Parents' Guide to Dork Diaries 10: Tales from a Not-So-Perfect Pet Sitter

Book Rachel Renee Russell School 2015
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Common Sense Media Review

Terreece Clarke By Terreece Clarke , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 9+

Puppy caper adds to the drama of tween life in fun volume.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 9+?

Any Positive Content?

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age 11+

Based on 3 parent reviews

 

 

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age 11+

Based on 15 kid reviews

Kids say this book has received mixed reviews, with some praising its relatable characters and fun plot, while others criticize it for promoting negative messages about popularity and drama. Many express concern over the portrayal of relationships and behaviors, arguing that it lacks positive life lessons and is filled with excessive cliches and unrealistic drama.relatable charactersmixed opinionsnegative messagesexcessive dramafun plot
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What's the Story?

When Nikki and Brandon discover a litter of puppies their mom left at their favorite dog shelter, they must spring into action to take care of the dogs until they find homes for them. Unfortunately, that's not as easy as it sounds, as they have to hide the puppies for several days and keep Mackenzie from exposing their puppy plight. Will the puppies find homes, and will Nikki be able to keep her sanity?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 3 ):
Kids say ( 15 ):

This volume is a nice departure from the typical mean-girl drama that dominates the Dork Diaries series. Concern for a litter of puppies that need homes adds to the over-the-top drama and fun that fans love about the series. There's some mean-girl behavior, but this time we get to find out the true motivation behind it, as the author further develops these characters. Overall, TALES FROM A NOT-SO-PERFECT PET SITTER is a fun, fluffy romp through middle school life that's dripping in both drama and sweetness.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how media portrays female relationships. Do you think reality TV and school-drama shows accurately portray friendships among girls?

  • Families also can talk about volunteerism and giving back to charities. What cause(s) can you support alone and with your family? What are some great places to volunteer for both kids and families in your area?

  • Nikki isn't the only one who worries about how people will view her -- MacKenzie feels the same way. What are effective ways to deal with insecurity without channeling it into mean-girl territory?

Book Details

  • Author : Rachel Renee Russell
  • Illustrator : Rachel Renee Russell
  • Genre : School
  • Topics : Animals , Friendship
  • Book type : Fiction
  • Publisher : Aladdin
  • Publication date : October 20, 2015
  • Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 13
  • Number of pages : 320
  • Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
  • Last updated : October 9, 2025

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