No Girls Allowed (Dogs Okay) (Secrets of a Lab Rat)

This is a great read for middle grade boys and girls, who like fast-paced action and fun. It's not at all that gross. The references to bodily functions tend to be written as factual observations in the main character's inventor's notebook - not for the gross-out factor. Similarly, the dog poop is alluded to but never actually mentioned.

More important, the book has a wonderful message about the value of the bond between siblings. Scab has to decide whether his all-out quest to get a dog is worth risking the relationship he has with his sister, Isabelle. Scab is honest, impulsive, and often thoughtless. But he's got a big heart, which makes him a very real and likable protagonist.

The funny illustrations only compliment a story that will show more capture young readers, and especially reluctant readers. I can't wait to read more books in this series! show less

Trueit I laughed and laughed at this book. I believe it is geared more for the elementary kids. Since I have reluctant readers, the tips, pictures and large print will appeal to some of them. Scab McNally is gross. This is the first thing that will hook my readers, the name and the fact that the character is gross. He wants a dog and tries to get his twin sister Isabelle to help take his parents into getting them one. She refuses. He decides to earn money to get his own dog and get even with his sister at the same time. He creates a vile smelling concoction he sells to his friend as a “sister-repellent”. This was a quick read and one I know I’ll be able to get the most reluctant student to read.

Scab McNally (his real first name is top-secret) wants a dog more than anything. A dog, he knows, will love him unconditionally and a dog won't care if he's not super smart like his twin sister Isabelle. Unfortunately, he has no money to buy a dog and his parents want him to prove that he's responsible. When he invents a sister-repellent that he calls "Isabelle Smells", he finds lots of boy who want to buy it. Suddenly his dreams of dog-ownership might come true! But selling Isabelle Smells at school causes many problems he couldn't have foreseen.

This is a great boy book - perfect for reluctant readers who enjoy gross-out humor. And yeah, it's very gross. Dog poop, farts, and rotten garbage abound. I'd try it on Diary of a Wimpy Kid show more fans and any kids who laugh at poop (and isn't that most kids?). show less