“Hound Dog True” by Linda Urban is story for anyone who has started a new school, anyone who has ever been afraid to speak and share who they are, and anyone who longs to be brave. Deceptively short and simple in language, Urban's delicate characterization of an introverted girl gives voice to many children who have struggled to fit their sensitive inner world with the confusing and sometimes harsh world around them. Mattie May has been to four schools in five years, and she’s about to start fifth grade at Mitchell P. Anderson Elementary School, where her Uncle Potluck resides as the overseer of Custodial Arts. Mattie does not have a place to belong or a good way to express herself, so she’s decided to become Uncle Potluck’s assistant. As a custodial apprentice, she can avoid the “lawless times” of recess and lunch, and stay safe with her uncle. When an older girl visits her aunt next door to Mattie’s new house, she is faced with the decision to either continue hiding inside herself, or to take a small brave step towards learning who she really is and interacting with the world around her.
With the next door neighbor fighting to stay a little girl for just a little longer, a mom learning how to stay, and a delightfully creative and encouraging uncle who needs a little help in the romance department, "Hound Dog True" features a cast of characters that you might wish lived on your block. It is a book to savor.
--Andrea W., Headquarters
