For years, 10-year-old Zelly Fried has tried to convince her parents to let her have a dog. After all, practically everyone in Vermont owns a dog, ...
read full description
reviews
Aug 03, 2011
Mary Ann
rated it: 
Zelly Fried wants a dog more than anything, but her parents aren't convinced. When her eccentric grandpa Ace leaves her a note tied to an old orange juice jug, she's the one who isn't quite convinced. Ace has cooked up a plan for Zelly to have a "practice dog" to prove to her parents that she really is ready to take on the responsibilities of owning a dog. Will Zelly be able to do this? She really does want a dog. But she's sure that she will die of embarrassment "walking" an
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 18, 2012
Kathy
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 28, 2011
Shannon
rated it:
Charming, adorable, cute! The chapters are a tad long, so it might take an 8-12 year old some time to finish one. One chapter a night might be asking a lot for an 8 year old. But very adorable book! I LOVED the dictionary at the end! And I have to admit that when I read she finally got her puppy, I teared up. I loved the paw prints at the beg of each chapter and the lil bones!
Zelly was persistant with O.J. and it paid off!
*I received this book for free through Goodreads First R
Zelly was persistant with O.J. and it paid off!
*I received this book for free through Goodreads First R
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Feb 13, 2012
Barb
rated it:
Zelly wants a dog so bad that she agrees to Grandpa Ace’s plan to lug around an empty orange juice jug as a “practice dog.” Can Zelly do it? Can she prance around town and not care what other people think about her? Zelly is new to town and her best friend, Allie, is off at camp. She doesn’t write and Zelly is worried. Dragging her dog, OJ, around does distract her but she wonders if Allie will make new friends and forget Zelly. Jeremy moves in down the block and they strike up a friendship. He
More...
Oct 08, 2011
Kristi
rated it:
Zelda Fried, pronounced freed, wants a dog, wants to go to camp Sonrise with her best friend Allie, and she wants to move back to her old neighborhood. That's quite a bit for an almost eleven year old going int the sixth grade.
When Zelly asks her parents if she can go to camp with her best friends, the answer was no, although her parents congratulated her for making a good case. The problems is they've recently moved to Vermont to a new house. You see, she recently lost her grandmother More...
When Zelly asks her parents if she can go to camp with her best friends, the answer was no, although her parents congratulated her for making a good case. The problems is they've recently moved to Vermont to a new house. You see, she recently lost her grandmother More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 06, 2011
Laurel
rated it:
Okay, so here's what I've been puzzling over with this book-- it's a PRIME example of the sort of book that sometimes struggles to find the right readers, I think. Because it takes real risks, in quiet ways. It doesn't announce itself as "quirky" or "zany." It just is those things, because it is human, and humans are those things...
The book is charming, yes. It is funny. The characters are real. The writing is impossibly good, without requiring flourishes. It More...
The book is charming, yes. It is funny. The characters are real. The writing is impossibly good, without requiring flourishes. It More...
Jul 23, 2011
Megan
rated it: 
Zelly wants a dog more than anything, but can't believe it when her grandfather gives her an old orange juice jug and tells her to use it as a practice dog to convince her parents she can handle the responsibility of a real dog. She's embarrassed to take OJ out for a walk-almost as embarrassed as she is by her little brother wearing yellow and black for a patriotic parade. Zelly's at the age where everything seems extremely important, especially appearances and friendships. Unfortunately, her
More...
Sep 03, 2011
Lorna
rated it:
Loved this book! A great look at what is irritating yet lovable about our families through the relationship of Zelly and her grandfather, Ace. You laugh and you cry at the evolution of the relationship during the course of the book. The additional messages about challenges and changes in friendships make this a great middle grades read for kids 9-12. I'd highly recommend it!
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 02, 2012
Phoebe
rated it:
Zelda's life has given her some lemons: she wants a dog badly, but her parents say no; her family is Jewish, and she feels she doesn't fit in, after moving to Vermont from Brooklyn. No one else has bushy brown hair and glasses. Her best friend is away at a church camp. But her feisty grandpa Ace proposes a solution to the dog dilemma, crazy and embarrassing as it may be--and she meets a Jewish boy called Jeremy, and slowly Zelda begins to realize that she shouldn't care so much what others th
More...
Jan 21, 2012
Robin
rated it:
For the first time in the 10 years we've worked together, my co-worker in the children's room (he's actually my supervisor now) Eugene, and I have been able to talk extensively about children's literature because we're both on the RI Children's Book Award committee. I've been reading children's books steadily for years and he reads more sporadically. Until now! We've both read about 60 books since September, not necessarily the same titles but this is one we both read and liked. He pointed out t
More...
Aug 14, 2011
Laura
rated it:
Zelly Fried moves from Brooklyn to Vermont with her family to support her aging grandfather. More than anything, Zelly wants a dog. Her grandfather, Ace, convinces her to use an orange juice bottle as a practice dog. The rest of the novel tells how Zelly makes friends, adjusts to life in Vermont, and builds a relationship with her sometimes difficult grandfather.
This middle grade novel reminded me very much of the Kate Messner's The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. Both novels inclu More...
This middle grade novel reminded me very much of the Kate Messner's The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z. Both novels inclu More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 17, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
Children's librarians can be neatly divided into two categories with relatively little difficulty. Basically, they either love and adore dogs and all things doggie related or they don't. I don't. I was never the kid begging her parents for a hound. I did not dream of fluffy golden retriever puppies or watch the Westminster Dog Show on television with undiluted envy. As an adult, I've maintained my canine-related neutrality admirably. I don't dislike dogs, but I don't obsess over them. So when fo
More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Jan 04, 2012
Sarah
rated it:
Zelly is desperate for a dog. She's also desperate to get away from her practice dog, which is better known as an empty jug of orange juice. Her grandfather Ace camp up with the whole practice dog scheme and got Zelly to agree to his help before she knew what he was planning. She's got to take the practice dog, better known as OJ, on walks. She has to feed him and then empty out the resulting mushy food later.
Zelly thinks there's no way cleaning up fake dog poop is going to convince More...
Zelly thinks there's no way cleaning up fake dog poop is going to convince More...
Dec 31, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
I loved this little book. A wonderful chapter book for younger children (second-fourth grade is where I see it). This is the story of Zelly and her grandfather and a discarded plastic jug that becomes Zelly's "practice dog." Themes of family, friendship, and responsibility run through this story. Will appeal to boys and girls alike. Also reminds me that we don't see too many books with young Jewish protagonists outside of Holocaust literature.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 07, 2011
katsok
rated it:
Picked this one up on the recommendation of a friend without really knowing what it was about. Zelly is ten years old and has moved to Vermont from Brooklyn with her family. Her grandmother has passed away and they have moved to live with her grandfather. I enjoyed how Perl dealt with several issues - fitting in, friendships, longing for something, relationships with family members, and more. A very relatable book for the age group I teach.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
May 28, 2011
Katy
rated it:
I loved this book. Zelly, like a lot of 10 year olds, is feeling that life has given her a sack lemons. Her family left NY to move to Vermont and the only good that could come of it is that she could finally have a dog of her own. But her parent nix the plan. Luckily, her wacky grandfather has a wacky idea. To prove she's worthy she creates a practice dog, named O.J. after the carton that makes up his body. A lovely, entertaining read.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 23, 2011
Meredith
rated it:
What a funny, sweet story. Cranky grandfather + fake dog + early adolescent angst = charming. And the touches of grief and understanding elevate it beyond quirky. Very nicely done.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 16, 2011
Michael
rated it:
A fun, easy read; I finished it in a single evening. Zelda is a fun narrator with a good head on her shoulders. This would work well as a read-aloud for younger elementary students.
Jun 22, 2011
Brooke
rated it:
Really cute book. I appreciated how real the characters were and how believable the issues she was dealing with. I would recommend for 8-12 year old girls, or a fun quick summer read for the parent :)
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 09, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
The premise of this book is great--Zelly and her grandfather hatch a plan to convince her folks to let her get a dog, she'll take care of a practice dog made out of an empty O.J. bottle (including feeding, walking, and picking up pretend poo). However the book is not as funny as the premise--it is actually a much more serious book about relationships and family, responsibility and death. It captures the way that kids really do relate to people who are a lot older then they are--a little bit of f
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 02, 2012
Karen
rated it:
Saw this book on John Schu and Travis Jonker's Top 20 books. Very amused by it, but not sure it would be my top 20. Think kids will like it!
Aug 28, 2011
Ed
rated it:
A sweet, funny story with charming characters. The cover art is certainly among cutest of the year.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 19, 2011
Hoover Public Library
rated it:
For all kids who have ever really, really, and I mean REALLY wanted a dog.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jun 18, 2011
Laura5
rated it:
"I guess sometimes you don't know things about yourself until you do." pg 185
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Nov 23, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
Cute book with lots to talk about for a book club.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 03, 2011
Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy)
rated it:
I wasn't exactly sure what the book was about when I picked it up but I loved who Perl pulled together this story about Zelly and her desire for a puppy along with wonderful elements of friendship and family and does it all well. Will add this to my list of read alouds for Second and Third grade this year.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 17, 2011
Malissa
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
