Good Dog

January 15, 2018
Animal lovers will embrace this tale of canine dedication with a twist, told from the point of view of the dog. The twist? The dog, a mutt named Brodie, has died and returned from the “in-between place”—despite strong warnings not to do so—in order to save his boy, Aiden, from a frightening, unspecified fate. Both hampered and helped by his ghostly state, Brodie teams up with two other spirits, terrier pal Tuck and Patsy, a rough-talking cat, to find Aiden. Brodie and Aiden’s deep bond and Aiden’s precarious home life are depicted through flashbacks; discussion of souls abounds as does Gemeinhart’s skill for creating page-turning chases and battles—a trio of evil ghostly dogs is trying to steal Brodie and Tuck’s souls. Despite a somewhat jarring turn at the very end when a first-person narrator suddenly appears to help Brodie achieve his well-deserved peace, this emotionally driven fantasy about change and loss keeps its focus solidly on Brodie, credibly rendering the dog’s loyalty, love, and determination to follow those instincts. Ages 8–12. Agent: Pam Victorio, D4EO Literary.

December 1, 2017

Gr 3-5-A good-hearted mutt named Brodie awakes from death to find himself in an idyllic landscape, surrounded by other dogs with nothing to do but run and play. As memories intermittently return from his life, he realizes dimly that he must go back to the cold and perilous world to reunite with his loyal boy, Aiden, and protect him from an as-yet-uncertain threat. Along with a Staffordshire terrier called Tuck and an irascible cat named Patsy, Brodie puts his soul at tremendous risk, battling roving hellhounds and learning to navigate the confusing realm of life after death. When he finds Aiden and seeks to confront the boy's abusive father, known only as "the monster," it takes everything Brodie has left to avert disaster. The narrator's voice, apparently omniscient but eventually revealed to be a character in the story, quickly becomes obtrusive and distracting, characterized by stylistic tics such as frequent repetitions of "Believe me" and constantly framing exposition with a sort of rhetorical inquiry ("Because Brodie? His heart had a compass needle that never lost its way."). Despite its mawkish pageant of souls and angels, this novel provides enough dramatic tension and narrative twists to carry dog-loving readers through. VERDICT A secondary purchase for elementary schools and some middle schools where animal stories are in demand.-Bob Hassett, Luther Jackson Middle School, Falls Church, VA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 15, 2017
Almost as soon as Brodie arrives in a beautifully realized dog heaven, he remembers that there is something he must do.It takes him a little longer to recall the specifics of this imperative. It's his boy. His boy, Aiden, the one who provided him with the beloved ball game "Away. And Back," needs him desperately. The boy is in terrible danger. Exuberant dog's dog Tuck, "all run, all wag, all toothy smile," reveals that there is a way to go back to Aiden's world, although only as a spirit and only with the understanding that going there imperils an animal's soul. Tuck, with unfinished business of his own, bravely accompanies Brodie back to the world of the living, where the pair, along with an edgy ghost of a cat, Patsy (she didn't pick her name), join forces against a pack of vicious, driven hellhounds that want nothing more than to consume the good dogs' souls. Their unending pursuit adds urgency to Brodie's quest for Aiden even as the source of the white boy's peril is gradually, terrifyingly revealed. Readers learn early on there is a violent force in Aiden's life, though details of exactly how close and exactly how violent are meted out carefully, controlling the pacing and ramping up the tension. The third-person narrator keeps the plot moving swiftly forward while providing a dog's-eye interpretation of events and a running commentary on the revered nature of good dogs. Action-packed, highly suspenseful, and deeply moving. Perfect. (Fiction. 10-14)

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December 1, 2017
Grades 4-7 Brodie is a good dog, and not even death deters him from making sure his boy is safe from the Monster, Aiden's abusive father. Against the advice of other dogs waiting to go to the Forever place, Brodie takes the risk and, with his affable new friend Tuck, returns to earth as a spirit. As words and memories begin to filter through his mind, Brodie gains an understanding of what happened to him and why Aiden meant so much to him. Challenges come as Brodie learns how to keep parts of his soul from disappearing or being stolen by a pack of bad dogs. Brodie, ever focused on finding Aiden, deals with bonds and betrayal while keeping his good-dog status and showing the hellhounds they're barking up the wrong tree. The book celebrates man's best friend and reminds us of the impact dogs make on their owners' lives. Written with compassion and humor, suspense and poignancy, the novel's unique perspective will resonate with readers who love a good tale of loyalty and undying friendship.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)