Racing in the Rain: My Life as a Dog

by Garth Stein

Overview

Have you ever wondered what your dog is thinking?

Meet one funny dog—Enzo, the lovable mutt who tells this story. Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: most dogs love to chase cars, but Enzo longs to race them. He learns about racing and the world around him by watching TV and by listening to the words of his best friend, Denny, an up-and-coming race car driver, and his daughter, Zoë, his constant companion. Enzo finds that life is just like being on the racetrack—it isn't simply about going fast. And, applying the rules of racing to his world, Enzo takes on his family's challenges and emerges a hero. In the end, Enzo holds in his heart the dream that Denny will go on to be a racing champion with his daughter by his side. For theirs is an extraordinary friendship—one that reminds us all to celebrate the triumph of the human (and canine) spirit.

This is a special adaptation for young people of the acclaimed New York Times bestselling adult novel The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062015761
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	05/03/2011
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	41,601
Product dimensions:	7.38(w) x 5.22(h) x 0.68(d)
Lexile:	720L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Garth Stein is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel The Art of Racing in the Rain (and its tween adaptation, Racing in the Rain), How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets, Raven Stole the Moon, and a play, Brother Jones. He is the cofounder of Seattle7Writers.org, a nonprofit collective of sixty-two Northwest authors dedicated to fostering a passion for the written word. Garth lives in Seattle with his family and his dog, Comet.

Hometown:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Date of Birth:

December 6, 1964

Place of Birth:

Los Angeles, California

Education:

BA Columbia University, Columbia College, '87, MFA Columbia University, School of the Arts, '90

Website:

http://www.garthstein.com

Editorial Reviews

Garth Stein's literary novel The Art of Racing in the Rain (9780061537967) became an adult bestseller, so it seemed only logical that its canine narrator would take a romp in children's books. If you had a tail, Racing in the Rain would make you wag. Editor's recommendation.

Don't let the cover fool you, this book is not about a puppy. Stein weaves three stories together in this marvelous page turner: an autobiography of Enzo, a seasoned canine who hopes to reincarnate in the Mongolian tradition as a man, a story of champion race car driving, and the tale of insurmountable hurdles involving love and family. Enzo's life is told in first person (or first dog as it would be) from the moment he is lifted from the litter to the realization of the end of his long dog life. Denny—Enzo's master, friend, and companion—is a likeable character, regardless of his shortcomings. Although this book is an adaptation from the original adult book, The Art of Racing in the Rain, the heart-wrenching life conflicts may be too severe for the youngest readers. Older middle grade to young adult readers will not be able to put down this book. Regardless of age, keep the box of tissues nearby and enjoy a story that is complete from beginning to new beginning. Reviewer: Krisan Murphy

Children's Literature - Krisan Murphy

Gr 4–7—An adaptation of Stein's adult novel, The Art of Racing in the Rain (HarperCollins, 2008). Enzo, an elderly dog who is preparing to die, reminisces about his life with a race-car driver. He is an observer and commenter on Denny's struggles to have a successful career and to raise his daughter despite professional and personal setbacks, including the death of his wife and a custody battle with her parents. The canine's take on things is occasionally far more knowing than a dog's or child's could be, and some themes will be difficult for a younger audience to relate to, although they will get the general emotional resonance and enjoy Enzo's optimistic and occasionally humorous view of humans. The most traumatic scene, Enzo's death, is spelled out clearly from the beginning and is handled in a positive and hopeful way as he is certain he will be reincarnated as a human. Kids looking for more adventure would be better served by Cynthia Kadohata's Cracker: The Best Dog in Vietnam (S & S, 2007), while those looking for stories they're more likely to relate to should try John Grogan's Marley: A Dog Like No Other (HarperCollins, 2007), but Racing in the Rain is a serviceable addition to collections looking for animal fiction.—Natasha Forrester, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

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