Strider [Paperback]

Beverly Cleary (Author), Paul O. Zelinsky (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Strider has a new habit. Whenever we stop, he places his paw on my foot. It isn't an accident because he always does it. I like to think he doesn't want to leave me.

Can a stray dog change the life of a teenage boy? It looks as if Strider can. He's a dog that loves to run; because of Strider, Leigh Botts finds himself running -- well enough to join the school track team. Strider changes Leigh on the inside, too, as he finally begins to accept his parents' divorce and gets to know a redheaded girl he's been admiring. With Strider's help, Leigh finds that the future he once hated to be asked about now holds something he never expected: hope.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Two boys share custody of a dog in this sequel to the Newbery Award winner Dear Mr. Henshaw . Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-- Leigh Botts, the protagonist of the Newbery winner Dear Mr. Henshaw (Morrow, 1983), is once again recording his thoughts on paper. While cleaning his room, he discovers his old diary and is inspired to start writing again. Now 14, he is still dealing with some of the same issues from earlier days--his parents' divorce, concerns about his father's sincerity and financial stability, and insecurities about his own identity and popularity. He also has a few new worries--namely Geneva, a girl, and Strider, a dog. Leigh and his friend Barry find the abandoned pooch on the beach and decide to try "joint custody." It is not the perfect arrangement. Because Leigh's attachment to Strider fills the emotional voids in his life, he becomes reluctant to share him. Eventually, the two boys work through the tensions that threaten their friendship. At the same time, Leigh and his father develop a new understanding. Although the story is centered aroung Leigh's relationship with Strider, this is more than just "a boy and his dog" book. Cleary's talent for portraying the details of everyday life--both small and significant--is evident here. Her characters are unique individuals and "every children" at the same time. Strider lacks the subtle poignancy found in Dear Mr. Henshaw , and some readers may find Leigh's interest and responses more appropriate for an 11 or 12 year old than a 14 year old, but Cleary's fans will relate to his challenges and triumphs--whether or not they've read the first title.
- Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380712369
• ISBN-13: 978-0380712366
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #147,612 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( C ) > Cleary, Beverly
  • #28 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Family Life > Marriage & Divorce
  • #31 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Divorce

More About the Author

Beverly Cleary's birthday, April 12th, is celebrated across the country on D.E.A.R. Day, with activities related to the Drop Everything and Read Program. One of the most popular and honored authors of all time, Beverly Cleary has won the Newbery Medal for Dear Mr. Henshaw, and both Ramona Quimby, Age 8 and Ramona and Her Father have been named Newbery Honor Books. She makes her home in coastal California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like dog stories read this book NOW!!, November 1, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Strider (Paperback)

This story is about a boy named Leigh and a dog named Strider.Strider gets found by Leigh and his friend Barry.They both own Strider.Furthermore, Barry has to visit his real
mom.So Leigh can have Strider for a whole week.Durning
that week Leigh's dad turns up.In this story Leigh's dad comes to visit Leigh a lot.When Barry comes back it's time for school again.Also,durning school Barry and Leigh loses their friendship.Barry runs a lot in this story because of Strider.He even makes the track team with Kevin.Leigh want's his friendship back with Barry so he leaves Strider in Barry's yard ,but Strider comes back and they become friends again.At the end Leigh gets closer with his dad and gets a new frienship with Geneva.One more thing I forgot to say is that Leigh does real good in the track race.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars This book is O.K., November 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Strider (Paperback)

It is the sequel to Dear Mr. Hanshaw. You can tell it's by the same author, though. The author is Beverly Clearly. She is one of my favorite authors. Strider didn't impress me though. This book is not seperated into chapters, it's seperated into journal entries. My favorite part is when Barry and Leigh find the dog on the beach.

The story is about a boy named Leigh, who, is the new kid in school. Leigh finds a stray dog on the beach. The dog was laying down, so Leigh and his friend Barry tried all sorts of ways to get him up. None of them worked. So, Leigh and Barry started running. The dog followed them. Then, he layed down exactly where he was again. The dog looked sad and lonely. So, they decided to have a joint custody with the dog and name him Strider. Barry would keep Strider in his yard during school,Barry and Leigh would play with him after school, and Leigh would keep the dog at night. Leigh's mom and dad are divorced. Leigh has been worrying about his dad because he's losing alot of money. Anyway, Barry has to go on a vacation with his real mom and dad, so Leigh gets to keep Strider for a whole two weeks! But, Strider kept chewing on Leighs bedroom rug, so he decided to build a fence. He called his dad to build one. His dad got a new job. Leigh was relieved. Then, when Barry came back, they had a fight about who keeps the dog. But, they worked it out. Then, Leigh gets this cool new shirt from the thrift shop. The next day, he wore it to school. A rich kid shouted "Hey, that's my shirt!" and it was his shirt. His mom took it to the thrift shop and sold it. So, he ran after him. They did this every morning until they became friends and joined track and became friends. At track, he meets a girl named Geneva who does hurtles at the track. Now, Leigh has three friends. How will the story end? Read Strider and find out!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Better than Henshaw, December 9, 2008

By 

Runa "HPLunatic" (Charlottesville, VA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Strider (Paperback)

Strider was, in many ways, a more enjoyable read than its predecessor. Dear Mr. Henshaw was interesting, but Strider comes in at a more pivotal time in Leigh's life. He's just entering high school and has more complex problems (to a degree) to deal with. It was very interesting seeing how his life had changed since Dear Mr. Henshaw, particularly his relationship with his dad, which was no longer as strained. (I also was saddened, but not in a bad way, by the reference to Leigh's former favorite book, "Ways to Amuse a Dog") I did feel like there was too much description, particularly since this story is being told by a 14 year old boy. He does want to be a writer, but still, nobody actually writes like that, and it ruins some of the relatability. There were also big passages where nothing eventful happened and I found myself wanting to skip over them, because they really were just filler points. I strongly felt that the book should have ended with the scene with Leigh and his dad, as to me, that is the essence of both books and nothing that came afterwards was too notable. Let me correct myself there. There was one notable thing, which I'm sure Gordon Korman would be highly proud of: neither Bandit nor Strider died! Can you believe it? I'm having trouble processing it-a dog book in which the dog doesn't die. Thank you, thank you, thank you Beverly Cleary!

Rating: 3.5/5