How to Train Your Dad is the next to last last book from master writer, Gary Paulsen.

Readers and fans of his "issues facing tweens" books such as Lawn Boy, Molly McGinty, and Flat Broke series will love this laugh out loud, bittersweet book about family, friends and growing up.

Carl is twelve- going on thirteen and has a crush he wants to impress. There's a bit of problem however, Carl's dad is extremely frugal and eco-friendly. He barters everything, buys their clothes at garage sales, dumpster dives for food and sees their lives as "rich." In order make his dad more socially aceptable and a bit more "normal," A flyer with steps for dog training comes in a bag of dog food and gives Carl the idea to try the techniques on his dad. Carl's dad is a "rescuer" type and throughout this story, he rescues many material and living things. One being their dog, Carol, Carl's rescued pit bull dog, who has many qualities of humans but also " always smells bad" due to the skunks she shreds on a weekly basis. The characters they meet throughout their bartering are well developed and Carl's best friend, Pooder, truly acts as best friends do in Paulsen's other stories

I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of this book from NetGalley, one month before Gary's passing. As a reader, educator and mother, that heard his speak and met him twice, I couldn't bring myself to finish this book for a long time, knowing it was the last title we would have from him. He was passionate about getting kids to read and was a supporter of teachers and librarians throughout his career.
When my son was in 4th grade and going through a reading slump, I attended an educator's conference with Gary as a presenter. His entire presentation was the importance of "kids reading, really reading, and specifically 4th grade and up boys." I was able to speak with him after his presentation. I cherish the interaction to this day and will be forever grateful for him autographing a copy of Hatchet to my son with his name and "Read like a wolf eats." My son is now 32 and still reading and reading to his child that's less than a year old.

Although Mr Paulsen came across as a "gruff old codger," he had a huge heart for kids and was a believer and fighter for putting books in kids hands they really want to read. He lived his life as an adventurer and made sure if kids were unable to experience adventures in life, they could through his books.

As educators and parents, we must continue his legacy and introduce kids to his books and more importantly, reading like wolves eat.

Yet another great classroom addition, thanks to Gary Paulsen! Fans of his will love getting to read more of his writing. I loved that How to Train Your Dad was different from Paulsen's usual storylines.

As much as I do hate to admit it, this Gary Paulsen title is pretty lackluster. I can see how it would still appeal to some of my male middle grade readers, but it was nothing to write home about.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

How to Train Your Dad

by Gary Paulsen

Carl is the twelve year old narrator of this middle grade book which has a very conversational style. The vocabulary is somewhat advanced for a twelve year old, but that is because Pooder, Carl’s best friend who helps him write the story, goes through phases of interest (British, Navy seal, etc.). His various fascinations show up in his speech. Pooder admires Carl’s dad who, besides a few odd jobs, lives by bartering. Carl’s dad is very intelligent, mechanically inclined, and very kind. He trades energy (labor) for goods. He considers himself rich as he recycles from dumpsters or his neighbor Oscar’s junk piles. He built a whole truck from discarded spare parts. He prizes function over form; so if an invention works, it doesn’t matter how it looks.

His dad’s philosophy has been fine with Carl until he reaches middle grades and suddenly becomes aware of Peg as “the” girl. His summer goal is to become “lookatable” by the time school starts which is hard to do when your dad barters for XL camo T-shirts and pink bib overalls decorated with words like “juicy.”

The book explores Carl’s efforts to train his father using the methods in a puppy training pamphlet. His efforts are hilarious as are the contraptions his father builds and the objects he brings home. A lot of the dumpster diving food goes to the pigs and chickens. Carl and his dad have a rescue pit bull Carol who is an integral part of their family and, despite her stinky habit of shredding skunks, is allowed to accompany them everywhere.

How to Train Your Dad is a fun story that tweenagers will enjoy. Its casual style and over the top anecdotes are sure to appeal.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Children’s Fiction, Middle Grades

Notes: Contains a very small amount of cussing

Publication: October 5, 2021—Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group

Memorable Lines:

She’s in my grade at school and everyone likes her and I have never ever ever seen her be catty or crabby or phony to anyone ever which is something like a miracle in middle school, if you ask me.

Sometimes Pooder jumping from phase to phase without warning can be a little confusing. He might start things off an English lord before suddenly becoming an advertising mogul looking to make some coin and then turn into a Viking biting deep on a tomato-apple so the juice runs down into his beard-if-he-had-one while he’s thinking of pillaging a coast somewhere.

My father loved to barter. To trade, as he thought of it, energies, abilities, knowledge. Trade everything he could so as not to use money. “I have a widget,” he explained to me when I was very small, “and John Doe has an extra electric frying pan he doesn’t need, but he needs a widget and so we trade. We barter. Simple and clean. It’s the very best and purest way to do business.”

A long-time fan of the late Gary Paulsen, I was excited to find another book full of his trademark humor and offbeat perspective. His characters are alway memorable and the storyline fresh. I wish there were more to the story!

Hilarious and relatable book for late elementary and middle school kids who know how embarrassing parents can be. Carl loves his dad, but is tired of being the weird kid in his grade. With a crush on a girl and entering the cutthroat halls of middle school, Carl has a summer to train his dad to be more... normal.

Through a guide he found in a mix of puppy chow on how to train your dog, he uses the tips and tricks to get his dad to stop dumpster diving for treasures, bartering garage sale finds, and to stop bringing home pink overalls with embarrassing phrases splashed across the bottom.

Told almost like a memoir, with funny asides and the wit and humor of a 12 year old, Paulsen delivers on a book any kid, in any era, and in any community can relate to. The embarrassment of parents. Suggested purchase for school libraries. Characters default white.

Carl is the same age as my daughter and I couldn't help but think about what her reactions would be as I read this laugh-out-loud middle grade novel. Carl has had it with his dad's ways. When he uses a puppy training brochure to "train" his dad, the fun begins. You won't regret this read.

This was absolutely delightful. It was laugh out loud funny, full of witty characters, lifetime friendship and an interesting father-son dynamic. The best part is the lesson Carl learned—embrace the quirky qualities that make you, you; you might even change the world for the better in the process.

Deadpan Wit Amidst the Antics..........

I like Paulsen's "small" books. That is, a kid, his best pal, (or cousin, as in "Harris and Me"), some adventures, and some lessons learned. This is such a book. Our hero/narrator is a decent, engaging, wise, and perceptive kid. His sidekick is deadpan funny and serves as a sort of Greek chorus to comment on the action. Dad is loving, a bit odd, and a bit gormless. The incidents surrounding the training of Dad are just the sort of exaggerated silliness that is needed to add spice to the whole project. And the end is touching and upbeat. Really just perfect Paulsen - funny, generous, authentic, silly, deadpan witty, and human. A nice well-crafted find.


(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

Fun book by Paulson about a boy who lives with his quirky dad. When Carl develops a crush on a girl, he becomes determined to train his dad and get him to act a little more normal. True to Paulson's other books, this is full of Middle-grade humor. A great read for Middle School Boys.

This book is a sign of just how masterful a writer Gary Paulsen was. With so many books to his name you'd expect the plots to become stale or out of touch with the audience. But this is a pretty solid read. While the plot is fairly predictable its peppered with charming details. While the cast of characters is small, the ones we meet are unique and believable if not especially complex.

This is a funny but overall unmemorable book from one of my favorite childhood authors. Compared with Paulsen’s classics like Hatchet, this book felt very low stakes, and although the characters were quirky and unique, I didn’t feel a strong connection or investment in them.

Early adolescent/middle school readers are a tough market, but Gary Paulsen successfully captured their love and interest years ago with HATCHET and the books that followed. So I was intrigued when I saw he had a new title released a few months ago. (I believe the book released around the same time as his death). HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DAD has just the right amount of mildly off-color language to summon a few chuckles balanced with an equal amount of advanced vocabulary, providing a bit of slight-of-hand education for eager and reluctant readers. Here's the premise of the book - Carl Hemesveldt considers himself a bit of an outsider, mainly because of his father's lifestyle. While other dads and moms have jobs, Carl's dad survives by the barter system. He and Carl grow most of their food, but dumpster diving adds to the garden wealth; and dad can always find a deal when needed. Carl really wants a more normal life, especially now that he has noticed a special girl. With encouragement from his best friend Pooder, Carl sets out to initiate a plan of behavior modification all based on a puppy training pamphlet he found in a bag of dog food.
Carl's main goal - to get his father to quit "his garage sale habit." With stifled laughs, this new owner of a 5 month old puppy (who has failed all attempts at training and may become himself the subject of a few of Carl's tricks) enjoyed my evening of reading this new story by a great children's author. I received a copy from Netgalley and all opinions are mine. (less)

How to Train Your Dad by Gary Paulsen is a lighthearted humorous story about a middle school kid living of the grid with his extremist Dad.

How to Train Your Dad by Gary Paulsen is a sweet and funny book which turned out to be his last. Having read his classic book Hatchet, I did not know what to expect from this book. Here, we find a different author in some respects. With a completely different character and worldview, this book will open kids’ eyes to places they have never been. And it will show them that families exist there too. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Loved this book by Gary Paulsen! Tweens will really enjoy the relationship between Carl and his dad and will laugh out loud at everything Carl tries to do just to be “normal.” Recommend to readers who enjoy books from Gary Paulsen and Gordon Korman.

This book made me and my son laugh a lot! Paulsen is great at capturing how kids feel as they're entering adolescence and wanting to become "lookatable" for their crushes.

Carl wants his crush to be impressed by him - his bike, his clothing, his attitude. But his dad doesn't seem to get it. He lives his life trying to avoid spending money. He barters for everything he can barter for, and prizes utility over attractiveness, which is why Carl is wearing pink bib overalls with faded words from old patches on them, a straw hat with a green visor tied on with yellow baling twine, underwear that is too small, and shoes that are too big. It's also why Carl and his dad spend their time dumpster diving to get food for the pigs, and going to garage sales to pick up random items that might be of use one day.

Carl actually loves his dad a lot and appreciates all he does for them, and Carl's best friend, Pooder, practically worships him because he is always around and willing to help the kids with whatever project they are doing. But when Carl finds a puppy training brochure in a bag of dog food, he decides to use the techniques listed in the brochure to "train" his dad to be a little less embarrassing and perhaps more willing to spend money so Carl can be "lookatable" the next school year.

There are some absolutely hilarious parts of this book. One chapter had me laughing so hard I couldn't read out loud. But the book also is very touching and relatable, as all kids feel their parents might be ruining their social life because of their eccentricities. This book was just fun to read and would be enjoyable for kids in late elementary school and early middle school.

Thanks to Netgalley for this advance reader's copy!

12-year-old Carl is embarrassed of his dad, like most kids his age. But Carl's dad, with his eco-friendly existence of living off the grid, dumpster diving, and bargaining for fun, has Carl reaching his limit. So Carl hatches a plan to train his dad to act more normal. What ensues is a summer filled with adventure, laugh out loud moments and maybe a little success in his "puppy" training.
From epic Gary Paulsen comes a book about being a middle schooler just wanting to fit in. Carl is a relatable character as we've all had those moments of being embarrassed by our parents and just wanting to fit in. While Carl may find his dad to be over the top, you also cannot help but like him too. Middle Grade readers will connect with the themes of family, friendship, and adventure. There are some laugh out loud moments throughout this story. I wish the ending hadn't felt as rushed, but it was still a great story.

Twelve-year-old Carl lives happily with his father. While their lifestyle is different than most, they live as simply as they can. They grow their own vegetables and own chickens and a couple of pigs. They dumpster dive for expired and ugly produce to feed the pigs and frequent garage sales for bargains. His father can fix just about anything, so he barters for items he needs, or he finds something that is broken down and fixes it for them to use. Life is good for Carl and his dad.

Until Carl gets himself something brand new, something he’s never had before. Carl gets a crush on a girl. Her name is Peggy, and Carl thinks that he will be invisible to her unless he can figure out how to adjust his lifestyle to include new clothes and maybe some shoes. But when his father finds him some bib overalls with lots of big pockets for a steal, Carl goes along with it even though they’re pink. And he goes along with the camo t-shirts, even though they’re way too big. And when he’s putting the bargain puppy food in the bin for them to feed to their pit bull rescue dog Carol. Carl gets an idea.

Instead of Carol’s usual dog food, there was a big bag of puppy food that had been marked down because there had been a hole in the bag. But as Carl was pouring the food out, he pulled out a pamphlet from the food. At first, he was going to throw it away, thinking it was a coupon or something. But it was actually a training pamphlet, to help puppy owners figure out how to modify their new pet’s behavior. And Carl wonders if those training ideas will work on his dad.

Carl and his best friend Pooder try to figure out how to modify the ideas of positive reinforcement to help stop Carl’s dad from shopping only at garage sales. He wants Peggy to see him, he wants to be lookatable. That is the goal. And the way to get there—training. Carl tries ignoring his dad when he drives by garage sales, but that doesn’t work as well as when he tries to distract his dad by playing ball or going to Dairy Queen. And when he gets desperate, he tries the squirt bottle.

The training starts slow, but things start to pick up. And after some successes and some wild adventures, Carl thinks that he’ finally starting to get through to his father, starting to change his behavior. And then he finds out that his dad has found his notebook, where he had been keeping notes on the whole training process.

Will he figure out a way to make things right with his dad? And will he figure out how to get Peggy to look at him, maybe even talk to him? Or will the whole summer be a complete loss?

How to Train Your Father is a clever look at that time of growing up when you want to love your parents but also want to change them into something less embarrassing. Three-time Newberry Honor winner Gary Paulsen has crafted a story that is funny and touching, warm and loving but with the slightly destructive energy of a growing boy and the misadventures that comes along with that.

I thought that How to Train Your Dad was a lot of fun. I loved the way Carl genuinely cares for his father and for the goofy friendship he and Pooder have. There are some gross moments that I think many 12-year-old boys will appreciate (and some girls), but honestly I could have done with just a little less (especially the frog). But it’s a well written book with a great story, so I hope it finds its way to lots of readers’ hearts.

Egalleys for How to Train Your Dad were provided by Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I began this book with the highest of hopes because I am huge Paulsen fan. Hatchet made me a devotee as a child and I came back even as an adult to read the rest of Paulsen's Bryan series. I thought I'd love everything from this author. Unfortunately I could not get into this book at all. The character, who is supposed to be twelve going on thirteen, sounded like a mature man with overly sophisticated thoughts, cultural references way beyond today's average tween, and excessive commentary that just weighed the story down. It pains me to say it but this one is a miss.