Double Dog Dare
Lisa Graff
Philomel, Apr 12 2012, $16.99
ISBN: 9780399255168
Francine Halata believes that becoming the news anchor of the fourth-grade Media Club will help train her when she has her own TV show as an animal trainer. However, Francine is caught off guard when a classmate nominates the new kid on the block Kansas “King of Dares” Bloom; she had expected no competition.
Kansas is uninterested in the position, but is extremely interested in the contest as the rivals begin a two week dare competition egged on by their peers as he never ignores a dare and she would do any dare to get the job she covets. The games begin with lizard licking and batty hanging upside down that escalates into greater challenges. Each soon finds they enjoy the dare war as it keeps their minds off of their respective collapsing family
The delightful daunting Double Dog Dare tale is a wonderful upper elementary school thriller that uses humor to lighten honest youthful emotional reactions to parental divorce. Rotating perspective between FH and KB, fans will empathize with both as their home lives have imploded. At the same time readers will wonder who will be the last person standing after dining on 87 packets of ketchup; as challenges and commentary are exchanged (about disbelief what KB or FH did) using social media (including the ancient classic classroom note).
Harriet Klausner
