- Dogs Don't Tell Jokes
-
Dogs Don't Tell Jokes 
Author(s) Louis Sachar Country United States Language English Genre(s) Young adult novel Publisher Random House Publication date 1997 Media type Print (Paperback) Preceded by Someday Angeline Dogs Don't Tell Jokes (ISBN 0679833722) is a novel by acclaimed children's book author Louis Sachar.
It is also the sequel to Someday Angeline.
Plot summary
Gary Boone (who calls himself "Goon") is the self-proclaimed clown of his seventh-grade class. He never stops joking, despite the fact that nobody laughs much, and he has no real friends at school. Entering a talent contest as a stand-up comedian forces him to look more closely at the effect his humor has on others and on himself. His old friends support him and help him with his routine. Throughout the book, he is deciding whether or not he should compete. At one point he even quits, but then rejoins.[1]
Later, Gary becomes upset with his image and tries to change himself. He befriends Joe, a popular kid in his class, and spends time playing football with him. He also starts to collect baseball cards. He tells his parents about this and instead of telling him to be himself, like he expected, they encourage the change and offer him $100 if he doesn't tell a joke.
Gary is very nervous on the night of the talent competition. He is not in the program because he quit (then rejoined). His friend Joe makes sure he can compete, but he is placed last. When it is Gary's turn, he wets his pants due to his nervousness and excitement. He makes a mistake during the beginning, and soon he forgets his routine. Luckily, two kids who have picked on Gary,(referred to as his "fan club") come and spray water and throw pies at him. This allows Gary to start over, not to mention earning a few laughs. His comic routine runs smoothly and he manages to surprise the audience by showing them his newly shaved head. Gary wins $100 and is respected by his fellow classmates.
References
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9780679833727&z=y
Categories:- 1991 novels
- American young adult novels
- Novels by Louis Sachar
- Sequel novels
- Young adult novel stubs
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
