How to Steal a Dog

April 2, 2007
O'Connor (Me and Rupert Goody
) blends her usual poignancy and insight in another tale set in a small North Carolina town. "The day I decided to steal a dog was the same day my best friend, Luanne Godfrey, found out I lived in a car," begins plucky Georgina. After her father "just waltzed off and left us with nothing but three rolls of quarters and a mayonnaise jar full of wadded-up dollar bills," Georgina, her mother and younger brother, Toby, were evicted from their apartment. The three now sleep in their old Chevy. Since her mother works two jobs, saving up for a place to live, Georgina takes care of Toby after school, while carefree Luanne attends ballet class and Girl Scouts with her new best friend. A poster announcing a $500 reward for a missing dog gives the heroine an idea for helping to secure lodging. She diligently writes in her notebook rules for stealing a dog, but they turn out to be more complicated than she anticipates. The devastated woman whose pet Georgina purloins (and who is not wealthy enough to furnish a reward) and a wise and caring homeless man Georgina meets also affect her plan. Speaking with at times heartbreaking honesty, this likable young narrator convincingly articulates her frustration, resentment and confusion as she comes to her decisions. O'Connor once again smoothly balances challenging themes with her heroine's strength and sense of humor. Ages 8-12.

November 1, 2012
Gr 3-6-Since her father left and her family was evicted from their apartment, Georgina Hayes, along with her mother and little brother, has been living in the family car. Georgina longs for space to herself, running water, unwrinkled clothes, and all of the simple things their apartment had provided. Most of all, she dreams of a home where she can invite friends over and feel like herself again. When Georgina spots a missing dog poster offering a five hundred dollar reward for the return of the pet, she hatches a plan that she believes will bring her family enough money to get back into an apartment. She decides that she'll steal a dog from a wealthy owner, wait until the reward posters go up, and then return the pooch for the reward. However, she doesn't count on the banging thump of her conscience, her love for the charming stolen dog, or her concern for the not-so-rich and lonely owner who is desperately worried about her missing pet. With all of its sweetness, this tale (Farrar, Straus, 2007) by Barbara O'Connor is surprisingly tense and never cloying. Listeners will be rooting for Georgina to do the right thing, for the little dog to be safe, and for the owner to be reunited with her pet. Suzy Jackson's narration is well-paced and she provides a unique voice for each of the characters. Georgina's personality particularly shines through, allowing listeners to hear the concern and doubt in her voice as she wades through some very difficult decisions. Those who enjoy cheering for the underdog will find plenty to relish here.-"Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT"

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.