moral compass. I imagined lots of great classroom discussions if this book was a school assignment.
The story at first appears simple. A boy wants to rescue a dog he perceives as abused because it is chained up to a tree with no obvious shelter, food or water in the front yard of a house he passes by. He also sees a ghost dog no one else can see keeping company with the abused dog. The ghost dog visited the boy at night and in Lassie-like fashion tries to communicate an urgent message to the boy. The ghost dog part of the plot turned this into a good, fun ghost/campfire story and it was a great way to move the story forward.
There is a lot to learn about the world when you're young. The boy has to learn the proper way to report to animal control and substantiate the accusations. After he rescues the dog, he has to learn to care for the dog responsibly. He has other unexpected challenges at school and home to overcome and has to bravely face threats and his own fear.
Each day, sixth-grader Rusty feeds a dog that's left chained in the frigid weather with no shelter, food, or water. When he realizes the dog has been injured, he tries to have Animal Control help - but when that fails, Rusty and his friend Andrew unchain the dog and take it. With the dog in their hideout, the boys face multiple challenges, including Andrew's snoopy sister and the escalating threats of the dog's abusive owner. Even more challenging? The appearance of a ghost dog that appears in Rusty's room, and is trying to lead him to an even deeper secret. . . .
The story at first appears simple. A boy wants to rescue a dog he perceives as abused because it is chained up to a tree with no obvious shelter, food or water in the front yard of a house he passes by. He also sees a ghost dog no one else can see keeping company with the abused dog. The ghost dog visited the boy at night and in Lassie-like fashion tries to communicate an urgent message to the boy. The ghost dog part of the plot turned this into a good, fun ghost/campfire story and it was a great way to move the story forward.
There is a lot to learn about the world when you're young. The boy has to learn the proper way to report to animal control and substantiate the accusations. After he rescues the dog, he has to learn to care for the dog responsibly. He has other unexpected challenges at school and home to overcome and has to bravely face threats and his own fear.
Each day, sixth-grader Rusty feeds a dog that's left chained in the frigid weather with no shelter, food, or water. When he realizes the dog has been injured, he tries to have Animal Control help - but when that fails, Rusty and his friend Andrew unchain the dog and take it. With the dog in their hideout, the boys face multiple challenges, including Andrew's snoopy sister and the escalating threats of the dog's abusive owner. Even more challenging? The appearance of a ghost dog that appears in Rusty's room, and is trying to lead him to an even deeper secret. . . .
May 21, 2013
This was an awesome book. I loved it so much I could hardly put it down. I finished in about a week. I would recommand this to someone that loves to help animals or loves animals.
It started this boy named Rusty was late to school and his mom had to take him. On the way there Rusty saw a Germany Shepherd with no water, food , and shelter. After Rusty got out of school he ran back to were he had seen the dog. He wanted to know if the dog did had any food, water, and shelter it didn't have any of the 3 things that all dogs need. For a past week he feed the dog and each day he could get closer and closer to were Rusty could pet him. The night of when Rusty could touch the dogs head a ghost dag appeared.
Rusty woke up to the coldness in his room. He looked at the end of the bed and there laid a Collie a see through one. The dog was trying to get Rusty to come and walk with it. So he followed it and when he was almost were the Germany Shepherd lived. Rusty thought it was telling it to go knock on the door. Rusty was to scared so he just ran back home.
The next day Rusty told his best friend Andrew about the dog. Andrew thought it would be a good idea if we rescued it. That's what Andrew and Rusty did. Rusty got to keep the dog and named it Ra.
It started this boy named Rusty was late to school and his mom had to take him. On the way there Rusty saw a Germany Shepherd with no water, food , and shelter. After Rusty got out of school he ran back to were he had seen the dog. He wanted to know if the dog did had any food, water, and shelter it didn't have any of the 3 things that all dogs need. For a past week he feed the dog and each day he could get closer and closer to were Rusty could pet him. The night of when Rusty could touch the dogs head a ghost dag appeared.
Rusty woke up to the coldness in his room. He looked at the end of the bed and there laid a Collie a see through one. The dog was trying to get Rusty to come and walk with it. So he followed it and when he was almost were the Germany Shepherd lived. Rusty thought it was telling it to go knock on the door. Rusty was to scared so he just ran back home.
The next day Rusty told his best friend Andrew about the dog. Andrew thought it would be a good idea if we rescued it. That's what Andrew and Rusty did. Rusty got to keep the dog and named it Ra.
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