A Pup Called Trouble

Narrator Kirby Heyborne brings verve and wonder to the story of a coyote pup who from the moment of his birth has had a propensity for exploration. Trouble's wandering spins out of control when a vehicle is involved, and he finds himself alone in New York City. Without being able to see the North Star, how will he find his way back to his family? Heyborne maintains the tension with good pacing. His voice rises and falls when humans panic as the coyote appears in unexpected places. Heyborne's portrayals of the story's other creatures--crow, owl, possum, poodle, and fox--have quirky, endearing personalities. Listeners will cheer as they help mastermind Trouble's return to the wild. The author's afterword provides factual information about wild creatures that live in the vicinity of humans. A.R. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine

November 1, 2017

Gr 3-6-An exuberant and curious coyote pup is aptly named Trouble. His parents worry that their youngster's inquisitiveness will lead him astray. In an attempt to set boundaries for their impish offspring, the parents show Trouble and his siblings the makers (humans) and warn them to have nothing to do with this clan. Trouble, however, cannot stay away, and one night his nosiness finally leads him into a precarious situation. He is exploring a farm truck when he finds himself on the move, ending up at a farmer's market in New York City. Trouble alternates between fear, homesickness, and delight as he navigates new environments, tries new foods, and settles into a comfortable life in Central Park with his new friends, Mischief the crow, Rosebud the opossum, an owl named Professor, and Minette the poodle. When Trouble draws the attention of an animal control officer, he's desperate to reunite with his family. Based on real-life instances of coyotes inhabiting Central Park, Pyron's tale deftly navigates the animal adventure genre with a lively voice. Readers will be captivated as Trouble and his friends work together to find safety and, eventually, return home. Each creature grows as a character, exhibiting bravery, compassion, and sacrifice. A variety of humans, kind and horrid, round out the story and play roles in Trouble's eventual reunion with his family. Critter Notes at the end provide factual information on the animals in the book. VERDICT Purchase where there is a demand for animal stories, especially for fans of W. Bruce Cameron's "A Dog's Purpose" series.-Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor School District, Lancaster, PA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2017
Aptly named coyote pup Trouble strays too far from home and ends up in the back of a truck headed for New York City.Fortunately, he's befriended--more or less--by a wily crow, Mischief, who provides help in key moments. A shy and anxious opossum, Rosebud, is drawn into their flight from Officer Vetch, a determined, not especially kind animal control officer who makes it his mission to find and round up the coyote. Mischief alternates between kindness, helping lead Rosebud and Trouble to the relative safety of Central Park, and good-natured malice, serving up a healthy supply of (somewhat) dirty tricks. After Trouble falls for a prissy but good-natured poodle, he starts to lose his wildness, growing less and less cautious of the perils of the city. When a little girl with good intentions but not much wisdom tries to feed Trouble, real danger emerges, leading to a suspenseful chase that will have readers cheering for the clever animals who team up to save their coyote friend. The animal protagonists emerge as believable if typecast characters: the owl is wise, the crow is clever, the swans are disdainful, Trouble is curious; but all of them are endearingly loyal. An interesting afterword provides additional animal information.A fast-paced, immersive exploration of urban wildlife from a satisfying animal point of view. (Fiction. 9-12)

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Starred review from November 15, 2017
Grades 3-6 *Starred Review* When he is born with his eyes open, his mother knows this coyote pup will be trouble, a name which fits him perfectly, as he is so curious about the world. His parents warn their pups to avoid the Makers (humans) and their Beasts (vehicles), but Trouble doesn't listen. Instead, he stows away in a truck to New York City, where he gets lost after fleeing the frightening commotion of traffic and city life. Mischief, an ornery but friendly crow, takes Trouble under wing, and with help from Rosebud the opossum, they make their way to Central Park. The little band of unlikely animal friends grows to include a fox, an owl, and a domesticated poodle, but once Trouble gets too comfortable around people, the city animals know they must get him back to the country. Pyron's well-received novels A Dog's Way Home (2011) and The Dogs of Winter (2012) prove she's no slouch at telling powerful canine tales. This warm animal fantasy is based on actual accounts of coyotes living in Central Park, and the author deliberately incorporates their natural behavioral characteristics into the narrative. The result is an enthralling adventure with emotional heft and read-aloud potential. Fans of Kate DiCamillo, Phyllis Naylor, and E. B. White will treasure Pyron's book.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)