The Puppy Sister [Paperback]

S.E. Hinton (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up

Nick and his parents get more than they bargained for when their newly adopted puppy, Aleasha, decides she'll have more fun with her new "family" if she becomes human, too. So begins a laugh-out-loud adventure told from Aleasha's point of view, about her transformation from puppy to girl.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With this whimsical animal story, Hinton serves up an entry as memorable in its genre as her classic The Outsiders is in YA literature. From the time they bring her home, the Davidsons treat narrator Aleasha, a lovable Australian shepherd, just as if she were young Nick's "puppy sister." When Aleasha finally realizes that she is destined to grow into a dog, not a person, she is horrified. Concentrating all her willpower, she begins to develop fingers and to speak. Her owners, who have always wanted a little girl in the family, are as pleased as they are shocked. Their attempts to hide Aleasha's transformation and to see her through her awkward "in-between" stage lead to much hilarity, while the reactions of a nosy neighbor and of the Davidsons' aloof cat, Miss Kitty, magnify the merriment. Offering a unique, consistently witty account of growing pains and family life, this irresistible fantasy can take its place alongside Stuart Little and Babe the Gallant Pig. Ages 7-11.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-3?A gifted author of books for YAs has written a story that is cautiously clever but painfully precious. Nick, from Big David, Little David (Doubleday, 1995), wants a little sister; his parents bring home a puppy instead. The story is told from the young dog's point of view as her desire to please her new family turns her into a little girl. Mom, Dad, and Nick take this in stride. They tell the neighbors they had to give up their puppy but are adopting a child instead. Aleasha is kept out of sight until the transformation is complete. There are a few close calls but not enough to create any real tension. Scientific tidbits about the difference between dogs and humans are interesting though not compelling. The effort to keep the text easy enough for beginning chapter book readers results in simplistic writing. The few black-and-white sketches are unremarkable. Too little conflict and character development result in a fantasy that falls flat.?Jody McCoy, Casady School, Oklahoma City
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (July 7, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440413842
• ISBN-13: 978-0440413844
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #550,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susan Eloise Hinton's career as an author began while she was still a student at Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Disturbed by the divisions among her schoolmates into two groups--the Greasers and the Socs--Hinton wrote The Outsiders, an honest, sometimes shocking novel told from the point of view of an orphaned 14-year-old Greaser named Ponyboy Curtis. Since her narrator was male, it was decided that Hinton use only her first initials so as not to put off boys who would not normally read books written by women. The Outsiders was published during Hinton's freshman year at the University of Tulsa, and was an immediate sensation.Today, with more than eight million copies in print, the book is the best-selling young adult novel of all time, and one of the most hauntingly powerful views into the thoughts and feelings of teenagers. The book was also made into a film, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and featuring such future stars as Emilio Estevez, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, and Tom Cruise.Once published, The Outsiders gave her a lot of publicity and fame, and also a lot of pressure. S.E. Hinton was becoming known as "The Voice of the Youth" among other titles. This kind of pressure and publicity resulted in a three year long writer's block.Her boyfriend (and now, her husband), who had gotten sick of her being depressed all the time, eventually broke this block. He made her write two pages a day if she wanted to go anywhere. This eventually led to That Was Then, This Is Now.In the years since, Ms. Hinton has married and now has a teenaged son, Nick. She continues to write, with such smash successes as That Was Then, This Is Now, Rumble Fish and Tex, almost as well known as The Outsiders. She still lives in Tulsa with her husband and son, where she enjoys writing, riding horses, and taking courses at the university.In a wonderful tribute to Hinton's distinguished 30-year writing career, the American Library Association and School Library Journal bestowed upon her their first annual Margaret A. Edwards Award, which honors authors whose "book or books, over a period of time, have been accepted by young people as an authentic voice that continues to illuminate their experiences and emotions, giving insight into their lives."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book will make you cry just because it ends!, February 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Puppy Sister (Paperback)

I am a 10 year old who reads excessively. I read an adaption of The puppy sister in american girl magazine, and was thrilled to pieces tofind that it was a real book! I bought it when i was 8 or 9, and have continued to read it over and over and over. It's one of those books that is just great. i evendid a chapter from it for a public speaking contest! It is about this dog named Aleasha, who truluy is man, woman, and children's best friend, who gets adopted by the davidson family. she thinks that either she's a human or her family are dogs but the cat tells her otherwise, so she decides to become human through a matter of concentration. When her bro Nick discovers the transformation, they finaly tell the parents, who solve all those complicated, 'for grown-ups' problems with the event. This book is so bombing. You gotta read it! and if you love this book, the only other one i've ever read that measures up is The suitcase Kid by Jacqueline Wilson, so check it out too! This book is good for girls OR boys from age 1-100.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable! A great childrens fantasy., June 19, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Puppy Sister (Paperback)

I have always loved reading, but when my first grade teacher gave me this book when i was six, I read a little of it, then put it down. It wasn't until six years later, I was browsing my book shelves filled with my childhood books that I found this book again. It was a school morning, but I picked it up anyways and started reading it. I couldn't put it down! Sure, it wasn't my reading level, but it was a sweet book, written in a way that makes you want to know what happens next. It's about a little boy named Nick who gets an Aussie puppy named Aleasha instead of his wish-a sister. Aleasha wants Nick to play with her like he would a real little girl, but he doesn't. So she comes up with a plan. She will turn into a human. What happens next? Read the book to find out, or read another review that theaches you more about it. Whatever!! But it's a really sweet book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Daughter loved it, April 17, 2009

By 

JGal "JGal" (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Puppy Sister (Paperback)

This is the first book that my 3rd grade daughter has ever picked up and wasn't able to put down. She came up for air long enough to look at me and say "This is a great book!" I only wish S.E. Hinton had written more books for elementary-aged kids, because I would definitely get them!