The Maggie Brooklyn Mystery series is set in my neighborhood, where author
Leslie Margolis also lives! I used to adore mysteries when I was a Middle Grade reader, and the first book in the series -- which was just released this month -- is so adorable that I had to ask her how it happened (I love illustrated middle-grade covers). Here's Leslie:
"
Girl's Best Friend is the first book in the Maggie Brooklyn Mystery series, which revolves around a twelve-year-old, dog-walking detective. And I must confess - I've been obsessing over what the cover would look like ever since I came up with the idea.
"My editor did not ask for my input directly quite possibly because I never gave her the chance to. When she asked for physical descriptions of my main character and the dogs she walks, I sent those along with this additional note:
"'Brownstone Brooklyn features prominently in the
book and it would be excellent to have that represented somehow... I don't want to be difficult at all, but I've been thinking about the look of the book a lot and wanted to send some links to some covers I really like. Here's hoping you find this helpful rather than annoying!'
"Reading this again -- over a year later, I'm sure my email was annoying rather than helpful. And maybe I was difficult, too. But oh well. I had to get it out there.
"Harriet the Spy, Knuffle Bunny, and When You Reach Me are three of my favorite books. They are all city stories and they all have striking covers. And Knuffle Bunny act
ually takes place in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where Maggie lives.
"Maybe this technique worked, or maybe Bloomsbury was thinking along the same lines, anyway. All I know is that a few months passed with no word about the cover. And then one day my editor told me they were looking at an illustrator named Tuesday Mourning.
"I panicked..."
Boys Are Dogs
by Leslie Margolis. Bloomsbury USA Children's Books. 2008. Brilliance Audio 2009. Reviewed from audiobook from Brilliance. Narrated by Ellen Grafton.
The Plot: Annabelle has moved to a new house. Because her mother has decided to move in with her new boyfriend. So now she has to go to a new school, a public middle school after years at an all girl's school. Also? Annabelle has a new puppy.
New house, new Mom's boyfriend, new school, new puppy, new friends, new boys. It's a lot to deal with and Annabelle does so -- sometimes gracefully, sometimes not, sometimes reluctantly, sometimes wholeheartedly, but always with humor and a unique, invidual outlook on life.
The Good: Annabelle is a terrific sixth grader. Boys are Dogs captures that perfect mix of excitement and fear over starting a new school in a new town where you know no one. Sometimes, it all goes wrong, like when the puppy eats Annabelle's back to school clothes. Other times, it all goes right, like when Rachel, a girl her age in her new neighborhood, invites Annabelle to eat lunch with Rachel and her friends. If you don't understand the importance of having someone to eat lunch with on the first day of a new school -- well, I can only assume you never had a first day at a new school.
Annabelle and her mother have always been a tight unit of two; the inclusion of Ted, Mom's boyfriend, is done both realistically but also, well -- in a nice way. While it's not easy and all Brady Bunch at the beginning, how refreshing to have a book where the grownups (Mom and Ted) act like, well, grown ups, thinking of Annabelle. Annabelle may not always agree, such as when she had to move away from her school and her two best friends.
A new school with boys... and this is where the book really kicks into gear. Whether it's because Annabelle had no father or brothers, or went to an all girl school, or is now a sixth grader in middle school (I know some teachers who really dislike middle schools), Annabelle has only just now encountered boys. This is not a book about tween romance. Annabelle is not boy crazy -- and before I continue, not every sixth grade girl is boy crazy and it's nice to see that reality reflected in a book. Sixth graders will like this book; but so, too, will younger kids.
Even if Annabelle wanted a boyfriend, the actions of the boys at this new school hardly scream "date me." They kick her chair, play practical jokes on her, call her Spanabelle and Spaz, hog the science equipment, ruin her homework, and I could go on and on. You know what is great about this book? No one ever says to Annabelle or the reader, "that boy is acting like that because he likes you." Hallelujah to at least one book that doesn't perpetuate the myth, "if a boy is mean or disrespectful it's because he likes you."
Annabelle puts up with it.... at first. But she has a secret weapon. Remember her clothes eating puppy? She's been reading how to train dogs. Annabelle puts two and two together and figu
Boys Are Dogs Leslie Margolis
Annabelle faces several changes after she and her mother move in with her mother’s boyfriend, Ted. In addition to a changing home dynamic and drifting away from her old friends, Annabelle starts at a new school—one without uniforms and with boys. Although she makes friends quickly enough, Annabelle’s first day at school is a disaster. She has a nickname (Spamabelle, which changes to Spazabelle, and then Spaz) by the end of first period. As she trains starts to train her new puppy, Annabelle wonders if some of the tricks—positive reinforcement, commanding instead of asking, and never showing fear—will work on the boys who make her life miserable.
Annabelle’s insecurities, especially over her friendships, will ring true for tween readers. She doesn’t tell her friends what is happening in case they agree with the boys about her “spaz” status. The assertion that “boys are dogs” reads as very combative, but the lessons Annabelle learns—to stand up for herself and not accept verbal and physical bullying—are valuable ones for all tweens, regardless of gender. I especially appreciated that not all of Annabelle’s bullying issues could be solved with her puppy-training manual and they weren’t all solved by the end of the book. It's a happy ending, but not a perfect ending, and those are my favorite types.
Book Provided by... my awesome friend Ann, who picks up ARCs for me at ALA when I can't go!
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The Maggie Brooklyn Mystery series is set in my neighborhood, where author Leslie Margolis also lives! I used to adore mysteries when I was a Middle Grade reader, and the first book in the series -- which was just released this month -- is so adorable that I had to ask her how it happened (I love illustrated middle-grade covers). Here's Leslie:
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I have your blog in my blogroll, and I went onto my page to check something out, and the title of the book caught my attention! Great review! I have a knot in my stomach just thinking about the days of middle school...and how boys are dogs (until they grow up...and the good ones do).
What age group would you recommend for this book?
I listened to this on audio a while ago, and *loved* it! Thanks for blogging!
Judging by your review, this book sounds exactly like a book that ought to make my list of Books I Ought To Take Back In Time To Give Myself As a Kid!
Somebody already donated a copy of the book onto our book sale shelf, and a girl was quite enthusiastic about the title of it last week, but ultimately put it back when she realized it was on the book SALE shelf instead of the books-to-check-out shelf ("No, honest, you can take it out and bring it back if you want!"). It is still there, and now you have convinced me to grab it myself...
I booktalked this like crazy to 5th and 6th graders last year - it is VERY popular at my library! I even got a few boys to read it, warning them that if they didn't they'd find themselves being puppy-trained! The sequel, Girls Are Catty, is great also.