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When Life Gives You O. J.
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Published:
Random House Children's Books 2011
Accelerated Reader:
IL: MG - BL: 4.3 - AR Pts: 6
Lexile measure:
710L
Status:
Available from OverDrive
Description
For years, 10-year-old Zelly Fried has tried to convince her parents to let her have a dog. After all, practically everyone in Vermont owns a dog, and it sure could go a long way helping Zelly fit in since moving there from Brooklyn. But when her eccentric grandfather Ace hatches a ridiculous plan involving a "practice dog" named OJ, Zelly's not so sure how far she's willing to go to win a dog of her own. Is Ace's plan so crazy it just might work . . . or is it just plain crazy?
Erica S. Perl weaves an affectionate and hilarious tale that captures the enduring bond between grandparents and grandchildren.  Even when they're driving each other nuts.
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Format:
Adobe EPUB eBook, Kindle Book, OverDrive Read
Street Date:
06/14/2011
Language:
English
ISBN:
9780375897832
ASIN:
B004FGMDKK
Accelerated Reader:
MG
Level 4.3, 6 Points
Lexile measure:
710
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Citations
APA Citation (style guide)

Erica S. Perl. (2011). When Life Gives You O. J. Random House Children's Books.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation (style guide)

Erica S. Perl. 2011. When Life Gives You O. J. Random House Children's Books.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities Citation (style guide)

Erica S. Perl, When Life Gives You O. J. Random House Children's Books, 2011.

MLA Citation (style guide)

Erica S. Perl. When Life Gives You O. J. Random House Children's Books, 2011.

Note! Citation formats are based on standards as of July 2022. Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy.
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Grouped Work ID:
42f9fd48-ea80-aa09-8adc-450457b5bb0c
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Needs Update?:
No
Date Added:
Jun 12, 2018 18:35:59
Date Updated:
Dec 08, 2021 06:15:08
Last Metadata Check:
Apr 21, 2024 10:17:55
Last Metadata Change:
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Last Availability Check:
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Last Availability Change:
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Last Grouped Work Modification Time:
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      • value: Animals
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      • value: 5th grade books
      • value: 5th grade reading books
      • value: kids books ages 9-12
      • value: 3rd grade reading books
      • value: 4th grade reading books
      • value: books for kids age 9 12
      • value: books for 8 year old boys
      • value: books for 9 year old boys
      • value: books for boys age 9 12
      • value: books for 8 year old girls
      • value: books for 9 year old girls
      • value: books for 4th graders
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      • role: Author
      • fileAs: Perl, Erica S.
      • bioText: ERICA S. PERL is the author several picture books and the young adult novel Vintage Veronica, which Publishers Weekly called "wonderfully fun!" In addition to writing books, Erica works at First Book, the groundbreaking non-profit organization that has provided over 70 million brand new books to children in need. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her family.
      • name: Erica S. Perl
imprint
Knopf Books for Young Readers
publishDate
2011-06-14T00:00:00-04:00
isOwnedByCollections
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title
When Life Gives You O. J.
fullDescription
For years, 10-year-old Zelly Fried has tried to convince her parents to let her have a dog. After all, practically everyone in Vermont owns a dog, and it sure could go a long way helping Zelly fit in since moving there from Brooklyn. But when her eccentric grandfather Ace hatches a ridiculous plan involving a "practice dog" named OJ, Zelly's not so sure how far she's willing to go to win a dog of her own. Is Ace's plan so crazy it just might work . . . or is it just plain crazy?
Erica S. Perl weaves an affectionate and hilarious tale that captures the enduring bond between grandparents and grandchildren.  Even when they're driving each other nuts.
gradeLevels
      • value: Grade 3
reviews
      • premium: True
      • source: Publisher's Weekly
      • content:

        May 2, 2011
        In this warm novel about family, friendship, and fitting in, 10-year-old Zelly and her family move from Brooklyn to Vermont to live with her recently widowed grandfather, Ace. An eccentric and vociferous retired judge who spouts Yiddish sayings and outlandish fish tales, Ace devises a plan for Zelly to prove to her parents that she's responsible enough to get a dog. He gives her a "practice dog"—an orange juice jug "named" O.J.—that she must care for as she would a real dog. After Zelly's insightful new friend Jeremy (the only other Jewish peer she's met) advises her to start a dog-walking business, she drags her ersatz pet along. Perl (Vintage Veronica) offers a refreshing take on the grandparent-grandchild rapport. Ace's bossiness and brashness irk Zelly (he may have this effect on readers, too, as his speech is unfortunately rendered in all caps for most of the novel), yet there is a poignant undercurrent of love between them, as well as shared grieving for Zelly's grandmother. The novel strikes an admirable balance of humor and pathos—at times in the same scene. Ages 8–12.

      • premium: True
      • source: Kirkus
      • content:

        May 15, 2011

        Be careful what you wish for is the premise of this mildly amusing novel about a girl who aches for a dog.

        Zelly Fried, Jewish and entering sixth grade, lives in Vermont, where she doesn't feel she fits in. Understanding her yearnings, Grandpa (a.k.a. "Ace") ropes Zelly into using an orange-juice jug as a "practice dog" to convince her parents she's capable of caring for a real one. Because she loves Ace—and because he's an unstoppable force of nature (whose booming voice is rendered in large uppercase letters)—Zelly gives in. Taking care of "O.J." isn't easy, particularly cleaning up "fake poop." Schlepping a jug on a leash and including it in various activities is especially humiliating. Why Zelly embarks on this scheme, let alone keeps on, will strain readers' credulity, as will the delayed entry into the novel of sensible ideas, courtesy of a new friend, for showing that Zelly's ready for dog ownership. Zelly does rebel at one point but then returns to "O.J." in a predictable, maudlin plot twist. Characterizations are superficial, though Zelly is likable, and kids will relate to her predicament. Too many subplots also make for uneven storytelling.

        Yiddish words and phrases and various Jewish customs are sprinkled liberally throughout and defined in a glossary, which might help the novel reach more than a niche audience. (Fiction. 9-12)

        (COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

      • premium: True
      • source: School Library Journal
      • content:

        September 1, 2011

        Gr 4-6-Zelda Fried's grandfather, Ace, comes up with the perfect plan to help convince her parents to get her the dog she so desperately wants: the 10-year-old will take care of a "practice dog" (actually an old orange juice jug), including feeding, walking, and cleaning up after it, until they give in. This is totally embarrassing, and to make matters worse, although Zelly moved from Brooklyn, NY, to Vermont a while ago, she still feels like the new kid in town. Her only friend will be spending the summer at camp, leaving her all alone to deal with her annoying little brother and the neighborhood bullies (who no doubt will have a lot to say about her plastic companion). By the end of the summer, she has made another friend, learned to stand up for herself, and begun to appreciate her "pet." Despite the novel's forced secondary story line about Zelly's Jewish family fitting in with the new neighborhood and Ace's unfortunate trip to the hospital near the end of the book, readers will enjoy the main character's liveliness and resilience.-Amanda Moss Struckmeyer, Middleton Public Library, WI

        Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

      • premium: True
      • source: Booklist
      • content:

        June 1, 2011
        Grades 4-6 Ten-year-old Zelly Fried has recently moved to Vermont from Brooklyn and longs for a dog. Her eccentric grandfather, Ace, develops the idea of a practice dog (in the form of an orange-juice container) and challenges Zelly to walk, feed, and clean it everyday to show her parents that she is responsible enough for the real thing. Zelly's desire for a dog collides head-on with her desire not to stick out, and her attitude toward the practice dog (dubbed O.J.) and her combative relationship with Ace are complicated by her raw grief following the recent death of her grandmother. Zelly is a sympathetic, believably flawed character. The fact that she has as much to teach Ace as he has to teach her is just one satisfying element of this funny, often wise novel, which touches on issues of anti-Semitism and middle-school malice and includes a glossary of Yiddish words used throughout the text. In the end, Zelly's triumph isn't the dog she eventually gains, but the steps she takes to reach him.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

      • premium: True
      • source: Publisher's Weekly
      • content:

        April 29, 2013
        With summer upon her, 10-year-old Zelly finds herself alone and in need of something to do. Her grandfather Ace takes it upon himself to give her a goal to work toward: proving to her parents that she’s responsible enough to take care of a dog. The only problem is that his plan involves Zelly carrying around an orange juice jug and treating it like a dog. With a voice that sounds youthful, Abigail Revasch deftly captures Zelly’s positive but occasionally melodramatic character. The narrator also creates unique voices for a host of characters—from bullies and younger brothers to condescending parents and quirky grandfathers—shifting among them with an ease that fully immerses the listener in the narrative. Ages 8–12. A Yearling paperback.

      • premium: True
      • source: The Horn Book
      • content:

        July 1, 2011
        Zelly desperately wants a dog; her parents need convincing. Zelly's grandfather (who speaks in all caps) hatches a plan that involves taking care of an orange juice container like it's a pet to prove responsibility. In the process, Zelly makes a friend, grieves the loss of her grandmother, and learns self-confidence. Family and friend relationships are engagingly explored throughout the story.

        (Copyright 2011 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

popularity
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shortDescription
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Erica S. Perl weaves an affectionate and hilarious tale that captures the enduring bond between grandparents and grandchildren.  Even when they're driving each other nuts.
sortTitle
When Life Gives You O J
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Random House Children's Books
atos
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      • description: Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Dogs
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      • description: Juvenile Fiction / Family / Multigenerational
      • code: JUV024000
      • description: Juvenile Fiction / Lifestyles / Country Life