Dog Trouble

Gr 4 Up–Ash’s life is tough: his beloved grandpa “Pop” recently passed, his overworked mom keeps forgetting to pick him up from school, and his grades are slipping. Ever since his dad moved to a nearby island that’s only accessible by ferry, Ash only sees him once a month. When Ash and his friends vandalize an empty building, Ash is forced to do community service on the island and stay with his dad’s new family for the summer, which seems like the worst punishment of all. When faced with choosing his community service, Ash opts for the dog shelter. ­Reticent and worried about the commitment, the lack of friends and small town get under Ash’s skin, but with a dedicated s­helter director becoming his mentor, can community service help this middle schooler get back on track after past mistakes? Despite his flaws, Ash will endear himself to readers as he finds purpose and meaning looking after the pups. This fast-paced novel is a great reminder for young readers that they are not defined by their mistakes. Of special interest for some readers will be the vocabulary words related to the world of animal care that can be found throughout the story.