Customer Reviews

Protecting Marie

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I never really thought I would get into this book. I just nonchalantly picked it up off of the bookshelf in the library. I began to read it. I was pulled in by the very real display of emotion, and the dialog was also very realistic. The characters were described so well, I could almost see them. The story line was also something that actually does happen. Dogs do get taken away because of destructive habits. As I read the story, It felt like it was really winter outside, and I imagined myself sitting in front of a warm fireplace, listening to it crackle, and drinking hot chocolate. Just like Fanny. I read the whole book in less than a day. I couldn't disconnect myself from it. I recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Not being a big fan of "dog stories," I picked this book up from the library only because I admire Kevin Henkes' writing. I didn't even open it until the evening before it was due. As it turned out, I was hooked from the first paragraph and stayed up until midnight to read the whole thing. I was surprised how thoroughly the book brought me into into this 12-year-old girl's head and life, and how stirringly it depicted Fanny's strained relationship with her father. Every detail seemed perfect. The dogs in the story are terribly important to Fanny, and are important measures of her relationship with her father, but the problems in the relationship go deeper than that, and the new dog isn't a cure-all for the problems. I expected a simple story about a girl wanting a dog, but this book delivered much more. I had to return the book to the library, but I plan to buy a copy to keep.

In the book, Protecting Marie, Fanny is a girl who loves dogs. When she gets her first dog, she immediately falls in love with him. Unfortunately, the dog soon gets out of control! His ripping of the furniture and making a mess finally set Fanny's father to give him away. Ever since, Fanny has looked at her father in a different way. When he didn't show up for him own 50th birthday party, Fanny was convinced he wasn't returning. Her mother kept positive about the situation and decorated the house for Christmas with Fanny. To Fanny's surprise, when her father came home, he brought the best gift Fanny could ever hope for. As she came downstairs, she saw a face staring back at her, a new dog! Although Fanny tried not to, she fell in love with her dog, Dinner, in every way. If even Fanny's father loved Dinner, then why is Dinner missing when Fanny comes home from school? When Fanny finds a note saying her father brought Dinner to their friend who had been admiring the dog, Fanny could only think of one conclusion, Dinner is gone...or is he?
I really enjoyed Protecting Marie!! It tells a story about a girl and her father, and the importance of friendship. This book keeps the reader wondering what will happen next. I was shocked when I found that Dinner was missing! The ending is very climatic and satisfying. I really liked this book and would definitely recommend this book to fathers, daughters, dog lovers, or anyone looking for a great realistic fiction story.

Protecting Marie
By: Kevin Henkes
Reviewed by: Catherine Li
Period: 6

This book talks about the life of a 12-year-old girl whose name is Fanny. Her farther is an artist and is very hard to live with. His business is not going too well and he gets upset easily, particularly when he is not satisfied with his work. Fanny has always loved dogs, one night when her dad was not able to show up for his 60-year-old birthday party he brought back a Labrador puppy. However, her dad needs concentration for his work, and when the puppy began breaking things and fooling around at the house, he sent the puppy away to someone. Fanny is heart broken and misdirected her anger, frustration, and emotional outrage. One night Fanny's father comes home with another dog named Dinner. But Fanny is afraid, she worries that Dinner would ruin her dad's concentration, and he would send her away too. Soon, her father began using Dinner as the main model in his painting. Fanny understood then, that her father would never send anything away that she loves.
I found this book touching in some ways. This book is very straightforward and easy to understand. It isn't a very exciting book, but it has good writings and is a worthy book to read. Though, I think the title doesn't exactly match the meaning of the story. For instance, "Her mouth was a pouty circle, and short, slitty lines served as eyes and eyelashes."
The sentences are short and simple to read. This book isn't very descriptive nor complex. The sentences are also short, but it makes perfect sense. "The petals were so dark they looked black at the innermost whorl." It is in a very good writing, especially in a drama type of book.
I enjoyed reading this book. It wasn't the story that interested me, but the moral of this story. Even though the story doesn't completely mean the same meaning as the title, there was a important lesson about this doll (Marie) Fanny owned. The moral of this story is not to show emotional outrage to anyone in your family. Fanny never trusted her father, and she hid her belongings away from him. I recommend this book to everyone.

This is a compelling story of a very alert twelve-year-old, fanny. Fanny has always wanted a dog but her short tempered father has not allowed one. when he finally gives in he gets annoyed by the young puppy that ruins his concentration on his paintings. fanny is forced to give up this young dog. Fanny is furious. then a few months later her father gets another dog dinner. dinner is a three year old trained german shepard mix but fanny always catches her selfprotecting dinner, and wonders if she has will have to give this dog away too.

This story about a girl and her dream to own a dog are really touching. The father's character was a large part of the story, and although it was pretty harsh, the story wouldn't be as touching if he weren't like that. The ending is great, but I don't like that she took up knitting just because a guy she liked did it. I've done that before, and it's really bad, because you make the committment to some activity for the wrong motives, and sure, you enjoy it when the guy you like is doing it also, but when you stop liking the guy, or the guy quits or something, you start to hate it. I just don't think books that are meant for this age group should advocate this. Overall, though, it was pretty enjoyable.

12 year old Fanny Swan is inlove with her dog Nellie, but when the dog gets in the way of Henry, he takes her away. On Henry's birthday when there was to be a party with Ellen, Fanny, and himself, he didn't come home. This upset Fanny very much. The next evening he calls on the phone to tell Ellen that he is bringing home Fanny's dinner. He comes home, but not with food, a dog. Fanny tries not to get attached to the dog infear Henry will take her away, just like Nellie!

One thing I liked about Protecting Marie was that it was very realistic. The story would very likely happen in today's world. What I don't like about the book was that it did have some bad language. I wouldn't recommend it to small children because of the bad words. Another problem is that although it is a good book, the plot had almost no exciting parts. I would not recommend this book for people who like action. Something that I learned from this book is that trusting someone is very important. Overall, I would not recommend this book. I give Protecting Marie two stars.

Protecting Marie was a fabulous story. It was sad, but at the same time happy. It was around Christmas time and also Fanny's father's birthday. They had everything ready. They had guests coming, cakes baking, decorations hung but there was only one thing missing. Fanny's father Henry, he had disappeared on his birthday. Fanny thinks that he left because of her. Ellen, Fanny's mother, thinks he left because he is going through a mid life crisis. Fanny has always wanted a dog. She got one but it was taken away and given to another family. The reason why the dog was taken away was because it was eating many valuable things. Fanny thinks that her dad is going to get her another dog. Will she?? Will her dad even return??

I liked how the author reffered to protecting Marie, the paper doll to protecting Dinner, the dog. Iliked it how the author used his imagination in how to write this book.