Good Dog

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. (Mar.)