The Puppy Sister facts for kids
The Puppy Sister is a children's book, also called a novella, written by S. E. Hinton. It was first published in 1995. The story is about a puppy named Aleasha, who is an Australian Shepherd. She has black, white, and tan fur.
Aleasha loves her new family very much. She believes the only way to truly belong is to become human. So, Aleasha slowly starts to change from a puppy into a human child. The book explores her journey as she gets used to her new body and tries to feel more human. This story was inspired by S. E. Hinton's own dog, also named Aleasha, and her son, Nick.
A graphic novel version of The Puppy Sister was released in 2010. Graphic novels tell stories using pictures and words, like a comic book.
Contents
The Puppy's Big Wish
The story begins when the Davidson family adopts Aleasha. She is a cute Australian Shepherd puppy with black, white, and tan fur. They get her from a farm.
Aleasha quickly falls in love with her new family. She especially enjoys playing with their young son, Nick. However, Nick isn't very excited about having a dog. He really wanted a little brother or sister instead.
One day, after a trip to the vet, Aleasha sees herself in a mirror. She suddenly realizes something important. She isn't a human member of the family. She is just a puppy. At that moment, she decides to change into a human girl. She believes this is the only way to truly fit in with the Davidsons.
Aleasha's Amazing Changes
Aleasha starts her transformation by practicing walking on her back legs. She also tries to speak human words. It's hard at first, but she keeps trying. Eventually, she manages to walk across the kitchen on two legs. Speaking is still tough because her mouth is shaped like a dog's.
One day, she surprises Nick by saying his name! Nick also starts to notice small changes in Aleasha's body. Her ears are getting shorter, and her nose area (muzzle) is shrinking. Nick decides to keep these changes a secret for a while.
Later, Nick surprises his mom and dad by showing them Aleasha's new talking skills. Mom and Dad Davidson are amazed by Aleasha. They accept her changes and decide to keep her at home. They don't want the outside world to know about her until she finishes changing. To explain why their dog is gone, they tell people they gave her away. They say they plan to adopt a little girl soon.
Struggles and Discoveries
As time passes, Aleasha finds her transformation challenging. She eats meals with the family, but she doesn't like vegetables. Her mom cleverly tricks her by dropping stir-fry ingredients on the floor. Aleasha's dog instincts make her eat the food as it falls.
On Halloween, Aleasha goes trick-or-treating with Nick. They are both dressed as werewolves. At one house, a man dressed as a scarecrow spooks her. Aleasha gives in to her dog side and howls in fear.
At this point, Aleasha looks less like a dog and more like a furry child. She is in an awkward halfway stage of her transformation. By Christmas, she gains more human abilities, like seeing colors. However, she can no longer talk to the family cat, Miss Kitty. Aleasha's ears are now more human than animal.
Becoming Human, Staying Unique
By spring, Aleasha's physical change is complete. She is now a seven-year-old girl with black hair and yellow eyes. Even as a human, she still has some dog instincts. At a baseball game with her dad and Nick, she catches a foul ball with her teeth!
A few physical hints of her past dog form remain. Aleasha will always have pointy teeth and ears. Her toes are also very strong. She learns that people never stop changing throughout their lives. Aleasha also keeps one special secret from her family: she can still smell love.
