Sunday Synopsis

Good Dog by Dan Gemeinhart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Brodie is a good dog, and we know that all dogs go to Heaven, but Heaven is going to have to wait for Brodie. He just can't cross over to Forever. He still has a job to do, and he's the only dog who can do it. Brodie returns to Earth as a spirit determined to find his boy and save him from the monster. His new friend Tuck returns to Earth with him. These two spirit dogs have a lot to learn. Some of their education comes from Patsy, a sour kitty-cat spirit who may or may not be a true friend. They also encounter the hellhounds. Will Brodie complete his journey in time to save his boy, and will he be able to return to Heaven? Find out by reading Good Dog.

This young adult novel was slow to start. It did pick up, though, and it wasn't as predictable as one might think it would be. There are some surprises. Brodie and Tuck will learn some valuable life lessons along the way.

I do have to mention something that bothered me as I was reading. On every other page, sometimes every page, the author phrases his comments as questions. For example, on page 88, the author says, "Because that cat's words? They shook him up something awful." He could have easily said, "That cat's words shook him up something awful." On page 114, it says, "Because Brodie? That dog loved." Why didn't he just say, "That dog Brodie loved"? I think it would not have bothered me if he had used this technique sparingly, but he used it quite frequently, and the further I read, the more it was used.

This was a quick and easy read, and I think it would be a fun read for someone who enjoys dog stories.

View all my reviews

Subscribe in a reader