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Summary
Summary
Math is not ten-year-old Zaritza's best subject. When her teacher, Mr. Phinney, offers extra credit to whomever takes the class ferret, Bandito, home over the weekend, she jumps at the opportunity. Unfortunately, taking care of this particular animal is as boring as school itself. All it does is eat, sleep, and lick itself. So when Zaritza accidentally leaves Bandito's cage open and the ferret goes missing, she blames everyone else, including her three-year-old sister. And her excuses get bigger and bigger. But when her mom finds out that there is a ferret on the loose, Zaritza better find her class pet fast!
Author Notes
Patrick Jennings blasted onto the children's book scene with his critically acclaimed Faith and the Electric Dogs , which received numerous starred reviews and is now in film development. Known for his wide range of topics and styles, Jennings is the author of the recent We Can't All Be Rattlesnakes , The Wolving Time , and The Beastly Arms . He has turned his focus to writing funny, easily accessible stories that will appeal to middle-schoolers, including his recent Egmont releases Guinea Dog , Lucky Cap , and Invasion of the Dognappers . A former resident of Bisbee, Arizona, Jennings now lives in Washington State. You can visit him at www.patrickjennings.com.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-Zaritza, 11, is trying to earn extra credit and solve her school problems by turning in her missing math assignments and taking care of the class pet, a fuzzy ferret, over winter break. Unfortunately, Zaritza thinks Bandito is boring, smelly, and too noisy. She is more interested in preparing for the starring role in the school play, but she can't perform in it unless she catches up on her homework. Under her watch, Bandito escapes, creating chaos around the house and eating much more than just Zaritza's math homework. Her imagination runs wild with dramatic flair as she comes up with assorted reasons why she cannot complete her assignment. When it comes time to be part of the class play, the experience is not exactly what the aspiring thespian had in mind. Throughout the story, Zaritza's mom continues to push the lesson of responsibility and consequences for your actions. An amusing family and school story with clever chapter titles, most beginning with "My Homework Ate...."-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Eleven-year-old Zaritza, a self-described drama queen, enjoys neither the "hideous" class ferret nor her "stupid" math homework, but agrees to take care of them for much needed extra credit. When the feisty protagonist loses control of both, her participation in the school play is in jeopardy. The fast-paced, amusing plot turns self-serving Zaritza around in time for opening night. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
An amusing, fast-paced tale about an irrepressible drama queen who has to cope when she doesn't get the starring role in the class play. Zaritza Dalrymple, 11, wants nothing more than to be an actress. So naturally, she's thrilled about the upcoming visit of a theater troupe that will be helping her class stage a production of Calamity Jane. But to be allowed to participate, Zaritza must hand in her math homework assignments, which means she actually has to do them, an option she had barely considered. When she gets this show-stopping news, Zaritza immediately leaps into action, first telling her teacher the class ferret ate it, then trying to copy her friend's homework, then attempting to con her shy, supersmart classmate, Eden Sumarta, into doing it for her. Alas, all ruses fail. Not only that, but the introverted Eden, a girl who never projected past the footlights in her life, is cast as Jane. After some guilt tripping from her parents, Zaritza, who initially would have liked to break Eden's leg, begins helping her. The girls develop an unlikely alliance, and much to her surprise, Zaritza begins to root for her success. The climactic performance is suspenseful fun, and Zaritza, who becomes more appealing as the novel progresses, even learns a life lesson or two. Humorous, enjoyable and light. (Fiction. 8-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Eleven-year-old Zaritza is a drama queen, which she takes as a compliment. She's positive that she'll land the starring role in the upcoming class production of Calamity Jane. The only problem is that she won't be allowed to audition unless she gets caught up on her math homework. Zaritza is given the chance to take care of the class ferret as a way to earn extra credit, but why on earth would she spend time doing math when she would rather rehearse? With her melodramatic and self-centered personality, Zaritza can come off as a bit insufferable. But as the story progresses, she learns that the world doesn't necessarily revolve around her and that sometimes it is better to take a supporting role in life rather than a starring one. Full of humor, Zaritza's on- and off-stage dramatics make for a quite funny tale. Readers who enjoy stories about the fine arts are sure to relate with the budding thespian as she learns that helping others behind the scenes can be just as fulfilling as soaking in the spotlight.--Thompson, Sarah Bean Copyright 2010 Booklist