MIDDLE GRADE SPECULATIVE FICTION (Animal) : Secondhand Dogs by Carolyn Crimi
ABOUT THE BOOK
Miss Lottie’s home was for second chances.
When she adopted Gus, Roo, Tank, and Moon Pie, Miss Lottie rescued each member of the pack—including herself, her helper, Quinn, and her reclusive cat, Ghost—and turned them into a family. But when a new dog, Decker, arrives and tries to hoard Miss Lottie’s heart and home for himself, the pack’s future is threatened.
At first, Gus, the insecure pack leader, only notices little things, like tiny Moon Pie being kicked out of the bed and Ghost acting spooked (then again…Ghost is a cat). But things soon go from bad to worse as Decker’s presence causes disharmony in the group.
When Decker convinces Moon Pie to embark on an impossible journey, it’s up to Gus to gather his courage, rally his splintered pack, and bring Moon Pie home. And with coyotes and cars on the loose, the pack must push through obstacles and dangers to reunite with Moon Pie before he can get hurt—or nearly as bad, get his heart broken.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carolyn Crimi received her MFA in Writing for Children from Vermont College in 2000. She has published over 15 books, including Dear Tabby, Don’t Need Friends, Boris and Bella, Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies, Where’s My Mummy?, and I Am the Boss of this Chair. Her book There Might Be Lobsters won The Golden Kite Award in 2018 for Best Picture Book Text, and her middle grade debut, Weird Little Robots, was named a BEA Book Buzz pick. Carolyn has received over thirty state awards and award nominations and was given The Prairie State Award in 2012 for her body of work. You can visit Carolyn at carolyncrimi.com.
Facebook: Carolyn Crimi
Twitter: @crims10
Praise for Secondhand Dogs:
“A sensitive, satisfying, and intriguing canine tale.” —Kirkus ReviewsREVIEW
This tender story of love and family revolves around a group of dogs who've come from difficult backgrounds who have found a loving home with Miss Lottie. As the story moves forward, there are flashbacks that reveal the circumstances that have led to each dog's behavior and feelings. Gus, a terrier, was the first to be adopted by Miss Lottie which makes him the alpha dog, but his gentle, indecisive nature makes it stressful to lead. Roo, a three-legged hunting dog, radiates anxiety and frustration with Gus's uncertainty. Tank, the protective bulldog, who lost his home because of a misunderstanding feels strongly about protecting his new pack, especially young Moon Pie. Moon Pie, a young pug, provides the youth and naivety of the group.
And then there is Quinn, the boy who comes over to help Miss Lottie take care of the dogs. His once close relationship with his brother has fallen apart and now his brother's friends bully him without interference from his brother. He finds solace in helping with the dogs.
When Miss Lottie adopts a new dog, a mixed breed named Decker, it changes everything. Not only is Decker not friendly, he's downright rude and manipulative. His abusive background has left him unwilling to share or get along with the other dogs. Gus instinctively knows something isn't right about this new dog, but his lack of trust in his own judgment leaves the pack in limbo and vulnerable to Decker's manipulations. Things come to a head when Decker convinces Moon Pie to run away to find his previous owner who the others haven't told Moon Pie is dead. Chaos results as Gus and Tank leave to find Moon Pie and Roo decides to follow Decker. Can Gus pull his pack back together or is their pack doomed?
Young readers who love dog stories are bound to love this one. The dogs are lovable, even Decker is sympathetic, despite his awful behavior. Each dog is beautifully portrayed in all their strengths and weaknesses. The flashbacks provide information that helps the reader understand why each dog behaves the way it does without bogging down the story. It's impossible not to get attached to this ragtag family. I found myself quickly and easily invested in the story from the very beginning.
The human characters are also empathetic as they have their own struggles. Miss Lottie lost her husband and struggled with loneliness before meeting Gus. Quinn's lost his father and family dog, and his relationship with his brother has changed. He's also being bullied by his brother's friends.
The story begins quickly in the first chapter with the dogs preparing to meet Decker for the first time. The plot moves quickly and smoothly making for a compelling read. Overall, I highly recommend this story for young dog lovers who enjoy tender stories of family.
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