Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #103824 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780152061722
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From Publishers Weekly
F-32 (or Sherlock, as he comes to be named) is a "smart dog" indeed?he has escaped from a university research lab where a scientific experiment has endowed him with speech and all sorts of other signs of intelligence. Unfortunately, the experiment is scheduled to end in the dissection of his brain; fortunately, Sherlock stumbles upon Amy, a painfully unpopular fifth-grader who is only too happy to help him. As she concocts a series of plans to keep him safe, Amy finds herself growing in confidence and courage. Although the supporting characters are familiar types (the smart nerd with the heart of gold, the mean-spirited popular girl, the evil vivisectionist), the enduring fantasy of a talking pet is rendered with an abundance of charm and wit. Sherlock is endearingly doggy and his academic abilities are humorously limited. For example, he can work a computer (he likes the games), but he gums up the keyboard by typing with a pencil eraser. As he and Amy try to figure out a solution to his problems, he asks her, "Do you want to scratch my belly while you're thinking?" His attempts to replicate the behavior of regular dogs will have readers giggling. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6-To say that F-32 is a smart dog is a gross understatement. He is computer literate, articulate, and a good judge of human character. This subject of a brain-enhancing science experiment engineers his escape from a research college, selects his "best friend," unpopular fifth-grader Amy Prochenko, and follows her to school. Not since Officer Buckle's Gloria [Officer Buckle & Gloria (Putnam, 1995)] has a dog had such a profound impact on students. Amy finds new friends and inner resources as she helps save the pup from the clutches of the evil scientist plotting brain dissection. Readers rooting for this canine will enjoy the twists and turns in this fast-moving story. Granted that some characters are breezily drawn-sidekick Sean is too good to believe and Kaitlyn, the controlling Miss Popular Know-it-all, is hissingly evil-but the underlying message about popularity and true friendship has rarely been so gently conveyed. Sister Mary Grace, the fifth-grade teacher, is a pleasure to meet. The ending, with both young and old villains getting their just deserts, is deliciously satisfying. Vande Velde, who has written dark fantasies about magical beings for older readers, uses a lighter hand for younger audiences. This book would make a great introduction to Robert O'Brien's Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (Atheneum, 1971), the perennial favorite about escaped science subjects.
Marilyn Payne Phillips, University City Public Library, MO
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 4^-6. The author of Curses, Inc. and Other Stories (1997) offers fantasy in a lighter vein: on her way to school one morning, Amy passes a dog who, instead of barking, politely asks for help, explaining that he's a lab experiment who overheard a researcher planning his dissection. Dazedly, Amy agrees to hide him, or try to, little suspecting how complicated her life is about to get. Vande Velde quickly pushes the comedy pedal to the floor as Amy struggles to fend off her mother, her teacher, and searchers from the local university with a tissue of lies that grows convoluted with amazing speed. It all comes apart during a parent/child crafts program at school--but not to worry; not only does the dog, dubbed Sherlock, get a reprieve but he also helps Amy turn the tables on a malicious classmate. Readers will enjoy Amy's desperate efforts to keep her story straight, laugh at the cast of befuddled, hilariously klutzy grown-ups, and fall in love with Sherlock, a voluble, computer-literate pooch, who, for all his terror and naivete , always looks for the good in people. Fans of S. E. Hinton's Puppy Sister (1995) and Stephanie Spinner's Weebie Zone series will find the same sort of wild humor and engaging characters here. John Peters

Customer Reviews

What a cute book!
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)!!!

A fun and exciting book
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!

A Smart Dog
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.)