How to Steal a Dog

Title: How to Steal a Dog

Author: Barbara O’ Connor

Publisher: Square Fish (Macmillan)

http://us.macmillan.com/squarefish.aspx

Publication Date:2007

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Audience: Gr. 3-5

Overview: Georgina Hayes lives with her mother and younger brother, Toby, in their family car. They are living in poverty, and cannot afford a house. Their clothes are dirty, and the food is minimal. Georgina’s mother has to take two jobs in order to support the trio, but Georgina has another plan. She decides to steal a dog, and collect the reward money from the owner when she returns it. Georgina finds a house like a mansion and steals the owner’s dog, Willy, keeping it behind an old house. She visits with the Willy’s owner, Carmella, and finds out that she is not much better off financially than Georgina’s family. To make things more interesting, a homeless man named Mookie starts living near the house where Georgina is keeping Willy. Mookie ends up sharing his enthusiasm of life with Georgina, and combined with her new knowledge that Carmella is poor, decides to give Willy back. Georgina confesses to stealing Willy, and expects Carmella to be angry. Instead, Carmella forgives Georgina, who finds out later that her mother has found a friend who will let them live in her house.

Activity: This story is easily relatable for students who may be dealing with poverty themselves, and could be used to explain how some people do live in these conditions. The students could also be asked to think of other ways Georgina could have helped support her family without stealing, and ways they can think of to save money.

Reviewer’s Name: Zack Zajaczkowski