  | Rules of the Ruff Author: Lang, Heidi | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
Jessie, twelve, copes with what promised to be a long, boring summer with relatives by becoming apprentice to Wes, a grouchy neighborhood dog walker, who is facing new competition.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 4.10 Points: 8.0 Quiz: 500019 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (05/01/18)
School Library Journal (05/01/18)
Booklist (07/01/18)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 05/01/2018 Gr 4–6—Twelve-year-old Jessie pesters her way into an apprenticeship with a curmudgeonly dog walker during a summer with her suburban Ohioan family. Her cousin's mean-girl friend and an intriguing boy and his mom (who tries to co-opt clients for her own dog walking service) create additional challenges to merely mastering dog-walking skills. Written in scene-based chapters of uniform lengths and featuring a small cast with distinctive personalities and voices, Jessie's story is a light, predictable read. Jessie loves soccer and Die Hard movies and eschews dresses and romantic comedies. Dogs abound within these pages, but mostly as objects that further the plot as opposed to animals with whom the protagonist develops close relationships. VERDICT Give this to dog lovers or readers seeking a light and breezy summer read.—Rhona Campbell, Georgetown Day School, Washington, DC - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 07/01/2018 Spending another summer at her aunt and uncle’s isn’t what 12-year-old Jessie wants, but she’s stuck with them. Ann, her slightly older cousin, treats Jessie like she’s intruding on Ann’s new friendship with Loralee—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to complicated relationships. Jessie crushes on new-kid Max, who loves challenging her to games of soccer; fickle Loralee doesn’t like Jessie and snags Max for a boyfriend; and poor Jessie feels left out all around. Her salvation is meeting Wes, the grouchy dog-walker, and convincing him to take her on as an apprentice. Despite his gruff personality, Jessie remains undeterred and learns much about dogs and people. As she matures emotionally during the summer, she gains confidence in herself and in her understanding of others. Lang’s approach to sharing this tale of friendship and family leads readers to understand how much dogs can teach humans about their own relationships. Dog-lovers will laugh, cry, and cheer for Jessie, Wes, and their pack of pups in this fun read. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.
