Boys Are Dogs
Annabelle Unleashed Series
on Goodreads (394)
What’s inside...
Cameron Beekman is the epitome of beauty and popularity with her blonde hair and successful family. Formerly known as 'Beakface' due to her large nose, she transformed her appearance and social status with a nose job. As she prepares to attend UC 'Santa Barbie,' Cameron seeks further cosmetic procedures to achieve ultimate perfection, despite her sister Allie's reservations about her own upcoming surgery. It hurts to be beautiful. Pretty, blond, popular Cameron Beekman has it all -- lots of girlfriends, a hot boyfriend, and a successful family. She's perfection. Gone are her days as the outcast, huge-nosed 'Beakface.' Which, as it turns out, was nothing a good nose job couldn't fix. While her little sister, Allie, struggles with doubts about her own approaching 'procedure,' Cameron wants more. She's headed to UC 'Santa Barbie' and needs to look the part. After all, why settle for smart and pretty when smart and drop-dead gorgeous is just a surgery away?
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
13-14
Length
241 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Annabelle
Ted
Annabelle'S Mom
Discussion points
How do the characters in the book handle challenging situations? What can we learn from their approaches?
Do you think treating boys like dogs, as Annabelle does in the story, is an effective way to understand relationships? Why or why not?
What are some differences and similarities you see between your school life and Annabelle's? What would you do in her place?
Annabelle has to adjust to a lot of changes, like starting at a new school and getting a new puppy. How do you handle changes in your life?
What did you think about the relationships in the book? How do the characters develop friendships and deal with conflicts?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, relate scenarios from the story to real-life situations your child might face to help them connect deeper with the themes.
Encourage your child to express their opinions about the characters' decisions and discuss alternative choices the characters could have made.
Ask your child how they felt at different points in the story to gauge their empathy and understanding of the characters' emotions.
Discuss the outcomes of the story. Ask whether your child thinks everything ended the way it should have or if they would imagine a different ending.
Capitalize on the humorous elements of the book to keep the conversation light-hearted and engaging.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience and adaptability
Explanation: The protagonist, Annabelle, navigates the challenges of middle school and training a new puppy, demonstrating how she adjusts to changes and overcomes obstacles.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to embrace new situations at school or home with a positive attitude and a willingness to adapt.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: Throughout the book, Annabelle learns to understand the perspectives of others, including her friends and her puppy. This helps her build stronger relationships.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply empathy in their daily interactions, learning to consider how others feel before acting or speaking.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Annabelle’s journey with her new puppy teaches her the importance of being responsible, as she takes care of the puppy’s needs and trains him.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to take responsibility for their pets, belongings, or chores, building their sense of independence and reliability.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: The book showcases Annabelle's ability to think critically and solve problems, both in her personal life and in training her puppy.
Real-World Application: Children are inspired to use creative thinking and problem-solving in their studies and when faced with conflicts or challenges.
Example Lesson: Confidence building
Explanation: As Annabelle successfully trains her puppy and overcomes school challenges, her confidence grows.
Real-World Application: This can motivate children to take on new challenges with confidence, whether in learning new skills or in social situations.