2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
NEWS FOR DOGS has a huge heart, June 3, 2009
When Andi and Bruce create The Bow Wow News, neither the adventure-loving brother and sister from HOTEL FOR DOGS nor anyone else could have guessed what kind of dog days were ahead of them.
Not one kid in the neighborhood is surprised when the local bully, a nasty kid named Jerry Gordon, gets Bruce in trouble. Jerry may be described as looking like an angel, but he can only fool the adults in the community with his two-faced ways. In order to raise money to fix a problem involving a beloved Red Setter who has seen better days (and suffers at Jerry's abusive hand), Andi and Bruce decide to create their own newspaper.
The result is a homespun affair: Andi serves as the editor; Debbie, her best friend, works as a columnist; Bruce acts as the photographer; and Tim is the publisher, because he has the computer know-how to make The Bow Wow News look like an actual newspaper. Charging 50 cents an issue, the first one sells out immediately. And the whole staff agrees that the entire profit should go to Bruce to pay off his debts for the dog.
However, Andi, Bruce and the gang find that running a newspaper is a difficult and time-consuming job that causes a lot of unforeseen problems. Although there are plenty of dogs to write about and lots of crazy things going on (like Bully Bernstein, a dog who eats in a high chair with his owners at the table every day) to investigate, many dog owners would prefer to live their lives anonymously. Being in The Bow Wow News and the lessons Andi and Bruce learn in the course of running the paper create almost as much calamity that the hotel did.
Much like Lois Duncan's HOTEL FOR DOGS, the compassionate kids make for excellent protagonists. The inclusion of a dognapping plot may seem far-fetched until you read it within the context of the growing storyline. NEWS FOR DOGS has a huge heart, and Duncan's characters aren't afraid to show theirs --- which means young readers will find this an engaging, exciting and thought-provoking tale about both the best and worst instincts that man and man's best friend have to offer.
--- Reviewed by Jana Siciliano
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Courtesy of Teens Read Too, November 7, 2010
Now that Andi and Bruce are no longer running a hotel for dogs, they decide to start up a new venture: a newspaper for dogs.
Hoping to use the money to buy a dog from a neighborhood bully, the two use it as a moneymaking technique. The newspaper is a big hit, but they attract some unwanted attention. When the newspaper gets out of hand, their parents shut it down.
But then the dogs who were featured in the paper start disappearing, and their abductors begin demanding a ransom from people on fixed incomes. When Bruce's new dog that he got from the bully disappears, as well, the two suspect that their friends might be behind the dognappings.
Can Andi and Bruce find the kidnapped dogs?
A fun, quick read, especially for reluctant readers. The characters are true to their natures from the first book, HOTEL FOR DOGS, and are easy to like and relate to. The plot keeps moving and the mystery is well-developed. Those who like mysteries, animal stories, and realistic fiction will enjoy reading NEWS FOR DOGS.
Reviewed by: Kira M
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5.0 out of 5 stars
daughter enjoyed it, October 16, 2010
my daughter is an avid reader and does not usually like these these types of books, but said this one was "very good" and we should give it 5 stars!!!!!
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