The Green Dog

The Green Dog: The summer after fourth grade, a lonely girl wants just one thing: a dog. It's all she can think of. She tries everything to convince her parents to let her have one, but nothing works. She is sure that she will spend another whole summer alone -- dogless and friendless -- with no one to share her adventures in the woods and waterways of northeastern Pennsylvania. Just when things look bleakest, a charming dog finds her. He's black-and-tan, with long silky fur and deep chocolate eyes. He looks exactly like the dog she's been dreaming of, and she names him Jeff. Together they spend long, golden days fishing, swimming, and exploring the woods. Jeff works his magic on everyone in the house and becomes part of the family, but it's soon evident that he has a nose for trouble. Suzanne's father rapidly loses patience with Jeff. "One more incident," he warns, "and that dog is going to the farm." Suzanne does not know what or where the farm is, but she's certain Jeff won't like it.

Suzanne Fisher Staples' heartwarming and funny story taken from her childhood will remind readers of all ages what it's like to wish for something so hard -- and to love something so completely -- it makes your heart ache."


Awards and Citations:

- Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Books to Read and Own List, 2003
- Boise Public Library Books for the Holidays! List, 2003

Reviews:

This mostly true story is written with style, humor, and empathy. In the final scene, Dr. Speicher tells Mrs. Fisher that Suzanne “has an active imagination, and that might turn out to be a good thing someday,” and that has been Staples’ gift to the world of children’s literature. (Fiction, 8-12)
-- Kirkus Reviews

Staples’ meandering narrative effectively evokes the long, lazy days of summer on a lake in northeastern Pennsylvania.  The author creates a timeless atmosphere by remaining focused on the narrator’s growing pains and avoiding details that would date the tale.  As the novel progresses, readers will detect subtle changes in Suzanne as Jeff draws her out of her loner’s shell and forces her to deal with the here and now. (Ages 8-12)

-- Publishers Weekly