New Kids and Underdogs

(Hardback)

Available Formats

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

When perpetual new kid Robyn signs up her special needs dogs for agility training, she gets an unexpected lesson in friendship in this well-pacedthoughtful (Kirkus Reviews) novel from the author of We Could Be Heroes and Susie B. Wont Back Down.

Robyn Kellen has been the new kid six times. Shes practically an expert on the subject and has developed foolproof rules to help her get by: Blend in, dont go looking for trouble, and move on. Unfortunately, Robyns mom has a rule, too: Robyn must do an after-school activity.

When Robyn discovers a dog agility class, she thinks shes found the perfect thingbut then her dogs, Sundae and Fudge, are rejected from the class. Sundae wont do anything without Fudge, and Fudge is deaf and blind, and the instructor refuses to change the rules to fit their needs. Luckily, the instructors grandson, Nestora legend at Robyns new schooloffers Robyn a deal: If she helps him with math, hell train Sundae and Fudge. Problem is, Robyn isnt so great at math herself, so shes forced to recruit the class outcast, Alejandra, to help.

Suddenly, Robyn finds herself surrounded by people who do anything but blend inand sticking to her rules becomes harder than ever. But as Robyn learns how to adapt the rules of agility for Sundae and Fudge, she will find that some rules are worth breaking altogether.

Reviews

"In this well-paced work that relatably unpacks core aspects of middle school life, Robyn realizes as her rules backfire that as much as she wants others to know her whole story, she needs to be open to learning theirs as well . . .A thoughtful story about learning to look beneath the surfaceandbe a better friend." -- Kirkus Reviews
"With plenty of support, Robyn learns in her own time how her rules might be limiting her, making final realizations both hard-won and satisfying in this assured, dynamic-aware novel from Finnegan." -- Publishers Weekly

Author Bio

Margaret Finnegan is the author of theJunior Library Guild SelectionsNew Kids and Underdogs,We Could Be Heroes,andSusie B. Wont Back Down.Her other work has appeared inFamilyFun, theLos Angeles Times,Salon, and other publications. She lives in South Pasadena, California, where she enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog, and baking really good chocolate cakes. Connect with her at MargaretFinnegan.com.