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.

With charm and heart, Lincoln Hoppe narrates this story of a very good dog. Brodie comes to consciousness with no understanding of who or what he is. As he regains his memory of his life as the beloved pet of a child named Aiden, Brodie realizes that he must risk his place in heaven to protect his boy. Hoppe creates appealingly distinct voices for the animals who are the main characters in this story. You can practically see the pit bull's friendly grin and the disgruntled house cat's feline sneer. A pack of hellhounds, led by the terrifying Darkley, is genuinely creepy. Despite a sometimes dragging pace, Hoppe's commitment to the story's sincerity will have listeners rooting for Brodie and his friends. N.M. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine