Say What You Mean (Mean What You Say)
Jake MacKinnon’s fed up with people not saying what they really mean. When he rescues an old hound dog from the pound on his twelfth birthday, he has no idea of the impact she’s about to have on his life. Sandy turns out to be a fairy dogmother, and grants Jake’s greatest wish—to be able to read minds, in particular that of his wannabe singer songwriter father who’s abandoned him and his mom and “gone out west” to find himself. Jake soon discovers that mind reading isn’t always a good thing. Sometimes, the truth sucks. Read the first chapter.
by Jan L. Coates
PUBLISHED AUGUST 2019 | ISBN 978-1-7753717-2-4 • FICTION / MIDDLE GRADE • 176 PAGES / 5.35 × 8 IN / SOFTCOVER
EXCERPT
“It’s your dog, Jake,” Mom says, finally. “Your birthday. Your father always had hounds growing up. What do you think?”
Dad turned into “your father” when he took off. Maybe Mom figures a dog will fill the big empty “Dad” spot in the apartment.
Sandy stops howling, then woofs and shoves her big head up in under my armpit. I stare at her messed-up eyes. Her long, floppy ears feel like this old velvet rabbit I used to drag around. Bun-Bun. I left him in the library one day when I was five, but he was gone when we went back to look for him.
I squint at Sandy, then crouch down, blink about ten times and rub my eyes. Did she just give me the wink? And a smile?
I look away, then back. She does it again!
REVIEW(S)
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to impart a simple, unpleasant, and necessary reality: sometimes, the truth sucks. This is an ideal book for young readers who haven’t quite grasped the value of tact and kind lies yet.
OUR CHILDREN MAGAZINE BOOK REVIEW
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about 12-year-old Jake and his rescue Dog Sandy. Sandy turns out to be a Fairy Dogmother and is able to grant 1 wish for Jake. At this point in the story, my son and I brainstorm on what type of wish we would make if we were Jake. In Jake's case, he is fed up with everyone not saying what they mean. So you can guess what he wishes for.
The book does a very good job of explaining mental illness in ways that middle graders can understand. It also touches on different family living situations. My son thought it was interesting that a kid and his family, who had to dumpster dive for clothing, thought Jake was a rich kid since he was able to get his clothes from thrift stores. The story provided a lot of food for thought and discussion points for my son and I, that would not have otherwise happened without reading this book.
S. SLADE, AMAZON REVIEW