Author: Eleanor EstesOriginally published : 1951 (Harcourt Brace & World)
Length: 306 pages
Awards: Newbery Medal 1952
Personal Enjoyment Rating: 4.5/5
Amazon Rating: 4/5 (74 Customer Reviews)
Goodreads: 690 ratings, 3.87 average rating
Length: 306 pages
Awards: Newbery Medal 1952
Personal Enjoyment Rating: 4.5/5
Amazon Rating: 4/5 (74 Customer Reviews)
Goodreads: 690 ratings, 3.87 average rating
If I give a short description of this book from Goodreads--
"Meet Ginger Pye, the smartest dog you'll ever know. Jerry Pye and his sister, Rachel, feel pretty smart themselves for buying Ginger. It was the best dollar they ever spent. Ginger steals everybody's heart . . . until someone steals him!--
you might think what I thought: "Why would I want to read a dog story?" I don't really like dog stories. The ones I have read have been either a little boring (Shiloh) or traumatic (Stone Fox-read aloud, big mistake). Or certain movies come to mind that require boxes upon boxes of tissue (Old Yeller, Marley and Me). I just wanted to give this a try because it's stamped with that gold Newbery seal.
Surprisingly, I loved it. It's quirky. It's funny. I loved the story. And the dog isn't really in the story that much because, well, he gets stolen. That sounds heartless, I know. But I think with the whole mood of the story you know that everything will be okay in the end. It is not without its tragic moments, but I think that's what makes it into a great book rather than just a good one. It was refreshing to read a Newbery that was just simply a wonderful story written wonderfully well.
"Meet Ginger Pye, the smartest dog you'll ever know. Jerry Pye and his sister, Rachel, feel pretty smart themselves for buying Ginger. It was the best dollar they ever spent. Ginger steals everybody's heart . . . until someone steals him!--
you might think what I thought: "Why would I want to read a dog story?" I don't really like dog stories. The ones I have read have been either a little boring (Shiloh) or traumatic (Stone Fox-read aloud, big mistake). Or certain movies come to mind that require boxes upon boxes of tissue (Old Yeller, Marley and Me). I just wanted to give this a try because it's stamped with that gold Newbery seal.
Surprisingly, I loved it. It's quirky. It's funny. I loved the story. And the dog isn't really in the story that much because, well, he gets stolen. That sounds heartless, I know. But I think with the whole mood of the story you know that everything will be okay in the end. It is not without its tragic moments, but I think that's what makes it into a great book rather than just a good one. It was refreshing to read a Newbery that was just simply a wonderful story written wonderfully well.
I really liked this one too, and I also don't love dog books. It was just a fun read.
ReplyDeleteKT,
ReplyDeleteOh, good! I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't like dog books! Have you read any others by Estes?
I love dogs and dogs stories and this one sounds like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteI loved this book, too. Does anyone know the species of Ginger?
ReplyDelete