Dog Sense

MONTANA IS A LONG WAY from California. Thirteen-year-old Guy is trying to make the best of a difficult situation. He and his mother have moved in with his grandfather after his father's ""unannounced departure."" Back home, Guy skateboarded, surfed, and played video games with his friends. Here the kids only seem to talk about cars, fishing, and hunting. Life at Big Sky Middle School is also a disappointment. Guy is bored in math class and over his head in English. He quickly becomes a target for Brad Mullen, class bully. But at least Guy has his beloved Border collie, Streak, and eventually he makes a friend, classmate Luke Grant. Soon Guy and Luke hatch a plan to train Streak to compete against Brad Mullen and his dog at the town's Frisbee catching competition. But the rivalry between Guy and Brad escalates until a impulsive wager pits the boys head to head and places Streak in jeopardy. Veteran author Sneed Collard offers young readers an affecting, realistic portrait of an adolescent boy who must learn to cope with conflicts and challenges in an unfamiliar environment and to accept changes in his life that are beyond his control. SNEED B. COLLARD III is a biologist, world traveler, speaker, and author of more than forty books for young people, including Flash Point and Dog Sense. Collard graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in marine biology and also a holds a master's degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara. A native Californian, Collard now resides in Missoula, Montana. Visit Sneed Collard's website at www.sneedbcollardiii.com. ""A veteran nonfiction writer, Collard shows in his first novel that he can construct a suspenseful plot and create believable characters."" Kirkus Reviews ""An easy read with believable characters, the story has enough action to keep reluctant readers interested."" School Library Journal ""...[an] affecting first novel about a sensitive yet resilient eighth grader struggling to find his place in his new world."" Publishers Weekly ""Guy is an appealing, sympathetic protagonist, whose straightforward narrative describes the challenges of uprooting, making friends, and facing difficult people and life events..."" Booklist * Finalist, 2004 Dog Writers of America Writing competition, children's book category * 2005 ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award * Special Recognition, 2006 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People * Nominee, 2006-2007 Flicker Tale Children's Book Award * Nominee, 2007-2008 Texas Lone Star Awards * 2005-2006 Pennsylvania Young Adult Top Forty List * Nominee, 2006-2007 KSRA Young Adult Book Award (PA)

9781561453511