Notes from a Liar and Her Dog

(If you are now checking out this book because of having read Gennifer's Newbery Honor book, AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS,you've made an excellent move. NOTES FROM A LIAR AND HER DOG made my Best of 2001 list and it was the best first novel I read that entire year. Having booktalked it (particularly to fifth and sixth graders)for the past four years now, I've had exceptionally positive feedback.) At the conclusion of the first chapter of NOTES FROM A LIAR AND HER DOG, the Assistant Principal asks Ant (Antonia MacPherson) to relay the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf: "I run my tongue over my teeth. 'Some kid pretended he saw a wolf a bunch of times, and everyone came to help him. Then when he really saw the wolf, they all thought he was kidding and they didn't come, and the wolf ate him.' 'That's right. And what do you think the boy learned?' Mr. Borgdorf asks. 'He didn't learn anything. He's dead.' Mr. Borgdorf's eyes flash angry. His lips roll in. 'Fair enough. But why? What was the mistake he made?' I blow my hair off my forehead and consider the question. 'He was stupid. He shouldn't have expected anyone to help in the first place. He should have handled the wolf by himself. That's what I would have done.' " And that is what Ant is all about--taking matters into her own hands because she truly doesn't trust the adults and other kids in her life. She sees her mother as believing that she is wrong and/or lying, no matter what she does. Her younger sister (Katherine the Great) takes notes on Ant's misdeeds, while her older sister (Her Royal Highness Elizabeth) insists she's working on becoming a juvenile delinquent. The one person she does trust is her friend Harrison Emerson, the character who continues haunting my thoughts in this wonderfully funny and deceptively complex first novel by Gennifer Choldenko. "My mom hates Harrison because he eats with his mouth open, walks his pet chicken on a leash, and because he's always scratching at something. I'm not friends with Harrison because my mom doesn't like him, though. I'm friends with him because I like him. That my mom doesn't like him is something extra, like a bonus." In the story, Harrison and Ant are taken under wing by their art teacher who sees the saving graces in the two of them. Ant's father's career changes have frequently uprooted the family in the past and once again threaten upheaval. There are the health issues of Ant's beloved very funky little old dog. (And there are even a bunch of wild animals.) But most importantly there are situations resulting from Ant's 'self-reliance' which run from the legally and morally appalling, to the heartwarming, to the horrifically heart-stopping. Because the story is told from Ant's egocentric perspective, the truth is never entirely clear. After reading the book and getting my wife (the middle school English teacher) to read it, we had enthusiastic debates about whether Ant had ever given us an honest picture of the other char

I read Gennifer Choldenko's debut after reading her second book, 'Al Capone Does My Shirts'. I can say she just keeps improving. She has not forgotten what it is to be a child, and she writes in a way that young people can relate to, as well as their parents, who can remember what it felt like to be that awkward adolescent. Antonia "Ant" McPherson is a sixth-grader, the middle child surrounded by two "perfect" siblings. Her father changes jobs at the slightest whim, and has moved the family all over the country. All three daughters finally feel comfortable in their present town, even Ant, who has attached herself to a fellow misfit, Harrison, who has a pet chicken. Ant feels unloved and ignored by her parents, and is convinced she is adopted. She even starts telling everyone she is adopted, and she is waiting for her "real" parents to arrive any day. Ant hides her frustration behind a web of lies, which begin to bury her. She is befriended by the young, idealistic art teacher, "Just" Carol, who lets Ant and Harrison be volunteers at the zoo. Ant creates self-fulfilling prophecies by telling her parents she is failing, even though she is the best math student in school. It seems that Ant wants to keep lying to her parents and to everyone, to avoid having to do anything to fit in with her "perfect" siblings. Choldenko writes in a very entertaining style, and her stories are not sugar-coated or patronizing. Nothing happens that is from a fantasy world, and the feelings are real. We feel empathy for Ant, but we also feel she needs to stop lying and take responsibility for her actions. It is true to life with great lessons, and Choldenko is definitely one of the best writers for children today.

Developing strong, three-dimentional characters is definately a gift that the Good Lord has decided to bless Gennifer Choldenko with. I've encountered many "counter-culture" teens like the main character, Ant (short for Antonia), who have the nicest parents, but seem troubled. Their dress, actions and attitudes seem to shout, "I don't care." Rather than take the "I don't care" exterior and run with it, Choldenko writes in the first person from Ant's point-of-view, so that we can see the contrast between what Ant says and what Ant does; what Ant's goals and dreams are and how her actions (especially her constant lies and deceptions) prevent her from achieving those dreams. Choldenko goes a step further, however. She doesn't focus on Ant as the cause of, and solution to all of her problems. She shows how her family contributes to, her problems through a lack of meaningful communication. Far from being a down and negative book however, it is written with a rather light-hearted tone. Choldenko includes many scenes inteded to put a smile on your face (the interactions with Harrison, for instance) and will quickly switch to a confrontation between Ant and her family. The contrast serves to strengthen the different emotions.I am seriously planning to assign this book to my sixth grade class to read. I think they'll like it and it looks like they'll be able to identify with many of Ant's problems/thoughts (thus, making for great discussions of the book). Unless I edit this review, assume that the book as assigned reading went VERY well.

This is the anti-sitcom book--rather than earth-shaking problems being resolved in half an hour, minus ads, this books shows the conflicts between Ant and the adults around her clearly and realistically, and begins the resolution process imperfectly and honestly. Ant feels she has to lie to get any notice in her family. Ant's Mom and Dad are fed up with lieing and refuse, then, to listen or give Ant any attention, positive or negative, unless she had said something so outrageous it cannot be let go. Circular conflicts that feed on each other are realistically and thouroughly portrayed in this phenominal first novel by Gennifer Choldenko. A great book for discussion groups, too!

What a wonderful book! The main character in this novel about a young girl who feels alienated from her family, is a gem . . . someone I would want to know. Her feelings are real and the problems both she and her family members experience in communicating with each other about serious issues are portrayed honestly. The plot is gripping; it seems that there is no way for the issues to be resolved, and they are not resolved perfectly because the book is so real. Once you read this one, you will be hooked waiting for Gennifer Choldenko's next.