NOTES FROM A LIAR AND HER DOG by Gennifer Choldenko, Putnam, May 2001

At the conclusion of the first chapter of NOTES FROM A LIAR AND HER DOG, the Assistant Principal asks Ant (Antonia MacPherson) to relay the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf:

"I run my tongue over my teeth. 'Some kid pretended he saw a wolf a bunch of times, and everyone came to help him. Then when he really saw the wolf, they all thought he was kidding and they didn't come, and the wolf ate him.'

'That's right. And what do you think the boy learned?' Mr. Borgdorf asks.

'He didn't learn anything. He's dead.'

Mr. Borgdorf's eyes flash angry. His lips roll in. 'Fair enough. But why? What was the mistake he made?'

I blow my hair off my forehead and consider the question. 'He was stupid. He shouldn't have expected anyone to help in the first place. He should have handled the wolf by himself. That's what I would have done.' "

And that is what Ant is all about--taking matters into her own hands because she truly doesn't trust the adults and other kids in her life. She sees her mother as believing that she is wrong and/or lying, no matter what she does. Her younger sister (Katherine the Great) takes notes on Ant's misdeeds, while her older sister (Her Royal Highness Elizabeth) insists she's working on becoming a juvenile delinquent. The one person she does trust is her friend Harrison Emerson, the character who continues haunting my thoughts in this wonderfully funny and deceptively complex first novel by Gennifer Choldenko.

"My mom hates Harrison because he eats with his mouth open, walks his pet chicken on a leash, and because he's always scratching at something. I'm not friends with Harrison because my mom doesn't like him, though. I'm friends with him because I like him. That my mom doesn't like him is something extra, like a bonus."

In the story, Harrison and Ant are taken under wing by their art teacher who sees the saving graces in the two of them. Ant's father's career changes have frequently uprooted the family in the past and once again threaten upheaval. There are the health issues of Ant's beloved very funky little old dog. (And there are even a bunch of wild animals.) But most importantly there are situations resulting from Ant's 'self-reliance' which run from the legally and morally appalling, to the heartwarming, to the horrifically heart-stopping.

Because the story is told from Ant's egocentric perspective, the truth is never entirely clear. After reading the book and getting Shari to read it, we debated whether Ant had ever given us an honest picture of the other characters. (Indeed, I would just love to see Harrison Emerson reemerge from another perspective in a later book.)

This is a really rich story for a variety of ages and one that would certainly be great for Mother Daughter bookgroups.

Richie Partington
Richie's Picks
BudNotBuddy@aol.com ( )

Ant, short for Antonia, is keenly aware that her mother finds her deeply annoying and uncomfortable to be around. She is so different from her sisters, "Her Highness Elizabeth" and Katy, that she becomes convinced that she's adopted. The saving graces in her life are her Chihuahua, Pistachio, her friend Harrison (with whom she swaps her great grades for his terrible ones), and a teacher, who goes by Carol ("Just Carol," as Ant always calls her). Just Carol gets work in a zoo for Harrison and Ant, but when Ant smuggles Pistachio into the zoo, endangering herself and the animals, she almost loses Just Carol's support. Choldenko catches the prickliness of adolescence, making Ant fearful and vulnerable as well as a sharp observer, particularly of adult frailties. As Ant eventually realizes, although Mother prefers the reflection of herself that she sees in her other two daughters, Ant is just as clearly her mother's offspring. Funny, moving, and completely believable, this is a fine first novel. Category: Books for Middle Readers--Fiction. 2001, Putnam, $18.99. Gr. 5-8. Starred Review (Susan Dove Lempke) (Booklist, Apr. 15, 2001 (Vol. 97, No. 16))

A very cute story about a girl finding out about the true meaning of friends and family... and how it feels to be loved less then your sisters. Most children can relate to this story... and most adults, too! ( )