Notes from the Dog [Hardcover]

Gary Paulsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2009

“Sometimes having company is not all it’s cracked up to be.” Fifteen-year-old Finn is a loner, living with his dad and his amazing dog, Dylan. This summer he’s hoping for a job where he doesn’t have to talk to anyone except his pal Matthew. Then Johanna moves in next door. She’s 10 years older, cool, funny, and she treats Finn as an equal. Dylan loves her, too. Johanna’s dealing with breast cancer, and Matthew and Finn learn to care for her, emotionally and physically. When she hires Finn to create a garden, his gardening ideas backfire comically. But Johanna and the garden help Finn discover his talents for connecting with people.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5–9—Fourteen-year-old Finn is terrified of meeting new people, and conversation is painful. His true friend, Matthew, is talkative, overly confident, and sometimes a thorn in his side. The boy is content with books and Dylan, his canine companion. He's determined that his summer vacation will not be marred by the intrusion of people, and thus, the discomfort they cause him. Then he meets his pretty new neighbor, 24-year-old Johanna, who shares her joy of life with Finn and Matthew and employs Finn to help her create gardens in his sorrowful-looking backyard. Johanna's enthusiasm for research, compost, fertilizer, and all things garden break down Finn's barriers. When she tells the boys that she is a breast-cancer survivor, their initial trepidation shifts to friendship. As she trains for a triathlon to raise money for cancer awareness, Finn and Matthew join her team. Right before the race, more adverse reactions to chemotherapy thwart her run, and the two boys take up the torch. Johanna's spirit and optimism infuse Finn with courage and love, and he finds his voice. Paulsen's fans may miss his trademarks: the notorious exploits of boys, the page-turning wilderness adventures, or the sled dogs that often take center stage. Yet this candid and tender tale, told with his signature humor, is a salute to the bravest of the brave.—Alison Follos, North Country School, Lake Placid, NY END

About the Author

Gary Paulsen is the distinguished author of many critically acclaimed books for young people, His most recent books are Lawn Boy, Molly McGinty Has a Really Good Day, The Time Hackers, The Amazing Life of Birds, and Mudshark.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books (July 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385738455
• ISBN-13: 978-0385738453
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 0.9 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #738,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gary Paulsen is one of the most honored writers of contemporary literature for young readers. He has written more than one hundred book for adults and young readers, and is the author of three Newberry Honor titles: Dogsong, Hatchet, and The Winter Room. He divides his time among Alaska, New Mexico, Minnesota, and the Pacific.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Heart-warming Story, August 15, 2009

By 

Julie Peterson "Booking Mama" (Central PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Notes from the Dog (Hardcover)

I read NOTES FROM THE DOG by Gary Paulsen over a month ago and for some reason I have put off writing my review. I'm not exactly sure why I've procrastinated for so long (it really isn't like me), but I am worried that I won't be able to express how much I appreciated this book. I also desperately wanted Booking Daughter to read it so I could get her input. I have a feeling that it's one of those middle grade books that ended up affecting me much more than it did her. I both laughed and cried as I read this story; and I didn't want the book to end.

One reason that I enjoyed this book so much was that I absolutely loved Finn, the 14 year-old narrator of this story. At the beginning of the book, he is a major introvert who is just trying to get through the summer with the least amount of interaction with people. My heart went out to him at times because of his insecurities, yet I also thought he was wise beyond his years at times. I thought the author did a wonderful job creating Finn's voice, and I loved the Finn's humor and insights into life. He was an extremely memorable character to me, and you couldn't help but root for him to come out of his shell.

Another character that I adored was Finn's neighbor Johanna. Johanna was a young woman who dealing with breast cancer. Not only did I find her battle with cancer to be inspiring (she had so much hope and strength), but I absolutely loved what she did for Finn. By getting Finn focused on creating a garden, she taught him so many wonderful life lessons. Without Johanna in his life, I'm not sure what would have become of Finn!

I don't know what rock I've been living under, but I've never read any books by Mr. Paulsen before. He is one of the most celebrated children's authors having won the Newberry Honor award three times. He is also winner of the 1997 Margaret A. Edwards Award which honors an author's lifetime contribution to writing books for teenagers. After reading NOTES FROM THE DOG, I will definitely be checking out some more of his books.

NOTES FROM THE DOG was definitely a tear-jerker for me! I sat in my room one evening and just bawled. Don't get me wrong, this book was sad; but for some reason, I think my tears were actually tears of joy. This story definitely could have been a downer, but I think because Mr. Paulsen incorporate so much humor into the story that it became a story about life rather than death. I just found Finn's story to be so beautiful and heart-warming; and I was left with such a hopeful feeling after I finished this book. I highly recommend this novel not only to middle grade kids, but to anyone who loves a good story.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tears from Laughing, Tears of Sympathy (what a great book), February 8, 2010

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Notes from the Dog (Hardcover)

For me the definition of a good writer is someone who can take a cliche, predictable story, and make me cry like a babe anyway.

"Notes From the Dog" is just such a book. And Paulsen had me with tears streaming down my cheeks. Sometimes from laughing so hard, and sometimes in sympathy with the characters pain and anguish.

No doubt, the story won't hit everyone that way. But I really loved this simply told story of two 14 year-old boys, and the young college girl they come to love and support as she battles cancer.

Talking Points:::
AR (accelerated reading) level 4.7

This is a sweet story for Middle-schoolers (even Tweeners) on Up.
(OK, it's not for grumpy adults)

a mini-review
(pam ex booksforkids-reviews)

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unusual coming of age story: poignant, funny and different, October 20, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Notes from the Dog (Hardcover)

Gary Paulsen's NOTES FROM THE DOG tells of teen Finn, a loner living with his father and his dog Dylan. His growing friendship with a 20-year-old girl next door and his involvement with her struggles with breast cancer make for an unusual coming of age story: poignant, funny and different.