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The Puppy Sister
Nick and his parents get more than they bargained for when their newly adopted puppy, Aleasha, decides she'll have more fun with her new "family" if she becomes human, too. So begins a laugh-out-loud adventure told from Aleasha's point of view, about her transformation from puppy to girl.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
About the author
S.E. Hinton
47 books8,521 followersS.E. Hinton, was and still is, one of the most popular and best known writers of young adult fiction. Her books have been taught in some schools, and banned from others. Her novels changed the way people look at young adult literature.
Susan Eloise Hinton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has always enjoyed reading but wasn't satisfied with the literature that was being written for young adults, which influenced her to write novels like The Outsiders. That book, her first novel, was published in 1967 by Viking.
Susan Eloise Hinton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has always enjoyed reading but wasn't satisfied with the literature that was being written for young adults, which influenced her to write novels like The Outsiders. That book, her first novel, was published in 1967 by Viking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 7, 2007
I read this to Isaac. It was a cute book about a little boy who wanted a sister so bad that his puppy turned into a new sister. By the end of the book I think Isaac was hoping for the reverse to happen. Maybe if he thought hard enough his sister would become a puppy.
February 12, 2009
This book is so weird, and I'm having a difficult time wrapping my head around the fact that it was written by the same woman who wrote The Outsiders.
OK, so the parents in this story get a dog instead of a brother or a sister for the only child in the family, a boy. Fair enough. The book is told through the voice of the dog. Also fair enough. Then the dog decides that she really wants to be human, concentrates on that desire really hard, and slowly turns into a sister. Weird! Weird! Weird! This is definitely a companion book to Stuart Little (which, even as a child, I thought was a strange and impossible story).
I was ranting and raving about how improbable the central theme of this book is, and Tony pointed out that it must be a metaphor. Aha! I realized he was right. It's a metaphor for puberty (even though the dog sister is only about seven in human years when the change begins). She goes through a period when she is not quite a puppy and not yet a human...That is a very awkward time (especially since she has to stay hidden away from everyone besides the immediate family in fear that outsiders will freak out about a dog turning into to a human).
Kids would understand what the book is about, Tony said. I wonder if I would have understood if I had read this book when I was eight or ten. I don't know. I think I have always tended to think very literally. Oh sure, I can get into a book about magic and dragon and other totally impossible things, but a dog turning into a kid is just something so far out that I'm not really able to believe it, even just for the time it takes me to read a book.
OK, so the parents in this story get a dog instead of a brother or a sister for the only child in the family, a boy. Fair enough. The book is told through the voice of the dog. Also fair enough. Then the dog decides that she really wants to be human, concentrates on that desire really hard, and slowly turns into a sister. Weird! Weird! Weird! This is definitely a companion book to Stuart Little (which, even as a child, I thought was a strange and impossible story).
I was ranting and raving about how improbable the central theme of this book is, and Tony pointed out that it must be a metaphor. Aha! I realized he was right. It's a metaphor for puberty (even though the dog sister is only about seven in human years when the change begins). She goes through a period when she is not quite a puppy and not yet a human...That is a very awkward time (especially since she has to stay hidden away from everyone besides the immediate family in fear that outsiders will freak out about a dog turning into to a human).
Kids would understand what the book is about, Tony said. I wonder if I would have understood if I had read this book when I was eight or ten. I don't know. I think I have always tended to think very literally. Oh sure, I can get into a book about magic and dragon and other totally impossible things, but a dog turning into a kid is just something so far out that I'm not really able to believe it, even just for the time it takes me to read a book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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April 19, 2012Grade level 1st-3rd
This is a story of a boy who wishes he had sister and makes his puupy his sister. Its an interestng but weird book. It teaches students imagination and it will be interestng to hear student's intersting ideas about the book
This is a story of a boy who wishes he had sister and makes his puupy his sister. Its an interestng but weird book. It teaches students imagination and it will be interestng to hear student's intersting ideas about the book
July 28, 2025
Kafkaesque.
December 8, 2020
I'm a huge fan of S. E. Hinton's books! The Outsiders is one of my favorites of all-time! When I found this one, I just had to pick it up and I am so glad I did! This book was adorable adorable! A kid would love this book! This is a wonderful book about family and believing that you can become whatever you want to be...all you have to do is believe in yourself! This is such a great book!
September 29, 2008
This book was strange, about a boy who's dog turns into a human (and becomes his sister). I think I would have enjoyed this book better if I read it as a 2nd or 3rd grader. It makes kids think about how dogs act, smell, and how they are color blind.
May 9, 2008
When I read this in 3rd grade, it was pretty much the most amazing thing I had ever read. I gave it 4 stars for being so special to me back then :)
April 16, 2009
Great read outloud book for children, she really captures how a child's imagination works. I'll read it to my son one day soon.
July 8, 2011
This book was so cute! I wonder what would happen if the book was true, what an interesting world we would live in!
I have to say that this is a little kid book, but they are always the best.
I have to say that this is a little kid book, but they are always the best.
February 8, 2011
It was so adorable ;)
January 20, 2012
This was a fun story to read to my 1st grader and 3rd grader. It had some good witty humor in it which I always appreciate as I spend the time reading.
August 24, 2012
I loved this book when I was little. I reread it so many times!
May 9, 2009
Weird... very weird. But kind of cute!
March 5, 2010
I loved this book and so did my daughter when she was younger. One of our faves.
August 19, 2011
grat book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2021
Seven-year-old Nick Davidson is an only child. He'd like nothing more than a puppy or a little sister. He is about to get two for the price of one!
The Davidson family adopts an Australian shepherd puppy. They call her "Aleasha", and she narrates this story. The puppy has to get used to living not only with a family but their no-nonsense cat Miss Kitty. Aleasha was bred for herding sheep and she finds it confusing when her "brother" Nick doesn't partake to her rules. Also, like other dogs, she has a keen sense of smell and hearing. Aleasha can also understand what Miss Kitty is saying.
"The Puppy Sister" sort of resembles one of those fairy tales written by Hans Christian Andersen. As the story progresses, Aleasha slowly loses her canine qualities for human ones--both literally and figuratively. Nick first notices them when she calls him by name. Their parents soon become aware of them as well, trying to keep quiet about the whole matter. There are people out there who would refuse to understand Aleasha's metamorphosis like their neighbor Mrs. Scott.
Aleasha herself is confused by what's happening. She wants to become a everyday girl who enjoys clothes, ballet and playing with her older brother. Aleasha, during her transformation, also learns about emotions and holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. (The book's best illustration shows her and Nick dressed up as werewolves going trick-or-treating on Halloween.)
Aleasha wants this metamorphosis to end. The Davidson family would like to adopt her. (They tell their family and friends how Nick was "allergic" to the puppy so they had to get rid of her.) Yet even after becoming human with some canine instincts, Mr. Davidson reassures Aleasha that change is always constant and never ends.
S.E. Hinton is usually known for her books on teenagers--particularly "The Outsiders" and "That Was Then, This Is Now". She was a teen herself when she'd written "The Outsiders" over 50 years ago, and is still one of the best books out there.
"The Puppy Sister" is one of those laugh-out-loud books that kids will enjoy being read to. They will also pull this book off the shelves to read and reread many times--either for themselves or when they have kids of their own. Don't miss the chance to read this book!
Rating for "The Puppy Sister": *****
The Davidson family adopts an Australian shepherd puppy. They call her "Aleasha", and she narrates this story. The puppy has to get used to living not only with a family but their no-nonsense cat Miss Kitty. Aleasha was bred for herding sheep and she finds it confusing when her "brother" Nick doesn't partake to her rules. Also, like other dogs, she has a keen sense of smell and hearing. Aleasha can also understand what Miss Kitty is saying.
"The Puppy Sister" sort of resembles one of those fairy tales written by Hans Christian Andersen. As the story progresses, Aleasha slowly loses her canine qualities for human ones--both literally and figuratively. Nick first notices them when she calls him by name. Their parents soon become aware of them as well, trying to keep quiet about the whole matter. There are people out there who would refuse to understand Aleasha's metamorphosis like their neighbor Mrs. Scott.
Aleasha herself is confused by what's happening. She wants to become a everyday girl who enjoys clothes, ballet and playing with her older brother. Aleasha, during her transformation, also learns about emotions and holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. (The book's best illustration shows her and Nick dressed up as werewolves going trick-or-treating on Halloween.)
Aleasha wants this metamorphosis to end. The Davidson family would like to adopt her. (They tell their family and friends how Nick was "allergic" to the puppy so they had to get rid of her.) Yet even after becoming human with some canine instincts, Mr. Davidson reassures Aleasha that change is always constant and never ends.
S.E. Hinton is usually known for her books on teenagers--particularly "The Outsiders" and "That Was Then, This Is Now". She was a teen herself when she'd written "The Outsiders" over 50 years ago, and is still one of the best books out there.
"The Puppy Sister" is one of those laugh-out-loud books that kids will enjoy being read to. They will also pull this book off the shelves to read and reread many times--either for themselves or when they have kids of their own. Don't miss the chance to read this book!
Rating for "The Puppy Sister": *****
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2025
I read this decades ago when I was a teen, proably right about when it was published in 1995. I read it mostly to learn the language more as English is not my first language. I loved S.E. Hinton's youth books at that time and I was surprised to find a new book from her at the local library. Even though this story is targeted to younger children, I still found the story amusing and it has stuck with me all these years. It did stimulate even a teenager's imagination so I think younger children will get more kick out of it for sure.
October 13, 2017
This book shaped my childhood. I was convinced that if Aleasha could change herself into a human, I could change myself into a dog in the same way. Thus, half of my elementary school days were spent practicing howling, barking, growling, and learning dog behaviour. I was a complete weirdo, but now I'm considered an expert on dogs (among my peers in my community), soooo.... I consider it a win. This book is positively magical.
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October 24, 2021Wow... I originally read this as it appeared as a short story in American Girl magazine. Years passed, I finally read The Outsiders, and this pops up because I read something earlier this year that is no way related to this, which happens to be the full book version by S.E. Hinton. Who knew?
February 26, 2018
Pretty weird, but kind of amusing book about a boy who gets a dog that turns into a human. I’m guessing this is some metaphor for growing up or something, but it’s a little strange.
May 29, 2018
All I can say is 'WHAT'??
October 19, 2019
A dog decides she wants to be a human, and so she does. Aleasha relates her story, first as a puppy, then as a gradually transforming puppy-girl, and finally as a girl.
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February 24, 2023Out at CNN
February 9, 2026
This was another book I read as a kid- not even sure how old I was. (Maybe 2nd grade?) I remember loving this book and thinking it was so cute! Very unique and imaginative
October 14, 2012
I read this book at about thirteen years old, with my sister during a week-long power outage due to a devastating ice storm in our area. We sat in my dad's armchair and read it by the light of a florescent camping lantern. At that point in my life I don't think I have ever laughed so hard at a book. My sister would start laughing, then I would start laughing, then we would giddily regain our composure until the next hilarious paragraph. I still look back at it as a tremendously enjoyable read and it is firmly connected to one of my better childhood memories. It is a book I intend to pick up for my kids if I ever have any.
The short description: Boy wants little sister. Parents buy him a puppy instead. At some point in the story, the female dog starts slowly turning into a human girl. Hilarity ensues. As bizarre as it sounds, the book's sharp humor makes it much easier to suspend disbelief.
The short description: Boy wants little sister. Parents buy him a puppy instead. At some point in the story, the female dog starts slowly turning into a human girl. Hilarity ensues. As bizarre as it sounds, the book's sharp humor makes it much easier to suspend disbelief.
October 4, 2012
This book is about a family who have a little boy who wants a baby brother or sister u=but cant have one so they get a dog. They call it the sister dog cause she is a girl and the book lets us know the dogs thoughts and the dog wants to really become a part of the family and really be the sister and believes in time she will grow up to be a girl just like her brother. Does she become the sister the boy has always wanted?
Very funny and cite story that took a turn I was not expecting. It was funny and had me laughing so much. I loved the story and of course love the author. It was a story that was a good comedic relief for me. It is a graphic novel that you will fall in love with. This is one I want to have on my shelf in my classroom for fun. There are so many activities one can do with this story.
Very funny and cite story that took a turn I was not expecting. It was funny and had me laughing so much. I loved the story and of course love the author. It was a story that was a good comedic relief for me. It is a graphic novel that you will fall in love with. This is one I want to have on my shelf in my classroom for fun. There are so many activities one can do with this story.
May 7, 2017
Being a dog lover, I was pleased to find this book, and being someone who has spent her entire adult life with Australian Shepherd companions, I was delighted to discover that it featured an Australian Shepherd. I've had all kinds of dogs, but only my Aussies have felt like my children, so the plot made me chuckle, as I can see how an Australian Shepherd would inspire such a tale. Unfortunately, one rather enormous detail really ruined the story for me: the Australian Shepherd breed is NOT from Australia --it is an American breed, and the repeated references to Australia really set my teeth on edge.
April 4, 2025
After I read "The Outsiders", I was determined to read every book by S.E. Hinton in the library. This book is definitely for kids, but I thoroughly enjoyed it still, probably because I'm a huge dog person, and I would have loved if my childhood dog Daisy could have transformed in order to still be here with me today. I miss that puppy so much.
But this is a cute read. If you like dogs or have kids, check it out.
But this is a cute read. If you like dogs or have kids, check it out.
August 30, 2013
I read this book multiple times, and it's still amazing every time. It is slightly childish for a freshman to be reading, but it's such a cute book! It was very sweet, and I will be reading it again soon!
January 28, 2016
Granted this is a children's book, but it was too simple for my taste. It was chosen by a 4th grader as the hot pick of the week at my school's library. It really felt better suited for a 1st grader.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews