Arf (Bowser and Birdie Series #2)

by Spencer Quinn

Overview

"Spencer Quinn speaks two languages -- suspense and dog -- fluently." -- Stephen King

Why would anyone break into 19 Gentilly Lane? That's where the Gaux family lives, and everyone knows they have nothing worth stealing. More important, the house is usually guarded by Birdie Gaux's dog, Bowser, a large and handsome fellow with a big set of sharp teeth.Now Birdie is looking worried and Bowser is on the trail of something rotten. Who was behind the break in? Why is a girl with green hair asking odd questions about what happened to Birdie's dad, a policeman who was killed in the line of duty years ago? Worst of all, why is the whole town starting to stink of limeade aftershave and CAT?!? The death of Birdie's father may be a cold case, but Bowser can tell it's heating up fast. Someone is coming after Birdie and her family, and Bowser must be ready to protect them from anything. Even that awful cat.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545643368
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	04/26/2016
Series:	Bowser and Birdie Series , #2
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	446,683
Lexile:	580L (what's this?)
File size:	6 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Spencer Quinn is the author of the New York Times bestselling Chet and Bernie mystery books and the stand-alone novel The Right Side, both for adults. His novels for kids include the New York Times bestselling Bowser and Birdie novel, Woof, and the follow-up, Arf, as well as the Edgar Award-nominated Echo Falls series. Spencer lives with his wife, Diana, and dogs, Audrey and Pearl, on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Hometown:

Falmouth, Massachusetts

Date of Birth:

June 28, 1947

Place of Birth:

Brooklline, Massachusetts

Education:

BA, Williams College, 1968

Website:

http://www.peterabrahams.com/

Read an Excerpt

The door hung crooked from the top hinge, the wood splintered right off the bottom one. My mood, which had been sky-high, began to change. Who was in charge of security at 19 Gentilly Lane? Me! So what was our door doing like this? I barked one of my short sharp barks, just getting my feelings out there. Then came a surprise, and not a good one: I picked up the scent of cat. Cat scent is one of the strongest scents out there, impossible to miss. A cat had been – and maybe still was at this very moment – inside our house? Don't there have to be some limits in this life? The next thing I knew I was running from room to room, head down, tail up, on high alert.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Woof, Bowser and Birdie Book 1:"I defy anyone to read this book — kid or adult — without a big, goofy grin." — Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author"Spencer Quinn speaks two languages — suspense and dog — fluently."— Stephen King, #1 New York Times bestselling author"Imagine Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird setting out to solve a mystery with the aid of a charming, slobbery dog. You'll wish you had Birdie and Bowser as your very best friends." — Kathryn Lasky, New York Times bestselling author"Bowser and Birdie sent me into giggle fits and won my heart. Bowser deserves the Bucketful of Bacon Award for Best Dog Ever!" — Jude Watson, New York Times bestselling author

From the Publisher

When a story is told by a goofy, bacon-obsessed canine, then narrator Jim Frangione is the best voice for the job. Bowser is in charge of security at 19 Gentilly Lane, home of his human, 11-year-old Birdie Gaux. In their second detective outing, Birdie and Bowser connect the dots between recent break-ins, two mysterious newcomers, and the murder of Birdie’s father, a policeman. Though generally light in tone, Frangione adds a sinister undertone when the duo discover a body in the swamp. Bowser’s delightful canine insights will surely garner this series new fans. M.F.T. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2016 - AudioFile

2016-02-02
Dynamic duo Birdie and Bowser, an 11-year-old sleuth and her fearless canine companion, set out to solve the case closest to Birdie's heart in this sequel to Woof (2015). Birdie's father, Detective Capt. Robert Gaux, was killed while working a case with the New Orleans police department when Birdie was just a baby. When two homes (including Birdie's) in St. Roch are ransacked, a young woman appears in town with suspicious motives and a familiar name, and a gentleman from New Orleans develops a keen interest in Birdie's Mama and the Gaux family home, all signs start to point back to the slain detective. Birdie's been told she thinks a lot like her father, but does she think enough like him to solve his final case and his own murder as well? Birdie won't stop until she finds out, and readers will be right with her, cheering her on. The suspense builds nicely, and the Louisiana bayou setting and lively cast of characters (mostly white and Cajun) give the story home and heart. As in the first installment, Bowser's narration is largely playful and funny, but the undercurrent is darker here, as evidenced by Birdie's discovery of a body in the swamp and Bowser's rescue of Birdie from a potentially life-threatening attack. Birdie and Bowser fans will enjoy the brouhaha in the bayou and hope more mysteries are on the way for their favorite sleuths. (Mystery.10-14)

Kirkus Reviews