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Library | Call Number | Status |
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Searching... McMinnville Public Library | Auch, M. | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Newberg Public Library | J FICTION AUCH | Searching... Unknown |
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Searching... Woodburn Public Library | Auch | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
A funny and moving middle-grade novel for dog lovers by popular author Mary Jane Auch. Other dogs are K-9s. But K-10 is a cut above other dogs, and his mother gave hime the name to prove it when he was a puppy. Now K-10 is grown up and all on his own, because K-10 doesn't need friends--canine or human. He spends his time running away from owners and doing time in dog shelters, and that's just fine with him. But after K-10 escapes from a shelter with some other dogs, everything changes. These new dogs aren't so easy to forget, and all they can bark about is finding old and new owners. Will K-10 go back to being a loner, or can this not-so-old dog learn a new trick--friendship?
Author Notes
As a child, Mary Jane Auch loved books and read constantly. Her interest in drawing began as a child and continued through high school. She went on to become an art major at Skidmore College. After graduation, Auch went for New York City, but after a year of designing prints for men's pajamas, she decided she wanted to do something more meaningful with her life. She enrolled in the Occupational Therapy program at Columbia University, and worked for some years in a children's hospital near Hartford, Connecticut.
Eventually, Auch began illustrating for Pennywhistle Press, a national children's newspaper, which led to an interest in illustrating children's books. In the summer of 1984, Auch took a week-long children's writing conference on Cape Cod. Auch finally knew that she wanted to a writer when an instructor told her that sometimes artists find they can paint better pictures with words.
She began sending manuscripts to publishers, writing four novels before she sold the first one. She then sold a second book to another publisher the same week. She continued writing books for older kids, abandoning her dream of illustrating for a while. After writing nine books, she wrote and illustrated The Easter Egg Farm, and has done both ever since.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-5-K-10 is an independent dog and doesn't need humans to take care of him. In and out of shelters and on the run, K-10 encounters trouble at every turn. But what does he really want, freedom or someplace to call home? Packed full of doggie humor, M. J. Auch's novel (Holiday House, 2008) shows life from the dog's point of view. It is the story a of a dog who has been repeatedly disappointed by human owners, searching for the courage to trust in them again. Auch succeeds in combining humor with a touching story. William Dufris brings each dog character to life with a unique voice to match its distinct personality. Dog and animal lovers will gladly romp along with K-10 and his canine pals. Give this audiobook to fans of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Shiloh (S & S, 2000), John Grogan's Marley (HarperCollins, 2007), and Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn Dixie (Candlewick, 2000).-Richelle Roth, Boone County Public Library, KY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
In this tale told from the mutt's point-of-view, spunky serial-adoptee K-10 believes in his ability to make it on his own without humans, whom he charms but always leaves. Caught one too many times, however, K-10 escapes from the pound with some new dog friends when he realizes that this stay won't end in an adoption. Confronted by an outside world that's far more difficult than he's anticipated, K-10 relies on his new friends to survive. Auch tackles themes important to children as she forces K-10 to realize which dogs are his real friends, and which are not. K-10's present-tense narration includes some mild violence and briefly portrays the death of a rabbit but keeps the story age-appropriate and the resolution happy. The characters stand out as real individuals, and K-10's cocky tone brightens the whole. A delightful little romp for boys and girls alike. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
After six names and six owners, canine K-10 doesn't trust humans. Back in the animal shelter again, he insists he's no stray, just independent. Along with shelter dogs Pearl and Peppy he escapes, but freedom is fraught with complications, including finding food and a safe place to sleep. When Peppy's returned to his owner and Pearl leaves, K-10 falls in with the tough street duo Adolph, a brutish Doberman, and his Rottweiler sidekick, Rotter. Things worsen when K-10 must prove his loyalty, which leads to injury and a heartbreaking series of events. Ultimately, reuniting with Pearl helps him regain hope and a new understanding of himself and others, including humans. K-10 is an engaging character, whose lively narrative intimately details shelter life and survival challenges. Though some of the others are archetypes and there are a few potentially disturbing scenes, the dogs' experiences facing their fears and learning the true meaning of friendship and family will resonate with kids. This is a compelling, affectionate story of opening not just one's home, but also one's heart.--Rosenfeld, Shelle Copyright 2008 Booklist