Author: Craig Silvey
Genre: realistic fiction
Similar books: Wish by Barbara O'Connor
Underdog City by Chris Negron
Rating:
.JPG)
Summary (provided by pubisher): Annie Shearer lives in the country town of Upson Downs with her best friend, an adopted stray dog called Runt. The two share a very special bond.
After years evading capture, Runt is remarkably fast and agile, perfect for herding runaway sheep. But when a greedy local landowner puts her family's home at risk, Annie directs Runt's extraordinary talents toward a different pursuit--winning the Agility Course Grand Championship at the lucrative Krumpets Dog Show in London.
However, there is a curious catch: Runt will only obey Annie's commands if nobody else is watching.
With all eyes on them, Annie and Runt must beat the odds--and the fastest dogs in the world--to save her farm.
My opinion: There are many things to love about this book. Annie is a loner but not especially lonely. She's happy with her life and determined to maintain it unchanged. Her family is supportive and quirky. There is conflict in the plot but it tends towards the ridiculous. The "villain" reads like something out of a cartoon, closer to Count Olaf from A Series of Unfortunate Events than a real person, so the sense of danger and risk is low. It keeps the tone light-hearted. Silvey plays with reality, suggesting something akin to magic without ever fully committing to the supernatural. We could see this as a mystical connection or just good luck. Either way, the book is pleasant and surprisingly gentle with enough humor to keep us from taking it too seriously.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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