Middle Grade Dog Stories
Cross-posted from Kiss the Book reviewer's personal blog
Travis doesn’t want the mangy dog that shows up on his farm,
but his mom convinces him to give the dog a try. When his father leaves Travis
in charge while he goes to earn money on a cattle drive, Travis and the dog
become companions. Old Yeller proves his worth many times over and when the
responsibility falls on Travis to end his life, it’s a real tear jerker.
When 10yo Opal goes to the local supermarket,
Winn-Dixie, to pick up a few items for her dad, she finds an ugly dog on the
loose in the store. When the manager threatens to call the pound, Opal steps up
and claims it. They become best friends and together traipse around the town
all summer making friends everywhere they go.
Rose is a 5th grader with autism and a father who doesn’t
understand her. When he unexpectedly brings home a dog on a rainy night, she
names it Rain, and the two become instant companions. When Rain goes missing
during a hurricane, she will stop at nothing until she finds her dog. Excellent
man’s best friend story with an autistic voice.
Rosie’s had to deal with a lot in her short 11yo life.
Her mom left when she was a baby, her dad recently had a stroke, her
grandfather is annoyed about having to raise her, and her mom gave away her best
friend…a dog named Augustus. Rosie is stubborn and determined. She pulls out
all the stops to find her beloved dog.
When 11yo Marty finds a beagle on the loose, he knows
something isn’t right. Upon returning the dog to its owner, Marty realizes the
dog is being abused. He begs his dad to let him keep the dog, but his dad
refuses. When the dog runs back to Marty again, Marty decides he is going to
keep the dog secretly in order to protect him.
10yo Billy’s greatest wish in life is to have two
coon hounds who can be his best hunting buddies. Unfortunately, dogs aren’t
cheap and his family is too poor. Billy doesn’t let that stop him. He decides
that he will do whatever it takes to raise the money on his own.
This story is told from the perspective of a dog named
Squirrel. When Squirrel’s mom doesn’t return home, Squirrel and her brother,
Bone, set out on their own. What follows is a telling of her life on the
street, both the good and the bad. Though life starts out rough scavenging for
food, finding shelter, and dealing with cruel humans, eventually she finds a
forever home.
11yo Charlie’s father is in jail and her mother has
issues. When she is sent to live with her aunt and uncle she is determined to
make things difficult. If only her wish would come true everything would be
perfect. Then she meets a friend and a stray dog and realizes maybe she was
wishing for the wrong thing all along.
Lily’s dog is blind and he needs surgery. When he runs off,
a migrant girl, working in the blueberry patches, happens to find him. The two
become friends and together paint bee boxes to sell at the Blueberry festival
to raise money for the surgery.
by Valerie McEnroe, The Chattering Librarian
by Valerie McEnroe, The Chattering Librarian
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