Smells Like Treasure

Smells Like Dog #2

by Suzanne Selfors

When Homer Pudding receives a mysterious note emblazoned with the letters L.O.S.T., he knows the moment he has been waiting for has arrived. It is time to meet the society of Legends, Objects, Secrets, and Treasures, take his Uncle's place, and become a true adventurer.

With his best friend, Dog, at his side, everything seems to be going as planned...until an unexpected opponent challenges Homer's spot, and they are tasked with a dangerous quest. Only the one who can solve the clues and reach the treasure first will be given membership.

Homer is counting on Dog's hidden ability to smell treasure to help him along the way -- but someone is trying to hinder his quest and keep him out of L.O.S.T. And who is plotting to steal Dog? From the sleepy goat fields of Milkydale to fantastical mansions and hidden islands, Dog and Homer are off on another page-turning adventure!

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Animals, Adventure, Childrens, Middle Grade, Humor

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Suzanne Selfors lives on an island near Seattle where it rains all the time, which is why she tends to write about cloudy, moss-covered, green places.
She's married, has two kids, and writes full time.
Her favorite writers are Kurt Vonnegut, Charles Dickens, and most especially, Roald Dahl.

Please visit her at www.suzanneselfors.com to learn more about her books.

Reviews

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was absolutely positively spectacular! It was so exciting! This book's main character is Homer Pudding, whose uncle was in The Secret Society of Legends, Objects, Secrets, and Treasures (He held one of the 12 chairs). After Uncle Drake Pudding gets eaten by a tortoise, Homer inherits his chair in the secret society. Homer is very excited that he got a letter from the society, saying that his time has come, because he needed the society's help to fulfill his lifelong dream, finding Rumpold Smeller's lost treasure. Homer thinks that the membership in the society is his to keep, until an unexpected opponent challenges his place. Then, Homer embarks on a quest to claim his membership into the club. Unfortunately, I did not notice that this was the second book in this series. I have yet to read the first one, "Smells Like Dog". But, the first one has gotten lots of great reviews, one of which was by Rebecca Stead, author of "When You Reach Me". This book talks a lot about friendship and betrayal. What I liked about it was that it was humorous and also very action packed. Overall, I think this book was amazing.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good read for boys who are not in the "A" group at school to learn that they to can find the treasure in life.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fine book by Suzanne Selfors. Once again Homer and Dog are off on another adventure. Homer is excited because he's about to be accepted into a secret society, taking the place of his deceased uncle. But, Lorelei (a frenemy we met in book one) is challenging him! So the society sets them a challenge: whoever finds the hidden membership coin first will become a member of the society. Because they are children, they get to have a mentor, someone who is already a member. Both Homer and Lorelei want the same mentor, so they have to draw names. Lorelei gets who she wanted, Homer gets a hypochondriac rich kid. This book has some really funny moments, suspenseful moments, surprising moments, etc. I would recommend Smells Like Dog and Smells Like Treasure to any 3rd through 5th grader, and to any voracious reader who reads anything! I put these books on my fantasy/magic shelf because of Dog's capabilities and a few other touches, but there's really no magic involved.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Homer Pudding gets an invitation in the mail, he is understandably thrilled since it contains his invitation to join a secret society of adventurers and leave his father's goat farm behind. But Homer must prove himself in order to claim his uncle's chair in the society, and even with the help of Dog, his secret weapons, who can sniff out treasure, it won't be easy to defeat another rival for the chair. The book is filled with adventure and moments of peril, but Homer keeps his wits and remains courageous as he competes with his friend to figure out the clues that the two have been provided to solve the mystery. Since this is the sequel to Smells Like Dog, readers might enjoy the second title more after reading the first one. I liked watching Homer gain in confidence and never lose sight of his goal even when the odds seemed against him.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ultimately this novel becomes something like a two kid, two pet, two adult homage to It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) with a final destination that's akin to the island in The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène Du Bois (1947).

Readers who enjoy this series and want something more, I recommend the Winterhouse trilogy by Ben Guterson.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2022/comm...

[carrietracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was super cute! Not earth-shattering, not grown-ups will want to read it just for its own sake wonderful, but still, it was totally sweet. There's a treasure hunt, strong, smart characters of both genders and a lovable Bassett Hound. Kids that want adventure with plenty of excitement but no actual horrible outcomes will really enjoy this one. Due to it's lack of objectionable content and commitment to nothing terrible happening (the foreword promises us that the dog will live) it will make a great pick for readers who are reading above their grade level.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Smells Like Treasure was a amazing book. It made me want to keep reading it every time I picked up the book. It was one of those books that made me think and feel for the character and his friends. I am already reading Suzanne Selfors next book and I am liking it just as much. Smells Like Treasure was an amazing book and I highly recommend you to read this book.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how Lorelei just shows up and claims the coin to be hers

[Carlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. I think that this book was a good sequel, and a good addition to this trilogy. I was excited to read this book because I read the first book years ago, and I was looking forward to continuing on in the series. I continued to be a fan of the characters. I think that they have a decent amount of development, and have just enough depth for a middle-grade book. I am unsure how I feel about Lorelai. I kind of hate her, but I feel like the author wants me to understand her. I guess that I do understand her motives, and I just don't think they are valid/I just don't like her actions. Anyway, I think that the plot was good. I liked the bits and pieces that we got on the backstory of a certain character. I think that they added a lot to the book. I also liked the direction that the author chose to go in, and I thought that the book was interesting. I did see most of the twists coming, but I didn't go into this book expecting to be surprised. There was no cursing, no sexual content, and very little violence. This book definitely fits best in the middle-grade category. It's not all that deep, and doesn't really do anything unexpected or new. However, it is a good book, and I think that if someone who typically reads YA goes into this book not expecting it to be YA than they will enjoy it. I do recommend this book if you are looking for a light and fun read. This book did take me a little longer than I had anticipated, but I didn't mind that all that much. I will be finishing off this trilogy (finally!), and I am excited to do so!

[Amy Dillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to this series when my older son was in 5th grade and Smells Like Dog was on reading list for Battle of the Books. I didn't know anything about it, and was surprised when he and several other kids on his BoB team listed it as one of their favorites of all the books they read. Frankly, I couldn't imagine what a book called "Smells Like Dog" could be about, or that it would be very good.

Then I decided to read the first book to my 3rd graders. Boy, had I been wrong! I could see right away why the older kids - and my younger son - liked the book so much. He and I were both eager to get the second book, Smells Like Treasure, as soon as we finished the first.

This one did not disappoint. Once again, Selfors does a wonderful job of creating quirky, endearing, stereotype-defying characters (I did not think I was going to warm up to Hercules Simple - but I was wrong!), adventures that keeps you turning the page well past bedtime, and even some surprising plot twists. At the heart of it is Homer, the unexpected hero, whose sense of purpose, loyalty, and honor make him a great role model for kids.

We're on to the next one!

[Breezy]

Q: Who was your favorite character and why?
A: Hercules, because he seemed like he was just going to be a cowered the whole time, but he jumped, OUT OF A PLANE!!! Like, WHAT? Anyways, he saved Dog, and I will forever respect him for that.
Q: What surprised you the most?
A: What surprised me the most is that Homer saved Madame. Like she tried to kill him, and she did kill his uncle, but he saved her from dying, from a cobra bite.
Q: Would you change the ending?
A: Yes.
Q: Why or why not?
A: I think Homer just should have gone back home instead of saving Madame. She tried to kill you, and if it were me, I would just leave her.

[Kalli Kroeker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as great as the first book! Such an exciting mystery!

[Anne Patkau · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do young expectations and hope change in face of amoral "friend"? Surprises and coincidences abound in exciting search. I eagerly look forward to more in series.

[Leanne Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 4th grade class loves this series. Always exciting and keeps them guessing and begging for more. A great read-aloud.

[Hello. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book, just read it if you like adventure books.

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing after reading the first book I neaded to read this one!

[Jasmine Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series brings back so many memories from my childhood. Always an amazing read!

[meliotae · Rating 5 out of 5]

you betrayed me.

[Brad Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to my 5th grade class. They enjoyed it and want me to read the third book.

[Ansley · Rating 4 out of 5]

they could never make me like you lorelai

[Azy Lepis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lorelei is prime rage bait

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book; I've read the first in the series, Smells Like Dog, and that one was really good too. It's about Homer Pudding and his dog, Dog (not a typo, his dog's name is Dog), who live in Milkydale. Homer wants to be a treasure hunter, but he faces different obstacles along the way. This is a great fictional read.

[Ms.Gaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smells Like Treasure by Suzanne Selfors is the second book about Homer Winslow Pudding and his treasure-sniffing basset hound named "Dog". The first book was Smells Like Dog.
You don't need to read the first book to enjoy this second one, but you'll want to! Homer is a great admirer of his recently deceased Uncle Drake, a member of the secret society LOST (Legends, Objects, Secrets, and Treasures). When Homer receives a letter from the society offering him a chance to become a treasure hunter himself, he is super excited! He can't tell anyone though...it's definitely a secret that Dog can only smell one thing -- treasure!(Treasure really means "something that someone desperately wants".) Everyone else thinks Dog is an enormous nuisance. Just wait 'til you see what kind of trouble Dog causes for the Pudding family when they attend the Milkydale County Fair.
Fortunately for Homer, his prohibition from the Fair means he is at home when Zelda arrives in her cloudcopter. (A cloudcopter is a helicopter that looks like a bunch of pipes sticking out everywhere. It has no doors and the steam that powers it means it is always hidden in a cloud.) Together Zelda and Homer devise a plan for Homer to attend the required meeting of LOST for his induction into the society.
Once Homer arrives at Zelda's though, things begin to go wrong. The worst of those things is the appearance of Homer's scrappy friend, Lorelei. Lorelei has devised a plan to become the new member of LOST herself. Since there can only be one new member, Lorelei and Homer must compete against each other for the membership. The challenge is to find the membership coin. Homer knows Dog can sniff it out, but so does Lorelei. She already "borrowed" Homer's dog before so he's going to make sure it doesn't happen again!

Homer and Dog's adventures are funny and suspenseful and a delight to read.

[Snapdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

.More reviews like this one on my blog Snapdragon Alcove

This book has everything I like in a book, dogs, action, adventure, treasure hunting, dogs. (I like dogs). It been years since I read the first book but, the theme in the first book is the same in this book: follow your passion and don’t let anyone stand in your way. Unlike other series I have read this book does not dump everything that happen in the first book all in to the very first pages of the story. Instead it lets out little bits of information as the story progresses remaining you without slowing the story down.

I never like Lorelei and I do not like her at all in this book. She back stab Homer giving it the right tension to make me want to root for Homer even more. I wasn’t sure about Hercules but, I end up liking him. I like how much dept each character has.

The story is a bit predictable with a few good twists and turns. None the less this is an enjoyable story with a lot of humor. I will be looking for the third book: Smells like Pirate.

Points:

Characters: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Plot: 4/5

Total: 14/20= 4 *stars*

[Audrey R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suzanne Selfors tells the story of Homer Pudding and his best friend Dog on their adventure to claim the L.O.S.T society’s last membership chair in her mystery, “Smells Like Treasure.” Homer Pudding and his dog are always causing trouble. The only thing he really cares about is being a treasure hunter and someday he will be. Monday morning Homer received a letter from L.O.S.T with four words saying “Your time has come,” (pg. 14) and Homer knew what this meant. He was finally going to be a real treasure hunter! Homer was to go to a L.O.S.T meeting where they would evaluate him and then vote, but when an unexpected opponent shows up, the competition for the chair gets much harder. A membership coin was hidden somewhere around the world and whoever finds it first wins the chair. The kids are provided with a map with only a mushroom and an X on it. With this, they must find the coin. Who will get there first? Will Dog be able to keep up? Where is the coin? This a great book with lots of adventure and mysteries. I would recommend this book to someone who likes adventure and suspense.

[Maclean H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently reading Smells Like Tresure by: Suzanne Selfors. It is about a boy named Hommer Pudding. Hommer lives in in a goat farm. When his uncle dies, because he was murdered by a mutant Tortuse Hommer has to finish his uncles secret quest to find Rumpold Smellers Tresure. I really like how Hommer is being very brave and conducting a trip that is risking his life just for his satasfactory. I was suprised when Hommer's parents let him go on a trip with someone his parents don't know. I was excited when his parents said yes because right at that momment I knew that there would be some actionin that chapter. I can really relate to Hommer because he has a older sister who is super sasy and also because Hommer has a basset hound and his basset dound is just like mine but mine is no longer alive.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the trilogy about Homer Pudding and his dog, Dog, and their treasure hunting adventures. Homer receives a note letting him know that it is time - he is to come to a meeting of L.O.S.T. (the Society of Legends, Objects, Secrets, and Treasures) and become a member and true treasure hunter. But there is an unexpected opponent to challenge his spot in the society. So begins a dangerous quest to find a treasure, the one finding it will be given membership in L.O.S.T.

This is a cute kids' book which I agreed to read if my daughter read "The Hobbit." She is reading "The Hobbit" and I'm reading the second in this good trilogy. Fun and easy if you need a break from serious "adult" books!!

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like the book because it is funny at the end and a little bit of teamwork.its about a boy named Homer wants to get in a treasure hunting club named L.O.S.T.but first he has to challenge a girl who wants to get in the club too.so their mission is to get the coin and bring it back.along the way Homer finds crystals that play songs and a bear.

[StorySnoops · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sequel to Smells Like Dog is equally as fun and action-packed. This humorous and page-turning adventure series is thoroughly amusing and fans will enjoy the recurring characters, as well as some hilarious new characters introduced in Smells Like Treasure... (click for full review http://www.storysnoops.com/detail.php...)

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Smells Like Treasure" is the sequel to "Smells Like Dog," both of which AL and I really enjoyed reading. It's the story of Homer, a slightly nerdy kid who loves maps, and Dog, his treasure-hunting late uncle's mutt, and their quest to win fame and fortune as treasure hunters. Very cleverly written and perfect for late elementary/early middle school readers. 2011/20.