Sunday, June 18, 2006

Barry, Boyhound by Andy Spearman

Barry is your typical, average kid. He has friends, his parents, and an annoying sister to live with. What most people don't know is that one night, two fleas jumped on Barry's head turning him into a boyhound. Now, he has all the advantages of being a dog, but all the disadvantages, also. When his boyhound brain completely takes over, he does things without thinking. Mainly attacking his friends, eating worms, and running in front of moving cars. Can Barry survive being part human, part dog?

When I first saw the cover of Barry, Boyhound, by Andy Spearman, I didn't know what to expect. What I found out was not to judge a book by its cover. Reading through this book, I noticed many links to the real world. For instance, when the book mentions papaya, it explains what papaya is and who it is helpful to. The book has many strong points but many weak points also. Sometimes the book stretches out small details that didn't need to be emphasized in any way. The story line doesn't have much of a climax. This means there is no incredibly interesting point in the book. Many ideas in the book were witty and enjoyable to learn about. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book but many other kids my age and older may be disappointed by it. I recommend this book to children between the ages of 8-13.

Rating (0 - 10 scale): 6
Reviewer Age: 13
Reviewer City, State and Country: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania United States