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No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman

Summary

Ever since Wallace Wallace was little, he has faithfully told the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So when this football hero is forced to report on the book Old Shep, My Pal for his English class, he cannot tell a lie. He feels compelled to inform his teacher that it was one of the worst books he's ever read. Why does the dog in every classic book always have to croak at the end? Not pleased with this report is Wallace's English teacher, who thinks it's the best book ever written and also happens to be directing the play version at school. He orders Wallace to attend the play rehearsals until he can come to his senses. Wallace doesn't change his mind - but he does start to change the play. It begins with his suggestion to add a line, and then a pair of old Rollerblades, until the play has evolved into a rock-and-roll edition of the older classic.

180 pages, 4th grade and up

Discussion questions

Spoiler alert! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. Wallace Wallace says, "For me, honesty wasn't just the best policy; it was the only one." How did Wallace come to this decision? Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
  2. Why is Wallace Wallace a football hero? Does he deserve his reputation?
  3. Why are Wallace and Cavanaugh ex-best friends?
  4. Wallace says about Old Shep, My Pal, "The dog always dies. Go to the library and pick out a book with an award sticker and a dog on the cover. Trust me, that dog is going down." Have you read any books that fit this description? What did you think of them?
  5. Why doesn't Mr. Fogelman accept Wallace's book reviews? How does he change as the book progresses?
  6. What kind of person is Trudi Davis? Do you know anyone like her?
  7. Parker Schmidt writes several articles about Wallace for the school paper. What are his articles like?
  8. What does Rachel think of Wallace when he first comes to play practice? What finally convinces her that he is not trying to sabotage the school play?
  9. At the end of the book, Wallace actually tells a lie. What is it? Why does he lie?
  10. Why does Dylan try to sabotage the school play? Did you predict that he was the culprit?

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