Firehouse Dog: The Movie Novel

By Michael Anthony Steele

Based on Firehouse Dog, the heartwarming film by Twentieth Century Fox starring up-and-coming young talent Josh Hutcherson and an adorable Irish terrier. Novelization of 20th Century Fox's live-action... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0439896428
• ISBN13: 9780439896429
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Scholastic
• Length: 158 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.3" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Good blend of family drama, humor, and suspense.

Firehouse Dog won't go down as one of the greatest family stories in history (like A Dog Of Flanders or A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (P.S.)), but is a good solid story for adolescents, about 12-year-old Shane, who's father is the Captain of the firehouse housing Fire Engine 55. The Captain is a widower who succeeded his own late brother to the job, leaving Shane with very little parental supervision. While ditching school Shane runs into Rexxx, a lost Hollywood movie dog. Shane is caught due to the dog jumping on him, and resents the dog for a while. Rexxx was lost wearing a prop collar so they think his name is Dewey, and can't find the owner; but while trying Shane learns how good Dewey is at tricks and gradually decides he wants to adopt him. So you have a typical dog story situation, the dogs presence helping build the boys character while you wonder if the boy will have to lose the dog if the Hollywood owner ever turns up. But wait there's more: meanwhile Shane learns his father is investigating a series of fires that might be arson -- including the one in which his uncle died. So the plot builds up to a more serious situation with suspense, firefighting action, and a dramatic conclusion. Fortunately this is developed gradually from the more humorous first half of the book, so it works on both levels, and never gets too scary for kids, but never gets dull, with some firefighting action, humor, and a moderately poignant story to hold it all together. Based on the movie starring Josh Hutcherson, who proved his diverse acting skills starring in films ranging from Little Manhattan to Bridge to Terabithia.