One Small Dog

From Publishers Weekly Hurwitz (Make Room for Elisa) affectingly treats two familiar themes in the plot of her latest novel divorce and pet ownership and places the rigors of childhood front and center. Ten-year-old Curtis, smarting from his parents' recent separation, narrates in a candid and endearing voice. For instance, in his response to his mother's statement that "half the couples in the United States are getting divorced these days," and he'll get used to it, he says: "'Yeah. But it stinks. Why couldn't we be part of the half that stays together?' I wanted to say more, but I was afraid I'd start crying." In an effort to make him happier, his mother agrees to Curtis's pleas for a dog, a request that his parents have turned down in the past. They head to a shelter, and the quickly adopted Sammy seems to be a panacea for Curtis's malaise. Yet several mishaps reveal the complications of owning a dog, the most serious of which occur when the feisty pooch bites Curtis's mother, three-year-old brother andAin a final wrenching sceneACurtis himself. In a concluding note to this poignant tale, a professional dog trainer emphasizes the importance of proper training of dogs. Hurwitz raises two difficult issues responsibly and credibly, and deGroat's finely etched, black-and-white illustrations underscore the genuine emotion that runs through this elucidating story. Ages 7-up. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal Grade 2-4-Not your usual boy-and-his-dog story, this tale comes with a few hard-earned lessons about responsible pet ownership. Fourth-grader Curtis lives in an apartment with his recently separated mother and younger brother, Mitchell. To help compensate for the pending divorce, Curtis's mother goes against her better judgment and allows him to select a puppy from an animal shelter. The one he chooses turns out to be a chewer. Having owned the dog only two weeks, Curtis's mother decides they cannot keep Sammy after he bites her and Mitchell. While attempting to run away with his pet, Curtis is bitten. After six stitches, he realizes that his mother is right, and his father gives Sammy to a friend who has the time and patience to train him. Hurwitz's story has no happily-ever-after ending but makes a strong statement about the consequences of taking a responsibility too lightly. DeGroat's realistic drawings are a bonus. A good message for aspiring or prospective pet owners.