What do You think about Smart Dog (2000)?
I rally liked this book because there were words that were challenging but it wasn't too hard. The writing was pretty powerful it told how a girl and her friends will stop at nothing to help f-32. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a heart filled story. Also to anyone loves dogs and a challenging yet not to challenging book. I think that this book could have been made for all ages. The genre of the book is an animal centered realistic fiction. If this book was part of a series I would defineteley read it.
—Cole
This book is about a dog that ran out from a lab and is able to talk. He took a part in changing Amy’s life. Amy was never brave enough to stand up for herself in school, but after the dog came she was finally brave enough to stand up against her class bully. This is a very good book because it describes a girl’s life and the problems she has to go through. She can relate to any other girl in real life. Reading this book should influence other people to stand up for themselves when they are getting bullied in school. I was very surprised when I first found out that Sherlock, the dog, can talk. I was glad the lab never took Sherlock back because living with Amy for such a long time I can tell that they developed a good relationship. Sometimes when I’m reading this book it feels like Sherlock is no difference than a human because of him talking throughout the whole book.
—Angela Liao
Sherlock is a dog who has escaped from a university lab where gene splicing and neuron stimulation have made him intelligent and able to talk. Fifth-grader Amy and her friends find that keeping the dog's identity secret from grown-ups results in all sorts of unforeseen and hilarious complications.Smart Dog doesn't quite measure up to Vande Velde's best (A Hidden Magic, for example), but I still found it an enjoyable read. Sherlock and his rescuers are likable characters, the school bully gets her comeuppance, and all ends happily.If you like humorous dog stories, you might also want to try Peter Dickinson's Chuck and Danielle.
—Sheila Beaumont
