New Kids and Underdogs (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781534496408)

When perpetual new kid Robyn signs up her special needs dogs for agility training, she gets an unexpected lesson in friendship in this "well-paced...thoughtful" (Kirkus Reviews) novel from the author of We Could Be Heroes and Susie B. Won't Back Down.

Robyn Kellen has been the new kid six times. She's practically an expert on the subject and has developed foolproof rules to help her get by: Blend in, don't go looking for trouble, and move on. Unfortunately, Robyn's mom has a rule, too: Robyn must do an after-school activity.

When Robyn discovers a dog agility class, she thinks she's found the perfect thing--but then her dogs, Sundae and Fudge, are rejected from the class. Sundae won't do anything without Fudge, and Fudge is deaf and blind, and the instructor refuses to change the rules to fit their needs. Luckily, the instructor's grandson, Nestor--a legend at Robyn's new school--offers Robyn a deal: If she helps him with math, he'll train Sundae and Fudge. Problem is, Robyn isn't so great at math herself, so she's forced to recruit the class outcast, Alejandra, to help.

Suddenly, Robyn finds herself surrounded by people who do anything but blend in--and 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.

Author: Margaret Finnegan
ISBN-10: 1534496408
ISBN-13: 9781534496408
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Language: English
Published: 10/25/2022
Pages: 288
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.30h x 5.60w x 1.10d

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.7
Point Value: 9
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 516581 / New Kids & Underdogs


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2022
Publishers Weekly 10/31/2022