Sit, Stay, Love

Gr 6 Up—Ever since Cecilia's best friend moved away, she has been spending more and more time volunteering at Orphan Paws Pet Shelter. She has even found the perfect human replacement, an orphaned pug she calls Potato. Hiding away at the shelter is even more important after a fire causes her house to be condemned. Cecilia and her father are forced to move in with her persnickety Aunt Pam, whose favorite phrase is "Honestly, Cecilia!" The young teen falls into a familiar pattern of school, shelter, and home. That is, until arrogant Eric Chung, class president and most popular boy in school, comes into the shelter looking for a dog to adopt. Unfortunately for Cecilia, Potato is the dog that Eric chooses, and, what's worse, he plans on training Potato to be a superstar. Eric soon realizes that Potato and Cecilia have a bond; he seeks her help in training Potato for the show-dog circuit. This is the girl's chance to sabotage Eric's plans. As they spend more time together, however, Cecilia begins to reconsider her opinion of him. Intertwined around a cute (although somewhat predictable) story line are real family struggles that Cecilia and her single dad face as he attempts to pay bills and deal with the absence of his wife. Howard adeptly shows the real emotions a young girl feels during tumultuous times and the daily challenges of teenage life.