The Field of the Dogs

Katherine Patterson

ISBN 10 : 0788750216 ISBN 13 : 9780788750212

Editeur : Recorded Books, 2001

Synopsis

In short, fast-paced chapters with cliff-hanger endings, this is the story of Josh, who has recently moved to Vermont and must face a new life that includes not only a new stepfather, a new baby brother, and a new school, but also a menacing bully. Then Josh stumbles upon a secret. Following his dog, Manch, out to a field near the woods one day, Josh overhears Manch and his other dog friends talking! Not only that, Josh discovers that Manch and his friends are also faced with a bully—a pack of bullies, in fact, who are threatening a fight. The dogs don't want Josh's help, but still Josh thinks he can solve their problems and his own with one simple solution. The only hitch to his It's dangerous . Taut and suspenseful, Katherine Paterson's exciting chapters, together with Emily Arnold McCully's pen-and-ink drawings, debuted in more than 100 newspapers across the country as part of the Breakfast Serials program and are now published for the first time as a book.
About the
Katherine Paterson, recently named a "Living Legend" by the Library of Congress, is the author of the Newbery Medal-winning books Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved , the Newbery Honor book and National Book Award winner The Great Gilly Hopkins , and many other highly acclaimed books. She lives in Barre, VT. Emily Arnold McCully is the illustrator of many popular books for children as well as the author-illustrator of favorite books such as Mirette on the High Wire , which was awarded the Caldecott Medal. She lives in New York City.

A propos du livre

Commentaires

Grades 3-5--Katherine Paterson's The Field of the Dogs (HarperCollins 2001) carries parallel plot lines of Josh and his dog, Manch, who are both bullied after moving from Virginia to a rural town in Vermont. Josh is bullied by a stereotypical, name-calling, classroom bully. And while Manch is accepted by a group of neighborhood dogs, they are all bullied by a pack of dogs called the River Gang. An element of fantasy is unsuccessfully introduced when the boy discovers that his dog and the other dogs in the neighborhood can speak like humans. The readers' acceptance of the "talking" dogs is limited by the fact that they are never fully integrated into the story. The novel takes on too many issues--bullies, gun safety, blended families, and untrained guard dogs--to keep the focus clear on any one of them. Josh ultimately makes peace with the bully, and no one is hurt when he steals his stepfather's gun to kill the Weimaraner. His stepfather decides to put trigger guards on the guns, and Josh is going to baby-sit for his new stepbrother to get to know him better. While it all wraps up neatly, it is predictable and not very satisfying. Johnny Heller, the narrator, does a nice job with his vocal characterizations, especially with Josh. He captures adolescent moods very well. The absence of sound effects is worth noting as the barking dogs are mentioned frequently in the story. A marginal purchase.

Ann Taylor, Lame Deer Junior High School, MT

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Recorded Books
• Date d'édition: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0788750216
• ISBN 13: 9780788750212
• Reliure: Audio Cassette
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible