How to Steal a Dog

O'Connor, B. (2008).  How to Steal a Dog.  New York:  Scholastic Inc.

How to Steal a Dog is a  2008-2009 Bluebonnet Award Nominee about a little girl who is dealing with being homeless. 

Exposition:
The story is told from the first person point of view by Georgina Hayes.  The exposition introduces Georgina's mother and her brother Toby.  It also explains that Georgina's father has left the family and they are living in their car.

Conflict:
Georgina and her family are living in their car.  She needs to get enough money so that they can find a place to live.

Rising Action:
Georgina comes up with a plan to get money.  She decides that she will steal a dog, wait for the owner to put up a reward, and then collect the reward.  She looks for the perfect dog and decides to steal a little dog named Willy  because his owner Carmella seems to love him and she lives in a big house.  Georgina hides Willy at an abandoned house.  A homeless man named Mookie starts living there and finds Willy.  Meanwhile, Georgina and Toby start helping Carmella in her search for Willy.  They pretend to look for Willy and suggests that Carmella offer a reward.  Carmella puts up posters, but she does not have any money for a reward.  She decides she will have to borrow money from someone.  Mookie begins to get suspicious about Willy.  Georgina's car breaks down.  Her mother will have to fix the car with the money she has saved to get a place to live.  This just pushes Georgina to continue with her plan to get the reward for Willy, eventhough she has begun to feel guilty for taking him from Carmella.  Fortunately, the car is fixed, and Georgina realizes that Mookie fixed it for them. 

Climax:
Georgina goes to feed Willy and discovers that he is missing.  She thinks that Mookie stole him.

Falling Action:
Mookie comes back with Willy and says that the dog followed him.  Mookie tells them that he is moving on to someplace else.  Georgina makes the decision to return Willy to Carmella.  She brings him back the next day and confesses that she stole Willy. 

Resolutions:
After Georgina tells Carmella the entire story, she forgives Georgina for stealing Willy.  Two days later, Georgina's mom is able to find them a place to live.

Literary Elements:
Foreshadowing is used throughout the novel to allow the reader to have an idea of how things will turn out for Georgina and her family.  The author also uses similes and metaphors to enhance the story.