Customer Reviews

Smart Dog

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love animals and I've always wished that my dogs could talk. Amy is so lucky, I wish I had her luck!! Sometimes I wonder if talking dogs would talk often, but Sherlock didn't seem to speak non stop. I almost forgot he was a dog!!! I was mad when I read what Dr. Boden wanted to do to Sherlock, but in the end I was glad that Dr.Boden's boss decided that Sherlock was worth more to her. I'm very happy for Amy(I won't say what happens, so it won't ruin the story)!!!

Sherlock, a brilliant talking dog that has escaped from a university lab. This dog can understand human words and can do all sorts of amazing tricks. Sherlock met a girl in fifth grade named Amy who is willing to help Sherlock hide. This book also describes Sherlock's generosity and Sherlock can help people in need.

I highly recommend this book to people who have high interest in dogs, love dogs, or already has a dog(s).This book is also for people who are funny and like dog books.(People who like hilarious dog books.)

Vivian Vande Velde wrote about one intelligent canine in the book "Smart Dog", created a unique story, and promptly published it with Dell Yearling, in New York, in 1998. In fact, this animal fantasy is one of Vivian's stories for young readers while being an attraction to 11 year olds because they might love dogs. Vivian also writes short stories, which can be put in magazines, and gives satisfying school speeches. Interestingly, she hosts a book convention every so often. She also teaches writing classes. Although her wonderful novel "Smart Dog" is a fantasy humor type story and is targeted at young readers, she writes horror stories for young adults too. Vivian wrote "Smart Dog" to be a humorous, fantasy type chronicle.

In Smart Dog the main character is Amy, who is a young girl of approximately 10 years old and who finds a dog named Sherlock. Sherlock is unbelievably intelligent, can cleverly talk to people and can amazingly do lots of tricks when asked. Before Amy found Sherlock, she was a normal by-stander in the backseat of the class. Then things changed. She became popular. Sherlock became popular. Naturally, everyone wanted to see Amy's amazing intelligent pup do an outstanding number of tricks. Amy also gained new friends, Sean Gorman and Minneh Tannen because of Sherlock's fame. When Sherlock told Amy and her friends that he was being chased by a college, which wanted to dissect his brain to see how it worked, they decided to help Sherlock. Helping Sherlock, the kids get into loads of trouble. Will the college professor discover their plot? Should they tell Amy's mom about Sherlock or should Amy lie to her mom?

This interesting book about a clever canine will be compelling to 7-9 year olds kids. When older kids read this book, they might find it a bit lacking. Better descriptions of characters, better descriptions of settings and some illustrations would help this book go from mundane to marvelous. Throughout the book the characters change because of the different challenges they face. The best part of the story is when Sherlock, who is the intelligent dog, is outside of Amy's classroom anxiously waiting for her. Wearing a goofy face, Sherlock bounces up, and down, like a yoyo on a string, in front of her window, because he keeps glancing at the clock in her room. He wants school to end. Lastly, this book, Smart Dog, is good but a bit juvenile and kids will like it.

I thought this was a really good book, it is funny and exciting. I read it very quickly because I wanted to see what was going to happen next and I kept hoping they wouldn't find Sherlock. I thought that the story was unpredictable which made the book even more exciting. If Ms. Vande Velde writes another Smart Dog book I will read it!

I read this to my 2nd grade. They were sitting on the edge of their seats. There are so many lessons about life in this book. It is such a good read aloud. We are now reading Three Good Deeds which is just as good if not better than Smart Dog.

Smart Dog is a great book with brilliant imagination on Velde's part. I would definately read it again if given the chance.

Fifth-grader Amy Prochenko has never been the popular girl in school. In fact, the only thing she's really been, is made fun of, by fellow classmate, and resident popular girl Kaitlyn Walker, along with her group of cronies. But when Sherlock (also known as F-32) comes along, Amy's entire world flips upside down. With Sherlock (an escaped research laboratory dog looking to distance himself from a group of students who plan on dissecting his brain) by her side, Amy feels that the sky's the limit, and that she holds the power to do anything. For, you see, Sherlock is a talking dog. A smart dog. One who knows more than the average fifth grader - aside from some spelling problems. And without Amy's help, he won't be living for much longer. So Amy does what she promises: she takes Sherlock under her wing; and, with the help of two new friends, keeps his existence under wraps, while they determine what would be the best option for the runaway pooch. But when workers from the laboratory begin hanging around Amy and her pals, trying to get as close to the dog they named F-32 as possible, Amy realizes that she may have bitten off more than she can chew, and that the only way to salvage this problem will be to tell the truth. But now that Amy and her friends have gotten mixed up in so many lies, it's hard to go back now. Besides, Amy has found something special in Sherlock. Something she never thought she'd find. A best friend. And a sudden bout of popularity that really knocks her off her feet.

As an animal rights activist, I love the fact that there are others out there who feel the need to bring animal rights issues into children's books, in an attempt to spread the word about dissection, cruelty at circuses, and more. Peg Kehret's SAVING LILLY wowed me a couple of years ago, but the subject matter of Vivian Vande Velde's SMART DOG has wowed me once again. While there is information regarding dissection, and research laboratory's, Velde has kept it at a minimal, and not allowed it to overshadow the overall story revolving around Amy and Sherlock. Sherlock is the best friend you've always wanted - smart, fun, friendly - and putting a face and a character to an animal up for dissection really makes the reader realize the seriousness of the subject. Amy, on the other hand, is a brave, intelligent, kind character; whose friendly nature, and overall loving attitude bring SMART DOG an extra ounce of compassion, and truly make the characters stand out. SMART DOG is a smart book choice for all animal lovers, that will leave its mark in your mind, and heart.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

This book is great! I really enjoyed reading it. I liked the part when Sherlock said he was on the computer.
That really amazed me in the book because dogs don't know how to use a computer. I also liked this book because the science teacher and the kids were going to dissect his brain! I also liked
the part when Sherlock was jumping up in the window at the school and got all the kids to start laughing.

This book is about a girl named Amy, and one day as she was walking to school she found a dog. For what had happened next she did not expect, "Excuse me but I'm lost, can you help me?" Amy was very surprised from what she heard, especialy from a dog. After that they became best friends. He escaped from a lab, because he heard people were going to disect his brain! Amy decided to name him Sherlock, because he was so smart.

This story is about a dog named Sherlock who escapes from a university lab because he fears for his life. Sherlock is a lab experiment dog with human intelligence and even the ability to speak. Sherlock sees a girl named Amy on her way to school and asks her for help. Amy is a typical fifth grader. She's not very popular and has never really stood out.

Upon the discovery of Sherlock, Amy's life becomes very exciting. While many of the kids at school never learn that Sherlock can speak, they all see that he is a special dog, and that makes Amy more popular. Also, she has to work up creative plans to keep Sherlock hidden from the people at the University lab.

The girls in the book club (all about aged 10) enjoyed this book tremendously.