Showoff

Gr 5–7—Former attack dog Luthor is in the brig for disrupting a dog show and injuring top contender Electra, and her owners are suing Savannah Drysdale's family for seven million dollars. Meanwhile, Savannah's friend Griffin is staying at Ben's house for a summerlong sleepover while his parents are in Europe trying to sell his dad's latest invention, the Spritz-O-Matic. Knowing Griffin, Ben's mom is sure that something will go wrong, but he has assured her that he has absolutely no "Plans." But they just have to save Luthor from the fate that befalls all dogs left at the pound, don't they? And they can't really do that without a Plan, can they? Newest in the much-loved stories about "The Man with the Plan," Showoff will please current fans and is also great as a stand-alone. Zany and full of wild, unpredictable turns, the action never stops. Hilarious moments with Luthor, a Doberman "the size of a small pony," abound. A fun read that will keep even reluctant readers immersed in the story.—Terry Ann Lawler, Phoenix Public Library, AZ