The Pet War

by Allan Woodrow

Overview

THE PET WAR is a hilarious story about the timeless battles of dog vs. cat, brother vs. sister, know-it-all vs. know-nothing.

Eleven-year-old Otto wants a dog. His twelve-year-old perfect sister, Lexi, wants a cat. Their mother, who works very long hours as a nurse, wants neither. Pets are expensive so who's going to pay for everything? And what happens to the pet when the siblings are at their dad's for the weekend? Otto has an idea. What if he got a job and earned enough money to pay for the dog? Then Lexi has to open her big mouth. She proposes that whichever sibling can raise enough money first will decide which pet they get. Oddly enough, their mom and dad agree. With Otto and Lexi each out to defeat the other, their business plans become more elaborate and involved. As the competition gets fiercer, the stakes get higher, and the battle lines have been drawn, so let the Pet War begin. . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545513210
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	10/29/2013
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	1,002,553
Lexile:	590L (what's this?)
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Allan Woodrow is the author of Unschooled, Class Dismissed, and The Pet War, as well as other books for young readers, written under secret names. His writing also appears in the Scholastic anthology Lucky Dog: Twelve Tales of Rescued Dogs. Allan currently lives near Chicago with his family. For more about Allan and his books, visit him online at www.allanwoodrow.com.

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2013
Gr 4–6—Otto, 11, pleads with his mother for a dog, while his sister, Lexi, 12, is insistent on getting a cat. The siblings go to extremes in making their case of why they should get their choice of pet; their mother wants to know who will pay for everything. Lexi takes a more practical approach in her efforts to get a cat, earning money by tutoring her peers, making charts, and educating herself on what having a cat entails. With Otto's zany methods, high jinks ensue throughout the story. He consistently comes up with new schemes from car washing to selling apples to dog walking to make money. These ideas usually end in disaster and costing him money. The children learn that being responsible is not always fun, or easy. Readers will relate to the sibling rivalry as well as the antics the youngsters go through as they try to one up the other. The story is a bit repetitive, but comical nonetheless. Otto is a humorous protagonist whose narrative will keep readers amused. Pet lovers will enjoy this entertaining story.—Megan McGinnis, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY

School Library Journal

09/30/2013
Eleven-year-old Otto’s longing for a dog turns into a case of sibling rivalry when his older sister, Lexi, declares she wants a cat. The competition is on after their mother (not a fan of pets) gives them a challenge: whoever can earn $500 in a month will get the pet of his or her choice. Although Woodrow’s (the Zachery Ruthless series) lively novel begins promisingly, Otto’s series of moneymaking disasters are fairly one-note, with his carelessness torpedoing his efforts to become an “apple tycoon,” sell homemade cookies, and run a dog-walking service. In addition, Otto’s personality (he’s described by a peer as an “inconsiderate, egomaniacal, narcissistic turd brain”) can be off-putting—though not unrealistic—especially when he’s begging family members and strangers for money. Predictably, Otto learns a lesson about acting generously and responsibly, but the sacrifice he makes in the end is a little too abrupt and altruistic to be believable. Nonetheless, many readers will identify with Otto’s yearning for a pet and his frustrations with his all-too-perfect sister. Ages 8–12. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary & Media. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for The Pet War:

"Otto is a humorous protagonist whose narrative will keep readers amused. Pet lovers will enjoy this entertaining story." -School Library Journal

"Woodrow's humorous novel has both boy and girl reader appeal." -Booklist

"Readers will identify with Otto's yearning for a pet and his frustrations with his all-too-perfect sister." -Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2013-10-01
In a tale that will have readers begging for closure, brother and sister are pitted against each other in a contest to get the pet of their dreams: Otto wants a dog; Lexi, a cat. According to the steep terms their mother sets, the first one to make $500 throughout the month of March wins. Otto narrates in an authentic kid voice--oblivious and self-centered--earning many laughs if not cash in the beginning with his bumbling efforts. Luckily, he has his best friend, business-savvy Malcolm, to help him brainstorm and get organized. Indeed, readers will come away with great ideas on how to make money, plus information about business skills such as accounting, marketing and time management. Too bad Otto proves to be so frustratingly obtuse. The plot begins to stretch thin despite numerous side dramas such as his guilt over stealing some of his sister's money, a friendship in peril, declining grades and the threatened loss of a coveted position on the soccer team. After another, more serious mishap due to his carelessness, Otto realizes he's lost, has an honest conversation with Lexi and gives her his earnings. Although this makes for a tidy ending, Otto's sudden perspicacity and change of heart feel unconvincing. Despite its flaws, children desperate for a pet may dig in. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews