Notes From a Liar and Her Dog

Notes From a Liar and Her Dog centers on eleven-year-old Antonia MacPherson, who struggles with family relationships and self-acceptance. She lives with her parents and sister in the San Francisco Bay Area, finding refuge in her relationship with her dog Pistachio and a friendly teacher at school. Antonia copes with her challenges by telling lies - both small ones and more significant fabrications that begin to complicate her life. Her belief that she was adopted, despite evidence to the contrary, creates particular tension with her mother. At its core, this middle-grade novel explores the impact of truth and deception, the complexity of parent-child bonds, and the journey toward accepting oneself and one's place within a family. The story addresses these themes through the lens of a young girl's growing self-awareness.

Readers connect with the authentic portrayal of family tension and lying as a coping mechanism. Many relate to protagonist Ant's struggles with feeling like an outsider in her own family. Liked: - Complex family dynamics feel true to real life - Character growth throughout the story - Teacher Harrison's positive influence - Effective handling of tough topics for middle-grade readers Disliked: - Some found Ant initially unlikeable due to her lying - A few readers thought the resolution came too easily - Parents portrayed as overly harsh/unsympathetic Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (90+ ratings) Reader quotes: "Captures exactly how it feels to be the odd one out in your family" - Goodreads reviewer "The lying aspect might send wrong message to young readers" - Amazon reviewer "Harrison is the kind of teacher every kid needs" - School Library Journal reader review

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🐾 Like the main character Ant, author Gennifer Choldenko struggled with math in school and felt like an outsider during her childhood years. 🎨 The book was originally titled "The Truth About Me" before being changed to "Notes From a Liar and Her Dog" prior to publication. 📝 Choldenko spent three years revising and rewriting the manuscript before it was finally published in 2001. 🦮 The character of Harrison, the understanding science teacher, was inspired by one of Choldenko's own middle school teachers who helped her gain confidence. 🏆 The book won the California Young Reader Medal and was named an IRA/CBC Children's Choice, demonstrating its strong appeal to its target audience of middle-grade readers.