Last week, I read "How to Steal a Dog" by Barbara O'Connor. The reading level is 4.0. However, a fourth-grader would have to be extremely mature to understand the concepts in the book. I would recommend it to fifth-grade and up.
The premise of the story is about a young girl who lives in a car with her mom and brother. They are desperate for a home but don't have enough money for the down-payment on an apartment. Georgina, the main character, creates a plan to steal a dog and use the inevitable reward money for the down-payment. As the plan progresses, many expected and unexpected hurdles come her way.
This is a sad book. No other way to put it. I was very sympathetic to Georgina and her struggling mom. Unfortunately, it seemed rather believable... I believe it's helpful for our children to see how other people live. If your child reads this book, please read it together. There are some wonderful opportunities to discuss struggles of other families and ways we can help them.
http://www.amazon.com/How-Steal-Dog-Barbara-OConnor/dp/0374334978/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0
Happy reading,
Susanne
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