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A review by thistlechaser
Secondhand Dogs by Carolyn Crimi
5.0
A middle grade book, but a really nice story for adults, too. All the dogs could talk, but it was explained in a sentence early on. Something like:
"Yeah, let's go talk to him!" Gus said in the dog language of barks, whines, tail wags, and ear shifts.
All the dogs talked like people from that point on, but that one sentence made it work fine for me.
The story followed a group of dogs adopted/rescued by an old woman (Miss Lottie). One day she brings home a Bad Dog (as in he wants to destroy the pack, not that he piddled on a rug), and the pack has to figure out how to deal with him.
While that was going on, there was a subplot about Quinn, a boy who helps Miss Lottie. He was dealing with a lot of stuff at home, as well as being bullied badly at school.
Though this was a simple, short book, the author really understood both dogs and kids. I really love that in the story each dog is born with a "Dog Gift" -- one thing in life they're especially good at doing. Anything from following scents, begging, or loving other dogs.
"Yeah, let's go talk to him!" Gus said in the dog language of barks, whines, tail wags, and ear shifts.
All the dogs talked like people from that point on, but that one sentence made it work fine for me.
The story followed a group of dogs adopted/rescued by an old woman (Miss Lottie). One day she brings home a Bad Dog (as in he wants to destroy the pack, not that he piddled on a rug), and the pack has to figure out how to deal with him.
While that was going on, there was a subplot about Quinn, a boy who helps Miss Lottie. He was dealing with a lot of stuff at home, as well as being bullied badly at school.
Though this was a simple, short book, the author really understood both dogs and kids. I really love that in the story each dog is born with a "Dog Gift" -- one thing in life they're especially good at doing. Anything from following scents, begging, or loving other dogs.