When Dogs Cry is the third young adult fiction novel written by Australian writer Markus Zusak in the Wolfe family books. It is a stand-alone companion novel (sequel) to his young adult fiction novels Fighting Ruben Wolfe and The Underdog. It was first published in 2001 by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty limited. It was published in United States by Arthur A. Levine Books, an imprint of Scholastic Press, April 2003 under the title Getting the Girl. Both titles come from the titles of poems in the book.
From the back of the soft cover Australian edition titled When Dogs Cry:
'You're a bit of a lonely bastard, aren't you?' said Rube. 'Yeah," I answered, 'I guess I am.' But Cameron Wolfe is hungry. He's sick of being the filthy, torn, half-smiling, half-scowling underdog. He's finally met a girl. He's got words in his spirit. And now he's out to prove that there's nothing more beautiful than an underdog whose willing to stand up.[1]
From the back of the soft cover American PUSH edition titled Getting the Girl:
"Cameron's always lived in the shadow of his older brother Ruben. Rube's a talker, a natural, an instant favorite with all the girls he meets. Cameron on the other hand, is... quiet. Sweet. Confused. Cameron doesn't mind this. Not until Ruben starts dating Octavia. She's not like all the other girls Ruben's been with. She's got spark. And Cameron is flat-out in love with her. But a girl like Octavia would never go for a guy like Cameron... Or would she?"[2]
Place: Sydney, Australia near Central Station, and the surrounding communities including Hurstville and Glebe.
Time: The present. This is a realistic fiction novel. The lack of cell phones and a few other clues may set this book in the late-1990s.
Symbolsedit
Dogs: Zusak uses the dog as a metaphor for tenacity of the Wolfe family and Cameron specifically. The Wolfe surname is prevalent in the story, and when Steve is on the footy field (AFL), fans and opponents are yelling "Wolfe" (one can imagine it may even sound like a dog barking). The dog Miffy is a pitiful dog that Cameron and Ruben almost adopt as their own (it fits in with their rough and scrappy family), and the dog's death may symbolise the death of the familial relationship as it once was. Cameron writes a poem titled "When Dogs Cry" where he compares himself to the dog, "He looked hungry, desperate, until he simply stood there, and began."[3]
Miffy's Ashes: The dog Miffy's death was an event "that had the potential to turn everything on its head."[4] The dog was cremated, and the small funeral that consisted of spreading Miffy's ashes symbolised a change in Cameron and a change in all the major relationships that he is involved with in the novel. It is also worth noting that Octavia's last name is "Ash".
The Waterfront: The ocean is often used in literature as a symbol for change or movement, and in When Dogs Cry is no exception. Cameron's feelings and identity have an ebb and flow quality as he moves throughout the book. He discovers Octavia at the waterfront, gives her a seashell there that she turns into a necklace and wears, and he takes her another shell in the end of the book and essentially releases her.
The Bridge: The Bridge that Cameron speaks of in his words, is a metaphor for where he is heading in life.
^Zuzak, Markus. When Dogs Cry. Sydney: Pan Macmillan Australia, 2001. Print.
^Zuzak, Markus. Getting the Girl. New York: Push, 2004. Print.
^Zuzak, Markus. Getting the Girl. New York: Push, 2004. Print. Pg. 157.
^Zuzak, Markus. Getting the Girl. New York: Push, 2004. Print. Pg. 198.
^"Winners 2000–2006 CBCA". Children's Book Council of Australia. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
External linksedit
Pan Macmillan Australia Teacher Notes on Markus Zuzak's When Dogs Cry
An excerpt from Getting the Girl from PUSH
April 10, 2024
when, dogs, third, young, adult, fiction, novel, written, australian, writer, markus, zusak, wolfe, family, books, stand, alone, companion, novel, sequel, young, adult, fiction, novels, fighting, ruben, wolfe, underdog, first, published, 2001, macmillan, austr. When Dogs Cry is the third young adult fiction novel written by Australian writer Markus Zusak in the Wolfe family books It is a stand alone companion novel sequel to his young adult fiction novels Fighting Ruben Wolfe and The Underdog It was first published in 2001 by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty limited It was published in United States by Arthur A Levine Books an imprint of Scholastic Press April 2003 under the title Getting the Girl Both titles come from the titles of poems in the book When Dogs CryFirst editionAuthorMarkus ZusakCountryAustraliaLanguageEnglishGenreYoung adult fictionPublisherPan Macmillan AustraliaPublication date2001Media typePrint hardback and paperback Pages250 ppFrom the back of the soft cover Australian edition titled When Dogs Cry You re a bit of a lonely bastard aren t you said Rube Yeah I answered I guess I am But Cameron Wolfe is hungry He s sick of being the filthy torn half smiling half scowling underdog He s finally met a girl He s got words in his spirit And now he s out to prove that there s nothing more beautiful than an underdog whose willing to stand up 1 From the back of the soft cover American PUSH edition titled Getting the Girl Cameron s always lived in the shadow of his older brother Ruben Rube s a talker a natural an instant favorite with all the girls he meets Cameron on the other hand is quiet Sweet Confused Cameron doesn t mind this Not until Ruben starts dating Octavia She s not like all the other girls Ruben s been with She s got spark And Cameron is flat out in love with her But a girl like Octavia would never go for a guy like Cameron Or would she 2 Contents 1 Setting 2 Symbols 3 Young adult issues 4 Awards 5 References 6 External linksSetting editPlace Sydney Australia near Central Station and the surrounding communities including Hurstville and Glebe Time The present This is a realistic fiction novel The lack of cell phones and a few other clues may set this book in the late 1990s Symbols editDogs Zusak uses the dog as a metaphor for tenacity of the Wolfe family and Cameron specifically The Wolfe surname is prevalent in the story and when Steve is on the footy field AFL fans and opponents are yelling Wolfe one can imagine it may even sound like a dog barking The dog Miffy is a pitiful dog that Cameron and Ruben almost adopt as their own it fits in with their rough and scrappy family and the dog s death may symbolise the death of the familial relationship as it once was Cameron writes a poem titled When Dogs Cry where he compares himself to the dog He looked hungry desperate until he simply stood there and began 3 Miffy s Ashes The dog Miffy s death was an event that had the potential to turn everything on its head 4 The dog was cremated and the small funeral that consisted of spreading Miffy s ashes symbolised a change in Cameron and a change in all the major relationships that he is involved with in the novel It is also worth noting that Octavia s last name is Ash The Waterfront The ocean is often used in literature as a symbol for change or movement and in When Dogs Cry is no exception Cameron s feelings and identity have an ebb and flow quality as he moves throughout the book He discovers Octavia at the waterfront gives her a seashell there that she turns into a necklace and wears and he takes her another shell in the end of the book and essentially releases her The Bridge The Bridge that Cameron speaks of in his words is a metaphor for where he is heading in life Young adult issues editSibling rivalry First love Physical violence Self discoveryAwards editHonour Book CBCA Children s Book of the Year Award Older Readers 2002 5 Winner Queensland Queensland Premier s Literary Awards 2002 References edit Zuzak Markus When Dogs Cry Sydney Pan Macmillan Australia 2001 Print Zuzak Markus Getting the Girl New York Push 2004 Print Zuzak Markus Getting the Girl New York Push 2004 Print Pg 157 Zuzak Markus Getting the Girl New York Push 2004 Print Pg 198 Winners 2000 2006 CBCA Children s Book Council of Australia Retrieved 26 February 2010 External links editPan Macmillan Australia Teacher Notes on Markus Zuzak s When Dogs Cry An excerpt from Getting the Girl from PUSH Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title When Dogs Cry amp oldid 1096406028, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
