Title: Love That Dog
Author: Sharon Creech
First published January 1, 2001
112 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780064409599 (ISBN10: 0064409597)
Rating: 4.04
Overview
“I never knew writing could be so fun,” says Jack, a boy who had always detested poetry. He thought it was a girl’s thing and every time he tried to write one, his mind went blank.
However, his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, has a different idea and keeps assigning poetry projects to the class. Jack cannot help but participate.
To his surprise, as he writes more, he realizes he has a lot to express.
About the Author
I was born and raised in South Euclid, Ohio, which is a suburb of Cleveland. I grew up with my parents, Ann and Arvel, my sister Sandy, and my three brothers Dennis, Doug, and Tom.
If you want to see a fictionalized version of what our family was like, check out Absolutely Normal Chaos. Our home was always full of Creeches, as well as friends and relatives who stopped by often.
During the summertime, we would all pile into a car and take a trip to Wisconsin, Michigan, or even Idaho. Looking back, I have no idea how our parents managed to handle all of us in the car for those long trips.
When I was twelve, we took a five-day journey to Idaho that left a lasting impression on me. I was amazed by the vastness of our country.
Little did I know that thirty years later, I would write a book called Walk Two Moons, which was based on that trip.
Another place we frequently visited was Quincy, Kentucky, where my cousins lived on a beautiful farm. We spent our days running in the hills and our nights telling stories on the porch.
I loved that place so much that it’s been included in many of my books. I transformed it into Bybanks, Kentucky, which appears in Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird, Bloomability, and The Wanderer.
When I was young, I had many aspirations, including becoming a painter, ice skater, singer, teacher, and reporter. However, I quickly realized that I lacked talent in drawing, skating, and singing.
As for reporting, I wasn’t very good at sticking to the facts. It wasn’t until I took literature and writing courses in college that I discovered my love for storytelling.
I eventually became a high school English and writing teacher in England and Switzerland, which taught me a lot about plot, characterization, and point of view.
I started writing novels for adults while living in England, but my focus shifted to writing for young people after I published Absolutely Normal Chaos. Walk Two Moons was the first book I published in America, and it won the Newbery Medal, which was a huge surprise to me.
Since then, I’ve published several other books, including Chasing Redbird, Pleasing the Ghost, Bloomability, The Wanderer, and Fishing in the Air. I hope to keep writing for many years to come.
I’m married to Lyle Rigg, who is the headmaster of The Pennington School in Pennington, New Jersey, and we have two grown children, Rob and Karin. Spending time with my family is what I enjoy most, and writing is a close second.
Editoral Review
Love That Dog by Sharon Creech is a charming and heartfelt novel that will resonate with readers of all ages. Creech is a Newbery Medal-winning author known for her poignant and lyrical prose, and Love That Dog is no exception.
The book was first published in 2001 and has since become a beloved classic of children’s literature.
The novel is written in the form of a diary kept by a young boy named Jack. Through his entries, we learn about his love for poetry, particularly the works of Walter Dean Myers and William Carlos Williams.
Jack is initially reluctant to write his own poetry but is encouraged by his teacher, Miss Stretchberry, to explore his own creativity. As he begins to write, he grapples with the loss of his beloved dog, Sky, and confronts his own emotions and experiences.
Creech’s writing is deceptively simple, yet incredibly powerful. She captures the voice of a young boy with remarkable authenticity, and her use of poetic language adds depth and richness to the narrative.
The book is a quick read, but it packs an emotional punch that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished it.
One of the strengths of Love That Dog is its exploration of grief and loss. Jack’s experience of losing his dog is universal, and Creech handles the subject matter with sensitivity and grace.
Through his poetry, Jack is able to process his emotions and come to terms with his loss. The book also touches on larger themes of identity, creativity, and the power of literature.
The only weakness of the book is its brevity. At just over 100 pages, Love That Dog is a slim volume that leaves readers wanting more.
However, this is also a testament to Creech’s skill as a writer. She is able to convey so much in so few words, and the book is all the more impactful for it.
Love That Dog will appeal to a wide range of readers, from children just beginning to explore poetry to adults who appreciate beautiful writing and a poignant story. It would make an excellent addition to any classroom or library, and it has the potential to inspire a new generation of poets.
Overall, Love That Dog is a beautifully written and deeply affecting book that deserves its status as a classic of children’s literature. It is a must-read for anyone who loves poetry, dogs, or simply a well-told story.
I would give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
