Hound Dog Trueby Linda Urban
Paperback, 160 pages
Published September 2011
by Harcourt Children’s Books
ISBN 0547558694
Book Source: BEA
5 stars
Summary from Goodreads: “A story about small acts of courage from the author of A Crooked Kind of Perfect. Do not let a mop sit overnight in water. Fix things before they get too big for fixing. Custodial wisdom: Mattie Breen writes it all down. She has just one week to convince Uncle Potluck to take her on as his custodial apprentice at Mitchell P. Anderson Elementary School. One week until school starts and she has to be the new girl again. But if she can be Uncle Potluck’s apprentice, she’ll have important work to do during lunch and recess. Work that will keep her safely away from the other fifth graders. But when her custodial wisdom goes all wrong, Mattie’s plan comes crashing down. And only then does she begin to see how one small, brave act can lead to a friend who is hound dog true.”
Margie’s Review: I truly wish that I had been able to read Hound Dog True as a child. Linda Urban’s writing is sweet and refreshing, heartfelt and insightful – a book for all ages to read, experience and be inspired by.
Mattie has one week to adjust before becoming the new kid in school again. She decides that maybe this time it won’t be so bad if she can convince her Uncle Potluck, the custodian to her school, to let her become his apprentice in order to avoid any moments to where she would have to be forced to talk to her classmates. She is very observant and records all of their odd jobs in her notebook.
Will her idea work?
Then the neighbors niece comes into town for the week. Mattie’s mother and Uncle would like them to be friends. But Mattie is awkward and doesn’t know what to do with Quincy who looks to be older and outspoken, the complete opposite of what Mattie is.
Will Mattie be able to trust Quincy to be her friend?
Mattie’s mother, although very loving and caring, is flighty and in denial. Her motto being “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” After getting some advice from Uncle Potluck, she decides that it is finally time for her and Mattie to stay put for once. That they weren’t going to run anymore ‘when the going gets tough’… Mattie doesn’t agree at first. She is having a tough time adjusting and wants to get going… will they?
Will Mattie stay “Hound Dog True”?
It is a coming of age story of a painfully shy girl; a fifth grader who overcomes some of her fears by accepting what is, opening up and accepting how good things can be if she allows herself the opportunity.
I truly recommend reading this book!
About the Author: 
“On New Year’s Eve, I write down all the things I want to happen in the year upcoming and then I stick the list behind my mirror. And guess what? For the past few years, most of those things have happened.
“On New Year’s Eve, I write down all the things I want to happen in the year upcoming and then I stick the list behind my mirror. And guess what? For the past few years, most of those things have happened. Now, my rational side says that this is because every time I look in that mirror, my subconscious is reminded of what it is I want and encourages me to work all the harder to get it.
But the other part of my brain knows it is magic.” ~ from Linda’s journal
Keep an eye out for it!