3/27/12

20) Mallory's Guide to Boys, Brothers, Dads, and Dogs

Bibliography: .Friedman, Laurie; Mallory’s Guide to Boys, Brothers, Dads, and Dogs; Darby Creek; Minneapolis; 2011; 159 pages; ISBN 978-0-7613-5250-1.

Plot: Mallory has a problem.  She likes a boy, but that boy doesn’t know who she is and he is also older than her.  It doesn’t take long for her obsession with her crush, JT, to monopolize her mind.  This causes even more trouble for Mallory.  Pretty soon she’s failing math and has to have a parent teacher conference.  She gets grounded and then finds herself in even more trouble.  Mallory must learn how to manage her school work, her crush, her brother, her dad and her brother’s dog. 

Review:  This is a great book for grade school girls.  So many times young girls get caught up in having a crush on a boy, and then that crush monopolizes their mind.  Many tween girls will see themselves in Mallory’s character.  They will be able to relate to the issues that arise in Mallory’s life.  This book is number fifteen in the series.  Since tweens enjoy series, this is a great one to suggest to new readers.  Mallory is a great narrator and tweens will love her antics, as well as, learn a great lesson for the future.

Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction/Coming of Age

Interest Level: age 9-12

Related Books: Starting with Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor; Peace, Locomotion by Jacqueline Woodson; Say What? By Margaret Peterson Haddix

Characters: 
Mallory – the protagonist
JT – Mallory’s crush
Max – Mallory’s brother
Maryann – Mallory’s best friend
Cheeseburger – the cat
Chomp – the dog

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