Love That Dog

Love That Dog
By Sharon Creech

Sharon Creech is such a good writer.  Love That Dog is a seemingly simple story told through the journal of a boy named Jack.  We only get to read his entries, but it's easy to figure out he is writing to his teacher and she is replying to his comments, and mostly the theme is that Jack doesn't like the poetry they are reading and writing in class.  Not as simple is the underlying story--that Jack doesn't think boys write poetry, that he doesn't think he has anything to write about, and he has undergone some traumatic incident involving a mysterious speeding car (he keeps mentioning it in his journal).
Eventually Jack starts to realize that some of the poetry they're studying in class is kind of interesting, and he begins to have more confidence writing his own.  He gradually allows his teacher to post his poetry on the classroom wall, first anonymously, then with his name.
The great Walter Dean Myers is one of the poets the class is learning about.  Full of sounds and rhythm, Myers' poetry resonates with Jack, and when Walter Dean Myers is actually invited to the school to speak Jack can hardly wait for the day.  In the end, Jack is inspired to reveal his voice and his own difficult story through poetry.
Sharon Creech gives us a short, sweet-sad story of inspiration, self-confidence, and dealing with loss.  The journal style of the narrative invites the reader to infer a lot about what is actually going on, and gives the book a mysterious air.  A lovely quick read for boys and girls alike.  
(ISBN: 0-439-44242-7)