Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
30th out of 39 books
—
16 voters
Ghost Dog Secrets
by
Peg Kehret
Each day, Rusty feeds a dog that's left chained in the frigid weather with no shelter and no food or water. When he realizes that the dog's been injured, Rusty and his friend Andrew unchain the dog and take it. Are they stealing, or are they rescuing a dog in need? With the dog living in their secret hideout, the boys face multiple challenges, including a mysterious ghost...more
Hardcover, 192 pages
Published
September 2nd 2010
by Dutton Juvenile
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
685)
Here is something I learned this week: if you've recently read a book called Space Cats, followed by another book called Ghost Cat, it is really, really hard not to check out a book called Ghost Dog Secrets when you see it on the library shelf.
I've been a fan of Peg Kehret ever since I bought one of her junior fiction books, Sisters, Long Ago, at a school book fair in the 90s. Sisters, Long Ago involves reincarnation, past-life regressions, dog-napping, and the Egyptian sun god Ra (I read it, l...more
I've been a fan of Peg Kehret ever since I bought one of her junior fiction books, Sisters, Long Ago, at a school book fair in the 90s. Sisters, Long Ago involves reincarnation, past-life regressions, dog-napping, and the Egyptian sun god Ra (I read it, l...more
When Rusty notices a dog chained up out in freezing rain with no water, food or shelter, he decides to do something about it. It's evident the dog has been abused, and even though he is feeding the dog, he knows it's not enough. This thought is confirmed when a ghost dog starts appearing to him, attempting to get Rusty to return to the place where the dog is chained up. Any animal lover will be drawn into this story as Rusty desperately attempts to save the dog.
Although some parts were a little...more
Although some parts were a little...more
At first I thought the book sounded too much like a PSA because of all the information Rusty and his teacher gave about different projects and things, but it ended up being a good book. Sometimes predictable, but the bit with Mr. Myers at the end was interesting. I was not expecting that bit.
I liked that the students were able to do a project involving the Humane Society that involved all of their different subjects. The Kitty Knitters was also adorable, and when Wendy started to make the blank...more
I liked that the students were able to do a project involving the Humane Society that involved all of their different subjects. The Kitty Knitters was also adorable, and when Wendy started to make the blank...more
This book starts with an unloved dog, chained in a yard all day with no food, water, or shelter. Twelve-year-old Rusty, inspired by a class project to help dogs rescued from a puppy mill, wants to save this neglected and abused German shepherd he has found. When a ghost dog, a collie, appears to him, he knows he has to act. But isn’t it stealing, to take someone else’s dog? The story unfolds with some surprising twists and turns, including a secret even the ghost dog didn’t know about.
Seeing Pe...more
Seeing Pe...more
Rusty can’t take his mind off of the German shepherd he saw chained to a tree in freezing cold weather. At the encouragement of a ghost dog, he starts to bring food and water to the German shepherd, and soon realizes that the dog is being abused. When the adults fail to resolve the situation, Rusty takes matters into his own hands, and has to make a decision: Would taking the dog be stealing, or rescuing?
Peg Kehret does a great job of capturing the emotions of a dog lover. The German shepherd, R...more
Peg Kehret does a great job of capturing the emotions of a dog lover. The German shepherd, R...more
This was an awesome book. I loved it so much I could hardly put it down. I finished in about a week. I would recommand this to someone that loves to help animals or loves animals.
It started this boy named Rusty was late to school and his mom had to take him. On the way there Rusty saw a Germany Shepherd with no water, food , and shelter. After Rusty got out of school he ran back to were he had seen the dog. He wanted to know if the dog did had any food, water, and shelter it didn't have any of...more
It started this boy named Rusty was late to school and his mom had to take him. On the way there Rusty saw a Germany Shepherd with no water, food , and shelter. After Rusty got out of school he ran back to were he had seen the dog. He wanted to know if the dog did had any food, water, and shelter it didn't have any of...more
I enjoyed reading "Ghost Dog Secrets". It was a fun book thats shows how animals need just as much love as humans.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!
In "Ghost Dog Secrets", a boy named Rusty is on his way to school in his mom's car, when he sees a dog tied to a tree in someone's front yard. That may not seem bad, but it's pouring rain and the dog has no food, water, or shelter. Rusty then does everything in his power to help save this injured, mistreated dog. Rusty's friend Andrew joins Rusty on his adventure...more
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!
In "Ghost Dog Secrets", a boy named Rusty is on his way to school in his mom's car, when he sees a dog tied to a tree in someone's front yard. That may not seem bad, but it's pouring rain and the dog has no food, water, or shelter. Rusty then does everything in his power to help save this injured, mistreated dog. Rusty's friend Andrew joins Rusty on his adventure...more
A book that I read this year was Ghost Dog Secrets. It is an action/mystery story. It is about a boy named Rusty who sees this dog who is left chained up to a tree everyday with no food or water. Rusty tells his best friend, Andrew, and they decide to take him home and secretly keep him in their hidden fort. Everyday, they feed him, play with him, and walk him. They decide to name him Ra because Rusty begins with “R” and Andrew begins with an “A”. When Wendy, Andrews little sister, tattles on th...more
Sixth grader Rusty sees a neglected dog one day on his way home from school and decides to take matters into his own hands: he rescues the abused dog. Although his intentions are good, he gets accused of stealing and is torn between continuing to take matters into his own hands or going through the proper channels for results. Rusty’s strong desire to protect the dog he loving named Ra compels many others to become involved, including a ghost dog that guides him along the way.
Written appropriate...more
Written appropriate...more
I thought this book was excellent because of the relationship between This boy named Rusty and this dog named Ra. Through thick and thin both of them will be willing to do anything to save each other's lives. I also loved this book because of all the drama and spookiness. I guarantee that you there is going to be at lease one surprising part in this book that you will just love.
I recommend "Ghost Dog Secrets" to people in either 10 years because you have to really dig in deep, in able to underst...more
I recommend "Ghost Dog Secrets" to people in either 10 years because you have to really dig in deep, in able to underst...more
I really enjoyed the story of Rusty saving RA from cruel Mr. Myers. He and his friend Andrew were very intelligent about everyting that they did. Except stealing the dog from someone else's property was not a good thing to do. Rusty's mother was right to try to take the dog back to the owner, but Mr. Myers was not a reasonable man. There is a ghost dog in the story that tries to help.
Mrs Webster, who was Rusty's 6th grade teacher, was a good role model for all. Trying to give back to the comm...more
Mrs Webster, who was Rusty's 6th grade teacher, was a good role model for all. Trying to give back to the comm...more
Kids love this author and she cranks out a book or more every year it seems. I loved her autobiography "Small Steps" and read it in one sitting. This book I skimmed. I cared about the dog in the story but Rusty, the main character, frustrated me by being too independent for his age. At one point, right after he had a run-in with the bad guy in the story, Rusty gets himself into more trouble. It seems unrealistic after such a scare the first itme that he would endanger himself again a second time...more
Ghost Dog Secrets
Peg Kehret
192 pages
The story starts off as Rusty going to school and noticing a German shepherd dog tied to a tree with no water, food, or shelter. This makes him very emotional about the dog. In school he learns about how to tell if someone has a meth lab in a house by telling by smell or actions. His class also starts a project pertaining to animal cruelty. Then Rusty realizes about the poor German shepherd tied to the tree, and decides to help him. So every single day he woul...more
Peg Kehret
192 pages
The story starts off as Rusty going to school and noticing a German shepherd dog tied to a tree with no water, food, or shelter. This makes him very emotional about the dog. In school he learns about how to tell if someone has a meth lab in a house by telling by smell or actions. His class also starts a project pertaining to animal cruelty. Then Rusty realizes about the poor German shepherd tied to the tree, and decides to help him. So every single day he woul...more
A good story about a dog that is being mistreated by its owner. Rusty sees a dog chained outside with no food, water, or shelter on his way to school. He can't stop thinking about the dog, so he stops on his way home. He starts to bring food for the dog everyday, until he sees that the dog was beaten. He decides to "rescue" the dog by stealing it from his owner. He and his friend, Andrew, hide the dog in their fort and do take good care of it. But their secret gets out. Many surprises make this...more
My son says that chapter breaks are *not* stopping points in Peg Kehret books. Every chapter end is "the worst place to stop ever."
This book has a lot of suspense, very believable characters (making the occasional understandable bad decisions), a lot of (light-handed) lessons on what is the right thing (including examples of things that are in the realm of gray instead of black or white), and lots of information about how kids can fix things in the world.
This is a great book to read aloud (or i...more
This book has a lot of suspense, very believable characters (making the occasional understandable bad decisions), a lot of (light-handed) lessons on what is the right thing (including examples of things that are in the realm of gray instead of black or white), and lots of information about how kids can fix things in the world.
This is a great book to read aloud (or i...more
One of the books I read this school year was Ghost Dog Secrets by Peg Kehret. This book was about a young boy who has notice somebody mistreating a dog. This dog is chained up with no food water or shelter. The young boy, Rusty, decides that he wants to help the dog and starts bringing the dog food. One day Rusty and his friend Andrew decide to take the dog, and hide him in their fort. They decide to name him Ra. Later on their parents find out about the dog they are about to take Ra back to its...more
I read this because it's on the William Allen White list for this year. It's a fantasy (but only because of the ghost dog -- otherwise realistic fiction). It was ok, but pretty predictable.
Spoiler Alert:
The dogs are supposed to be guard dogs for a meth lab, but the owner doesn't take care of them and the ghost dog died there, but has come back to try to help the other dogs. Rusty's mom should have supported him more and helped more with the mistreated dog. It's sad how abusive people can be: I g...more
Spoiler Alert:
The dogs are supposed to be guard dogs for a meth lab, but the owner doesn't take care of them and the ghost dog died there, but has come back to try to help the other dogs. Rusty's mom should have supported him more and helped more with the mistreated dog. It's sad how abusive people can be: I g...more
Feb. 2012 Book Fair selection
I really liked this book! I think fourth graders and above would like this book, it's still a little too mature for third graders. A young boy, Rusty, finds a dog that is clearly being mistreated by its owner, and further more, the dog seems to be protected by a ghost dog. But when Rusty starts getting visits by the ghost dog, it becomes clear to him that he must help save the dog. This book is full of adventure, has enough of a ghost story to make it suspenseful and...more
I really liked this book! I think fourth graders and above would like this book, it's still a little too mature for third graders. A young boy, Rusty, finds a dog that is clearly being mistreated by its owner, and further more, the dog seems to be protected by a ghost dog. But when Rusty starts getting visits by the ghost dog, it becomes clear to him that he must help save the dog. This book is full of adventure, has enough of a ghost story to make it suspenseful and...more
A young boy named Rusty,has been seeing a desperate German Shepherd through his car window in the frigid,biting cold. He tells his best friend,Andrew and they both decide to rescue him and call him Ra,for Rusty and Andrew also because its named after the Egyptian sun god. They decide to keep him in a their secret fort. Eventually,they tell their parents and decide to put him back where he came from but see another dog chained from where Ra was before. Then Ra's owner sees him and tries to forcef...more
the book was good i was glad they got to keep ra. the book started slow like when he drove past ra in the first part. it stared to get faster when he feed re the first time and felt somthing hit his lage. when andrue found out him and rusty started working to gether to help ra. andrue was sad when he could not se the gost dog but was happy becous they did not no if it was a good gost or not. when they took ra ever thing as ok until andrues sister foud out and she told them she ould tell if they...more
Aug 04, 2012
Judy Desetti
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Dog lovers
Recommended to Judy by:
William Allen White nomination KS 2013
I thought this was a pretty good book, but it is about a subject near and dear to my heart... the humane treatment of dogs. The teacher in this book, although she has a minor role, is great. She introduces the students to current issues and helps students realize that each of them are an important part in creating solutions to the problems around them. The plot is pretty predictable but I think kids will like it.
Fast read. RECOMMEND.
Fast read. RECOMMEND.
Peg Kehret sure knows how to write adventure stories. Rusty is very upset when on a stormy night he and his mom drive by a dog, chained in a yard without food, water or shelter. When he goes back to check, not only does he find the dog in the same conditions but there is a ghost dog there as well. Rusty's class is doing projects to help a rescue organization, and Rusty decides, with some urging from the ghost dog, that he will rescue it.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
a not so scary story that is more about a boy who saves an abused dog than it is about a ghost, although the ghost adds an element of suspense that younger readers would enjoy. Authentic characters and a well-paced plot that might surprise some readers. The action picks up quite a bit halfway through and stays compelling through the end. A good recommendation for Upper elementary boys (and girls) and could also work as a low-level high-interest read.
Standard Peg Kehret- easy to grasp story with a little danger and great heart. Rusty's teacher tries to interest the class in projects that make a difference. Rusty sees a mistreated dog tied out and starved and decides to rescue it. Moral right is challenged by legal right. The story involves family and community and would be great for literature circles with an animal shelter project tie-in.
Oh my god, did I relate to Rusty. o.O I have stolen an abused dog from a violent druggie dude before, didn't turn out like that though. Didn't catch a meth lab, didn't have a friend ta back me up, and I didn't(couldn't) keep the dog. :\ Good thing the dude got arested a while later for a drunk driving accident while minors were in the car, drinking as well. All is well for Cloe the pit bull! XD
May 07, 2013
Amy Schoneman
added it
This is another story about animals that I loved to read. I love animals but I hate when people abuse animals. Rusty rescued a German shepherd and he grew to love him and he finally became his dog. It is a wonderful story about man's best friend and how important it is to respect animals and treat them with kindness.
I wanted to read this book because it won the William Allen White Children's book awards for grades 5 -7. Although there were parts of this book that were a little cliche and predictable, it is appropriate for the intended age group. Overall, I found it enjoyable to read and I liked the message as well.
It took me a while to get into this but then I really really liked it. I liked the protagonist, Rusty, a lot as he struggles with figuring out the right thing to do. I liked the school setting, his friend and his enemy. There were parts that were a little scary but I think kids would really dig the ghost dog and the suspense.
Peg Kehret always writes well, keeps your interest, but I am a little concerned that this boy does things behind his mother's back...I guess it is allowed in fiction, but the results of the main character's actions could have gone badly!
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Peg Kehret writes middle grade fiction and nonfiction. She's won dozens of state children's choice awards, where kids vote for their favorite book.
When she was twelve, Peg was paralyzed with polio. Most of her protagonists are the age she was then.
A volunteer with animal rescue groups, three of Peg's books are co-authored by Pete the Cat."
More about Peg Kehret...
When she was twelve, Peg was paralyzed with polio. Most of her protagonists are the age she was then.
A volunteer with animal rescue groups, three of Peg's books are co-authored by Pete the Cat."
