Notes from the Dog



Paulsen, Gary. 2009. Notes from the Dog. New York: Random House. 978-0-385-73845-3.

Finn was looking forward to the summer. Living with his dad, who is rarely at home, Finn was content to stay at home with his books and his dog, Dylan. Finn meets  his neighbor's house sitter, Johanna. Johanna befriends Finn and his friend, Matt. She is a beautiful grad student who is battling cancer. She hires Finn to build a garden in his own yard, with her guidance and supervision. Through bouts with chemotherapy, Finn and Matt become very close to Johanna, evidently both "falling" in love with her. Both raise money for her fundraiser and taking her place in a mini-triathlon. Through out the summer, Finn receives encouraging notes from Dylan. Who is sending them- his dad, Johanna or is it Dylan?

Set in a urban neighborhood, Finn visits Johanna next door, go into the downtown area and collects donation for Johanna. They walk to the park and visit his grandfather at the retirement village. He works in his garden but makes a mistake. In accordance with some characteristics of an adventure young adult fiction, Paulsen sets the task for making a garden for his main character- a task that will enter Finn into the adult world. He has to plan and set goals, go to the gardening store and interact with adults, and takes responsibility. Matt and Finn both care for Johanna when she get sick and helps her through her illness. Paulsen uses Dylan, the dog as part of the story to and tenderness. As one reads how Dylan comforts Johanna when she get sick, one becomes emotional. One can assume that Finn is a bit overweight, though it is not realized it until the end. One can correlate the symbolism of the garden to Johanna's illness and Finn's outlook on life. The mistake with the garden can symbolize the toll the chemo takes Johanna, but when the sprouts of grass emerge, Johanna slowly recovers and even Finn becomes friends with a girl from school. One of the strengths of this book is the role Dylan, the dog plays. He brings notes of encouragement to Finn and comforts Johanna when she get sick. One anticipates anytime Dylan appears in a story. Paulsen incorporates modern day familiars to attract young readers. Paulsen's Finn likes to be all alone, like most teenagers to. Finn has a broken family, single dad-who is too busy and no mom. Paulsen uses the verb "google" and also the characters use the internet and ipods. Although Paulsen didn't earn any awards with this book, Alison Follos of North County School of Lake Placid, wrote in School Library Journal, "Paulsen's fans may miss his trademarks: the notorious exploits of boys, the page-turning wilderness adventures, or the sled dogs that often take center stage. Yet this candid and tender tale, told with his signature humor, is a salute to the bravest of the brave."
The best passage is as follows:
" 'This is nice,' Dad said."You know, I didn't realize I was always at the library and never home. I like not rushing from work to class or study groups all the time. Sitting out here in the evenings with you is'- he draped and arm across my shoulders and looked around- 'the best part of my day.' "