cover image Figment Yr Dog Speaking CL

Figment Yr Dog Speaking CL

Laura Hawkins. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH), $13.95 (155pp) ISBN 978-0-395-57032-6

Just about everybody knows that Marcella Starbuckle is a chronic storyteller--or ``liar,'' as her classmates call her--everybody, that is, except her parents, who are too busy to notice. But when Marcella meets Figment, a talking dog, her mother and father start paying close attention as Marcella's behavior goes from strange to downright bizarre. Part fantasy, part mystery, this transparent tale of Marcella's attention-getting phase oversimplifies her problems and relies heavily on a secondary mystery plot to provide interest. Though the supporting characters are quirky and full of interest--senile Judge Willa Scott and developmentally disabled ``Benny Boo''--Marcella and Figment's relationship never really jells, a flaw that robs the story of its strength. The writing style is somewhat condescending for this age group; readers will likely race through Hawkins's lightweight fare. Ages 8-10. (Oct.)