SOLVED. Middle Grade chapter book - Girl's strict father has a private study/office and uses family dog as inspiration? possibly ice skating involved. Read early 90's. [s]

[Jade]

Ok I really cannot remember much of this at all but it's been bugging me; I'm not even really sure of the plot. I vaguely remember this girl would go ice skating on their pond or lake, it might have been the family's private pond. Setting would have been contemporary for the time (90's), in an English-speaking country, possibly USA.

I think she finally convinces her family to let her have a dog, I think she wanted a puppy but they ended up getting an adult dog. The dog is forbidden to go into the father's study. I think I remember her mom being around but don't remember her much. The father isn't mean or abusive, just strict and probably short with her, she was kind of afraid of him? At one point the girl sees evidence the dog was in the dad's study, she saw ink on the dog or something, and she tells the dog never to go in there again..

Towards the end we discover the father was taking the dog into the study, using her as inspiration to draw or paint or photograph, something artistic but I can't remember exactly what.

I'm sure there was more to the story than that, but I can't remember anything else! Any ideas? It was definitely a chapter book set for younger kids. Read early 90s.

[Ayshe]

Protecting Marie maybe?

[Jade]

Omg I think that's it. I've definitely read that book before. I'll reread it and let you know for sure. Thank you!!

[bookel]

Details: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...

[Kris]

Google Books has a snippet preview of Protecting Marie by Kevin Henkes - Ayshe's suggestion. You might get lucky searching for keywords:

- https://books.google.com/books?id=2sD...
- There are different cover images.

Quotes from the book:

- This was only the second time that Fanny had been skating this year. Her skates still felt a bit foreign. Last year when Fanny had needed new skates...
- Dinner and Henry arrived at seven o'clock sharp, just as Henry had said. Dinner was not what Fanny had expected. Dinner was a dog.
- ... giving Henry ideas about how or where to get rid of her dog.) And then, of course, there was Henry's artwork to worry about. "Should we call him for lunch?" Fanny asked. Her eyes lifted in the direction of Henry's studio.

Jade, should we mark your request as Solved?

[Jade]

Kris wrote: "Google Books has a snippet preview of Protecting Marie by Kevin Henkes - Ayshe's suggestion. You might get lucky searching for keywords:
- https://books.google.com/books?..."

Yes, this is it! I wanted to read it to make sure before I confirmed. Thanks again Ayshe!!