Recommended Ages: Gr.

Plot Summary: Francine has proven herself behind the scenes in Media Club and now she wants the chance to be on screen. When another club member nominates Kansas, the new kid, she is upset. In order to settle the tie, Miss Sparks agrees to let the kids figure it out however they want, which means a dare war, since Kansas randomly said he was the king of dares moments earlier. Things progress quickly. It's a close race. Who will win?

Setting:

Characters:
Kansas Bloom -
Francine Halata -
Donald - Francine's dad
Cecily - Francine's mom
Miss Sparks - media club teacher, very hands off

Recurring Themes: divorce, bravery, knowing what you want, determination

Controversial Issues: some of the dares seemed a little harsh

Personal Thoughts: I usually love Lisa Graff books but I didn't love this one. The dares didn't seem fair or justified and the idea of dares deciding the next newscaster ("approved" by the teacher) seemed totally far-fetched.

Genre: realistic fiction

Pacing: medium
Characters: ok
Frame:
Storyline:

Activity: ( )

The smoothness of this book along with its subject matter is nice. It's engaging, fast to read, and focuses on kids being kids, and rather accurate childish behavior at that.

All about divorce, gross nine-year-olds, and the dynamic of dares, bets, and challenges. A fine blend of good fun, family issues, and peer pressure daredevil-ism. There's a sense of realism in the writing. Kids handling divorces as well as kids can, and yet life going on.

Definitely recommend this for kids and adults with a sense of humor. Funny and wholesome. ( )

Summary:
Double Dog Dare is a book about a classroom of students who are in a media club. This club meets every morning before school starts. The time has come for the class to vote on a new news anchor. Brenden, Francine, and Kansas are the three candidates who were chosen by the other students. Two of the students are tied in votes which are Francine and Kansas. Kansas was voted in by a student named Luis. Kansas did not have any interest in being a news anchor at all. He informed the class he missed his friends and the dares they use to do. He also stated he was the king of dares because there was no dare he would not do. Brenden came up with a tie breaker for the two candidates. He decided to have a dare war and who ever wins will be the new news anchor. Francine and Kansas quickly became war enemies taking on dares to humiliate each other. A series of events take place. A twist of events take place of course causing Kansas and Francine to find out that they have more in common with then they thought and then the nature of things takes a new route.

Personal Reaction:
I found this book to be very entertaining because it puts you in real life situations children face everyday. I especially liked the brainstorming of the coming up with all the dares and to see if they follow through with it. It also gives the kids point of view on divorce and how the kids that are experiencing this is handling it. Francine is new to the experience and to Kansas its something he has come to terms with.

Extension Ideas:
I would encourage kids in a classroom to read this book to learn how to settle disagreements among each other.
The kids could do their very own news show and talk about school related events and.

Kansas and Francine are embroiled in a battle of dares to see who would become the media club's announcer. Exactly how this comes about is a stretch but just go with it. I had visions of How To Eat Fried Worms. The dares, however, are the backdrop to Kansas and Francine coming to terms with their respective parents upcoming divorces. This story has depth.
Unfortunately, the book's jacket would suggest a younger intended audience than it really is for. ( )