A fun animal story about ten-year-old Rufus (yes, that's the boy's name, not his pet) and Fido, the guinea pig that he receives instead of the dog he really wants. How embarrassing, will Rufus be able to keep Fido a secret from his classmates and friends? Even better, is there a way to get retu...
Crusher is a gopher snake who just lost her freedom. She was captured by a boy called Gunner. As soon as Crusher is placed in her prison, a cage in the boy’s bedroom, all she can think about is getting back to her natural world outside. Crusher soon starts to talk to the other animals in Gunne...
OWL is a silly book with an important message about acceptance of others and one's self. I read Juvenile books regularly, but this pushed me to suspend my adult reality more than the typical J book. It is really far-fetched and quite silly. Just the right amount of each to keep kids reading. With...
Very Mad Cat The footsteps I hear in the kitchen are light and slow. They’re not Zeb’s. Abe slips into the pantry, quiet as a mouse. Clearly, he’s trying not to be seen by his brother. Though I’d prefer being alone, I’m relieved. I don’t have to worry about Abe talking my ear off, as Georgie does...
I say for the third time. She stops whining, but after a few seconds, slowly starts whimpering, then starts up whining again, which is exactly what she did the last two times I told her to be quiet. I’m rewrapping a Christmas present for her. She got it away from me when I was wrapping it the fir...
The ferret’s back in the cage,” Mother says, coming back into the room. “Fur!” Abalina says. “Yes,” Father says, “the fur is back in the cage, but, sadly, not before he chewed up our scholarly eldest daughter’s mathematics homework.” My mother looks at me. I do my best to look devastated. “Well, ...
Return of the Second Dog “Chloe’s back,” Kian said as he took his seat at the table. The Crew, who had been chattering about Mr. Sarris, the hairy alien, fell silent. “She just showed up in the backyard this morning,” Kian added, then folded his hands on the table and blinked twice. “She’s back?”...
Stan I got one day between coming home from the Kap trip and returning to school, one day to shift from Drive to Neutral to Park. I shifted so fast, I think I blew my transmission. At least that’s how I felt the morning after Labor Day, after the barbecue, on my first day of middle school. I coul...