The Missing Dog Is Spotted

June 1, 2015

Gr 4-7-In this prequel to The Spotted Dog Last Seen (Groundwood, 2013), Kerrin presents another mystery of canine proportions. Short Trevor Tower and tall Loyola Louden make an odd but evenly paired couple as they walk dogs as part of their school's community service program. But when a dog goes missing, the kids band together to find the pup, and develop an unlikely friendship along the way. A poignant companion to the previous volume.

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2015
Grades 4-6 To avoid teasing, sixth-graders Trevor and Loyola have an unspoken agreement never to stand near each other, as that would call attention to his short stature and her towering height. When a weekly community-service assignment sends both of them out as dog-walkers for elderly neighbors, they slowly get to know each other. An awkward misunderstanding about a man's missing dog leads to unspoken regrets and feelings of guilt. In the end, Trevor finds solace in writing down what happened, only to find that Loyola has done the same. Best known for the Martin Bridge chapter books, Kerrin writes with unusual perception about the emotional lives of young people. Readers will feel Trevor's anxiety as he makes his way through a typical middle-grade boy's paralyzing awkwardness around girls, until he is finally able to let Loyola know he cares about her. With a measured pace that allows for character development, the story unfolds in a steady, satisfying way. This is a prequel to Kerrin's The Spotted Dog Last Seen (2013), but each book stands on its own.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)