My Dog Ate It

Weak writing and flat humor undermine this first novel, a cloying mix of realistic predicaments and fantasy. Danny decides to flunk fifth grade to avoid moving on to middle school. Danny's determined teacher turns to her cache of magic plans and sends her invisible dog Homework to help motivate Danny. Delighted to have found a new way to delegate his work, Danny fails to respond to Homework's pep talk that ``flashcards incorporate the competitive spirit of the sports arena into the learning process.'' A subplot involving a ``think-off contest'' with a rival school helps bring the story to its predictable resolution. The devices of a magical teacher and dog, awkwardly implemented, belabor the message. Freighted with repetitious language and one-dimensional characters, this story never gets off the ground. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)