News for Dogs

Lois Duncan's NEWS FOR DOGS offers a companion to HOTEL FOR DOGS, a major film. Now that their hotel has closed Andi and her brother have a new project - publishing the Bow-Wow News for dogs. Their online publication attracts a dangerous dognapper in this absorbing tale.

When Andi and Bruce create The Bow Wow News, neither the adventure-loving brother and sister from HOTEL FOR DOGS nor anyone else could have guessed what kind of dog days were ahead of them. Not one kid in the neighborhood is surprised when the local bully, a nasty kid named Jerry Gordon, gets Bruce in trouble. Jerry may be described as looking like an angel, but he can only fool the adults in the community with his two-faced ways. In order to raise money to fix a problem involving a beloved Red Setter who has seen better days (and suffers at Jerry's abusive hand), Andi and Bruce decide to create their own newspaper. The result is a homespun affair: Andi serves as the editor; Debbie, her best friend, works as a columnist; Bruce acts as the photographer; and Tim is the publisher, because he has the computer know-how to make The Bow Wow News look like an actual newspaper. Charging 50 cents an issue, the first one sells out immediately. And the whole staff agrees that the entire profit should go to Bruce to pay off his debts for the dog. However, Andi, Bruce and the gang find that running a newspaper is a difficult and time-consuming job that causes a lot of unforeseen problems. Although there are plenty of dogs to write about and lots of crazy things going on (like Bully Bernstein, a dog who eats in a high chair with his owners at the table every day) to investigate, many dog owners would prefer to live their lives anonymously. Being in The Bow Wow News and the lessons Andi and Bruce learn in the course of running the paper create almost as much calamity that the hotel did. Much like Lois Duncan's HOTEL FOR DOGS, the compassionate kids make for excellent protagonists. The inclusion of a dognapping plot may seem far-fetched until you read it within the context of the growing storyline. NEWS FOR DOGS has a huge heart, and Duncan's characters aren't afraid to show theirs --- which means young readers will find this an engaging, exciting and thought-provoking tale about both the best and worst instincts that man and man's best friend have to offer. --- Reviewed by Jana Siciliano