Riders of Fire and Ice (Talisman 2) by Brett Salter

What worked:

The setting moves to England as Rome and Julian try to learn more about the history of knights and their bonded dragons and the centuries-old battle against creatures of The Void. The tales go back to the times of King Arthur and Camelot when he first faced Darkbrand monsters. The boys defeated two Garms in the first book but readers can expect them to encounter more powerful foes this time. Minotaurs are next-level beasts but readers know the boys are ill-prepared to face the more devastating monsters lurking in The Void. The author presents the monstrosities starting with the “weakest” which allows Rome and Julian time to practice and develop in preparation for more challenging battles to come.

The best decision by the author is to add two new characters, Camela, Julian’s younger sister, and Krysta, Camela’s inseparable friend. Camela is in stark contrast to Julian as she sounds more like their father. She tells Julian he’s an embarrassment to the family, says she detests dragons, and thinks any dragon found should be killed. If Julian gets too close to Camela, Krysta steps in as her protector. Krysta is strong and agile and possesses mad fighting skills. While Camela and Julian create sparks when they interact, Krysta is extremely affectionate when it comes to Rome. It’s unclear why she’s immediately drawn to him but secrets are revealed when Rome and Julian next face a creature from The Void. I must admit that my first instincts about the girls come true.

Rome and Julian are still learning to develop their connection and abilities and there’s a feeling that they’ve barely tapped into their powers. They performed The Great Synergy in the first book but they didn’t do it correctly so readers will continue to anticipate what might happen if they complete the ritual properly. Camela doesn’t miss the opportunity to tell Julian he’s an idiot for not learning about the correct steps earlier. Again, readers will wonder when the boys will eventually complete The Great Synergy.

What didn’t work as well:

Overall, I’m really enjoying the series and there are only minor things that bug me sometimes. Why doesn’t Camela tell her brother how to complete The Great Synergy correctly since she knows how it should be done? For being such a formidable dragon, Rome comes close to defeat every time he battles. Can’t he kick butt at least once? Like I said, minor irritations.

The Final Verdict:

You should read The Search for Synergy first or you won’t be able to fully appreciate the development of the bond between Rome and Julian. Julian’s humor is in contrast to the characters’ serious crusade to stop the Darkbrands from escaping The Void. The creatures are becoming increasingly powerful and aggressive and I recommend you give this book, and the series, a shot.

Elf Dog & Owl Head by M.T. Anderson

What worked:

While not directly said, the book is set in a time similar to the Covid 19 outbreak with all of the characters quarantined in their homes. The title is a bit odd but it refers to characters in the story. Elf Dog is part of a royal hunting party living under the hills, the People Under the Mountain, as they pursue a dragon-like wyrm. However, the wyrm escapes into the human world where magical creatures are hidden in their own concealed domains. Owl Head characters are just like the name implies and they actually call the main character, Clay, a Human Head. Clay’s encounter with the Owl Heads reveals their prejudice and distrust toward humans which becomes a conflict in the plot. Their wariness and anger toward Human Heads aren’t totally unfounded but hopefully, the budding friendship between Clay and an Owl Head boy named Amos will change these feelings from the past.

The dog is called Elphinore and she is a central part of the story. Part of her abilities allows her to travel between magical worlds that are normally invisible to humans. Her instincts are for hunting and she remembers her royal treatment while living underground. She tries to understand life with humans and feels special when she’s allowed to sleep near Clay’s bed instead of in a royal kennel. Plastic isn’t seen underground so eating from a plastic dish must be a sign of respect. Throughout the story, Elphinore is able to sense and smell danger and she’s a fierce warrior when protecting Clay. However, she wants to return home while Clay is determined to keep her. This creates another conflict simmering below the surface, pun intended, and readers will anticipate the moment when the People Under the Mountain realize Clay has their dog.

The author takes the plot in a new direction in the second half of the book and gives a minor character a more prominent role. Clay’s two sisters are usually found at home bickering about most things. His younger sister Juniper is an organized, intelligent girl and this rankles her teenage sister DiRossi. DiRossi is especially upset about being quarantined and spends much of her time stewing and sulking while listening to loud music in her room. She misses seeing her friends in person and becomes jealous of Clay’s new companionship with Elphinore. The plot twists when she follows Clay and ventures into the forest herself, unaware of the hidden dangers lurking there.

What didn’t work as well:

The wyrm lurks in the shadows for much of the plot but I suspected it would play a bigger role. It makes a grand reentrance at one point and it feels like it should return again, maybe during the climax. The conflict with the Owl Heads isn’t resolved the way I expected but the author brings all of the issues to a happyish resolution in the end.

The Final Verdict:

The author creates an unusual, relatable world as the backdrop for a story of friendship and love. Young readers will connect with a boy’s close bond with his dog and they’ll empathize with his struggles to save it. Overall, I recommend you give the book a shot.

The Search for Synergy (Talisman 1) by Brett Salter

What worked:

Synergy is when two things work together producing something greater than the individual parts. That’s the gist of the story as Rome and Julian attempt to unlock their ultimate, hidden powers. Rome is skeptical to learn he’s actually a fire dragon and Julian wants to perform a ritual that will bond them as formidable warriors. It’s a bit overwhelming since Rome has only known his typical life as an eighth-grader living in rural Georgia. But that’s not totally true. He’s recently begun to feel a need to break free and an unexplained heat is building within him. Then, there’s the moment he burns down a neighbor’s tree and realizes something truly strange is going on. These thoughts make him realize that the things he’s hearing from Julian and the odd librarian aren’t as crazy as he first thought.

Julian adds humor to the story with his fun-loving, shifting nature. He likes to tease Rome while in his dragon form which can be unwise when speaking to a powerful beast that can crush or incinerate you. In contrast, Julian uses a respectful, royal, formal tone when speaking to his father, a wealthy man with a strong dislike for dragons. Julian’s change in attitude is amusing and Rome doesn’t miss opportunities for verbal payback. Julian’s father doesn’t know Rome’s secretly a dragon so their exchanges are uncomfortable at best. The father is aware of the centuries-old legends of knights and dragons but he views Rome as a peasant and treats him as one. While this relationship causes tension, it also contributes to levity as the boys must tolerate the man’s blowhard, gruff personality.

The plot includes action scenes and twists that develop excitement and intrigue. Garms are the smallest creatures passing from The Void, with the size and ferocity of large tigers. Julian and Rome learn to use their new abilities out of need as they’ll die if they’re unsuccessful. The Garms are relentless and strain the boys to their limits. In addition, there’s a mysterious woman spying on Rome and Julian from the shadows, moving swiftly away when Rome first spots her. The boys are aware there are other unknown characters involved in the inevitable invasion from The Void but they don’t know which ones will become allies and which ones will become enemies.

What didn’t work as well:

A couple of things bugged my brain when Rome transforms into a huge dragon inside a school hallway. The sizes of his immense body and the hallway don’t jive in my mind. Also, a point is made that Rome and Julian don’t follow the Synergy ritual correctly but it’s not apparent that it makes a difference. I’m wondering if something will come of it later.

The Final Verdict:

The book combines action, humor, and mystery with interesting characters and the end result is a highly entertaining start to a series. The gist of the story features two boys forming a lifelong bond to unleash their new powers, hopefully enabling them to save the world. Major developments will surely arise in future sequels so I recommend you give this book a shot now.

The Adventures of the Flash Gang: Episode 1: Exploding Experiment by M.M. Downing & S.J. Waugh

What worked:

Lewis is immediately cast as a sympathetic character due to being a streeter, not an orphan, in 1935 Pittsburgh. It’s not his fault that his father disappears, leaving Lewis to fend for himself, and Lewis has done quite well so far. The whole city is unaware that he alone is the notorious Flash Gang and he finds humor when others exaggerate his escapades. He uses the Recipe to distract store owners while stealing food to feed himself and to donate to St. Patrick’s soup kitchen. He lives in an abandoned factory and is constantly on the lookout for coppers who might dump him in an orphanage. Dangerous people are hunting for him so readers will root for this underdog character living on the streets.

The plot reads like a mystery as Lewis slowly discovers clues about his missing father and the Recipe. The Recipe mixes two ingredients to cause a bright flash of disorienting light but some bad people plan to add a third ingredient to make it more powerful. A large man kidnaps Lewis after demanding the boy hand over the piece of paper in his pocket. Lewis has no idea how the man knows his name, knows he’s the Flash Gang, and knows that he holds the Recipe. A girl named Pearl shares information about her aunt’s involvement with the bulldog (the hired kidnapper) and it just creates more questions for Lewis. He doesn’t believe his father is dead so maybe he’s been kidnapped too. His father can’t be part of the Nefarious Deed that Pearl keeps talking about, can he?

The show-stopper in the book is Pearl, although it’s difficult to get a true understanding of her character early on. She helps Lewis escape after he’s captured but he can’t find a way to get rid of her and her aggravating personality. She exaggerates (maybe lies) quite a bit so readers will have trouble figuring out her background. Lewis certainly does. She claims to be a kidnapped heiress whose father is off on an adventure somewhere in the world although she can’t remember where. Her bright pink tutu makes it hard to stay inconspicuous and her enthusiastically loud voice is a problem when trying to sneak around. Pearl is a rabid fan of a weekly radio show and fancies herself as an astute detective. Lewis tells her his name but she calls him Sir Nigel throughout, referring to a character in the program. Her quirky enthusiasm and tendency for hyperbole and drama add refreshing humor and color to the engaging plot.

What didn’t work as well:

Pearl’s mistaken assumptions and a tendency for hyperbole make the underlying events more challenging to decipher. Some of her statements are based on facts so readers will need to use their deductive reasoning to blend her thoughts with Lewis’s observations. Successful readers will slowly piece together the puzzle and solve the mystery of the Nefarious Deed.

The Final Verdict:

Lewis and Pearl form an unlikely pair but their colorful relationship is extremely entertaining. The mystery surrounding the Recipe will intrigue readers and the chases and skirmishes with dangerous criminals add to the excitement. I highly recommend you give this book a shot. 

Sardines by Sashi Kaufman

What worked:

The author takes great efforts to cast Lucas as a sympathetic character. He starts his first day of middle school hoping to avoid the awkwardness of standing alone among all the kids waiting to enter. His mother left him several weeks earlier and won’t return any phone calls. His college-age, older brother Charlie, a former model student at the school, died the year before. Finally, Lucas is forced to attend middle-school care after, which causes embarrassment for kids at this age. Lucas lives in a trailer park with his father and they have a conflicted relationship. The father has anger issues and hasn’t developed a close connection with his son. He struggles to perform the role of a single parent and Lucas isn’t totally receptive to his efforts. Lucas is angry and just wants his mother back.

While Lucas is the main character, Finn is the most intriguing. He casts an air of confidence and knowledge but little is known about his life outside of school. He is part of the afterschool group and comes up with the idea of playing Sardines, a game similar to hide and seek. The game itself isn’t overly significant except that it’s the stimulus needed to help five after-school kids develop a bond. Finn comes up with another idea for each of the kids to collect acorn caps in their own jars. When full, each person will reveal a secret wish that the others will help come true. These wishes become mini-subplots that are disclosed and fulfilled throughout the book. One boy wishes he could stop being the target of bullying and a girl wishes for shorter hair, something her mother forbids. It’s interesting that Finn comes up with the idea for wish jars but he’s the one character who doesn’t create his own.

The underlying problems running through the whole story are Lucas’s internal conflicts in dealing with his brother’s death and his mother’s absence. There are flashbacks and memories where he relives experiences with both of them, sometimes happy and sometimes sad.  Lucas doesn’t know where his mother went and he doesn’t understand why she hasn’t tried to contact him. Doesn’t she want him? Why won’t his father share any information about her? Even though Charlie’s gone, Lucas still feels he can’t live up to his brother’s persona as the perfect son and student. Everybody loved Charlie but Lucas struggles to make friends. These conflicts torment Lucas until he gets some resolution in the end.

What didn’t work as well:

The subplots aren’t very unique as the first three kids’ problems are fairly common issues. The character relationships carry the story until they address Lucas’s wish and Finn’s troubles are uncovered. The last quarter of the book is an emotional rollercoaster with a mostly happy ending.

The Final Verdict:

The first half of the plot isn’t a page-turner but the multiple problems make the story relatable and interesting. The characters encounter deep feelings and struggles but they’re nothing good friends can’t overcome. I recommend you give this book a shot!

The Clackity (Blight Harbor) by Lora Senf

What worked:

The author adeptly crafts a scary story through descriptive, sensory words and eerie situations.

Evelyn, the main character, struggles with different forms of anxiety that may connect with young readers. Her parents disappeared four years ago so she’s fearful of ever being separated from her guardian, Aunt Des. Aunt D is Blight Harbor’s expert concerning everything paranormal so she’s constantly investigating reports of ghosts and other creepy things. The abandoned slaughterhouse is avoided by all living things so Evelyn isn’t about to let her aunt investigate the place by herself. This concern is ironic since Evelyn has been seeing a counselor to help her cope with panic attacks. As it turns out, Aunt Des is taken by the Clackity and Evelyn must free a serial killer to save her.

Evelyn must survive visiting seven houses in a shadow world in order to locate and rescue her aunt. Each house forces Evelyn to face her fears in its own unique way while they also act as a countdown to the climax. The first house transports her back to her family home before it burned down and her parents disappeared. Another home forces her to remember fond memories of her father’s pyrite crystal sitting on his desk. Remembering good times is painful when someone is dealing with grief and loss. Evelyn meets ghosts along the way and displays kindness toward them. Her empathy results in their returned kindness and some offer helpful gifts in return.

The author creates a sinister, magical world in Blight Harbor, the seventh most haunted house (per capita) in the country. Aunt Des writes a column in the local newspaper offering advice to people dealing with supernatural issues. Evelyn gets bad feelings when she nears the slaughterhouse and she finds hundreds of sparrows seemingly painted on its interior walls. One two-dimensional sparrow moves to her shoulder and becomes a protective “tattoo” during her adventure. In addition to repelling the Clackity, the tiny bird offers whispers of advice and encouragement along the way, like Evelyn’s own inner voice. Purple skies and a black sun cast a disconcerting light across the setting as she completes the quest to save her aunt. Evelyn collects magical objects along the way that will help her complete impossible deeds.

What didn’t work as well:

Evelyn is supposed to free the ghost of a serial killer in order to rescue her aunt. The killer’s victims were disposed of in the slaughterhouse where fingers and toes were the only evidence of their remains. Freeing a murderer who dismembers his victims is an intense, disturbing concept, perhaps too much for young readers. It connects to a dark aspect of the real world that shouldn’t be highlighted.

The Final Verdict:

This book is a finalist for a 2022 Cybils Award in Elementary/Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction. The story is very well-written and focuses on a young girl overcoming her fears and grief. I can recommend the book to readers prepared for its gruesomeness but it won’t appeal to everyone.

Children of the Quicksands by Efua Traore

What worked:

The story is based on Nigerian mythology, which is not the topic of many middle-grade novels. Nigerian geography and culture are included as Simi travels from Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria, to her grandmother’s tiny village in the jungle. The rutted, unpaved roads, dense trees, and rustic huts will transport readers to this remote African setting. Iyanla, Simi’s grandmother, is the priestess for the goddess Oshun and says the goddess is in conflict with another goddess named Oya. The result of the feud is that more children are disappearing and drought is killing farmers’ crops. Some people no longer believe in the goddesses but Iyanla fears what will happen to the lands if the leaders proceed with their drastic plans.

Simi knows nothing about her grandmother’s village, the place where her mother grew up. Everyone remembers Simi’s mother and there’s vague talk about something happening that caused her mother to leave home. Her mother never talks about it and is overly concerned with Simi’s safety. Simi accidentally stumbles upon a forbidden place even before she’s aware of its dangers. Surprisingly, she’s able to escape but has trouble believing it actually happens. However, how can she imagine something before other people have even told her about it? Simi begins to learn about her grandmother’s superstitions and beliefs and discovers her mother’s doubts are misplaced. Simi also hears of a great tragedy from years ago that explains her mother’s fears and over-protectiveness.

The author allows the conflict and suspense to slowly develop. Simi’s encounter with the forbidden place early in the plot provides legitimacy to the tales she hears later on. It almost acts like a bit of foreshadowing even though it’s already happened. The villagers are worried about the heat and their crops are starving for moisture. They hope Iyanla can get Oshun to help but the goddess isn’t responding to the priestess’s prayers. The author allows the supernatural fight to simmer, then boil, and disturbing weather becomes an omen signaling the approaching climax.

What didn’t work as well:

Simi’s silence regarding the forbidden place is puzzling. It’s understandable early on since she disobeys Iyanla’s directive and questions if it really happened. However, once she learns more about the goddesses, the lake, and the missing children it’s not clear why she doesn’t speak to her grandmother. Simi eventually reveals the truth so it all works out in the end. I guess I anticipated the reveal more than Simi.

The Final Verdict:

This book is a finalist for the 2022 Cybils Award in Elementary/Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction. The author artfully crafts different levels of emotions and tension to produce this riveting tale based on Nigerian folklore. I highly recommend you give it a shot!

In Myrtle Peril by Elizabeth C. Bunce

What worked:

This plot is a straight-up mystery as Myrtle helps her father investigate a young girl named Sally’s claim that she may be the sole survivor of a shipwreck. The previous books have developed Myrtle’s reputation for uncovering clues and solving mysteries but this book can be read independently. Myrtle’s father is more sensitive about her help this time but Miss Judson, her governess, still helps her investigate clues. The whole scenario becomes more complicated when Father enters the hospital to have his tonsils removed. He’s unable to talk and may be feeling the influence of medications but he claims to have witnessed a murder! Myrtle begins to worry that her father may be in danger.

The narrative is presented by Myrtle’s character so readers are able to read her thoughts and feelings. The one thing that can be said about her is that she’s persistent. Her goals are to protect her father and help Sally and she won’t let anything stop her. Myrtle’s very observant and has a logical mind so readers are able to understand how she pieces clues together. Her character will occasionally take a moment to speak directly to readers and explain something that’s just happened. Myrtle also includes footnotes at the bottom of some pages to provide definitions for some words, further information about historical facts mentioned, or simply to emphasize her thoughts on situations.

This book fits into the historical fiction genre as it takes place in the late 1800’s. Sally’s father sank a sailing ship ten years earlier which is the basis for the conflict. Myrtle and Ms. Judson travel about town in a horse-drawn carriage and indoor lighting comes from candles or gas lamps. A blurb at the start of each chapter shares a blurb from a fictional book called Foundations of Legal Medicine with information about detective work and the history of forensic medicine. Much of the story takes place in the hospital where Myrtle’s father takes a week to recover from tonsilitis. Father is given medication to keep him quiet and he’s tethered with leather restraints to keep him from leaving his bed. These methods would not be approved at a general hospital in today’s world.

What didn’t work as well:

In books like this, the young main character usually excludes adults and goes off recklessly investigating a mystery on her own. However, Myrtle researches clues with Miss Judson who encourages Myrtle to investigate the murder. Myrtle is the lone child character exploring a mystery/crime that involves the world of adults and she’s usually accompanied by Miss Judson. This scenario isn’t necessarily wrong or bad but it’s different from other young detectives in this genre.

The Final Verdict:

The presence of mostly adult characters is unusual for a middle-grade book but Myrtle’s investigations into Sally’s inheritance and a subsequent murder at the hospital are quite interesting. Myrtle’s normalcy makes her relatable to young readers and the author provides plenty of suspects for them to consider. I recommend you give this book a shot.

The Big Flush (The Area 51 Files) by Julie Buxbaum

What worked:

Middle-school humor is highlighted in this book as the narrator even emphasizes jokes about bodily functions, nicknames, and situations. The big conflict is about a Russian space toilet full of space junk being used by a banished group of aliens as a weapon to destroy Area 51. There are characters named Ms. Spitz (who spits when she talks) and Agent Fartz and some of the aliens come from the planet Peeyou. There’s even a scene where feces (poop) explode over everyone within range. Additional wordplay and unusual situations add more humor to the story.

The author develops amusing, unique characters using the blend of humans and aliens found in Area 51. Sky’s best friend Elvis is from the planet Galzoria and his species looks different depending on the person looking at them. Sky sees Elvis as her human-looking best friend but his parents appear as T-Rexes, subsequently referred to as Dino-Mom and Dino-Dad. However, Sky’s uncle sees the parents as human-sized hawks. Characters from the planet Spotify play random musical tunes. Aliens come in all shapes and sizes with curious quirks from their home planets.

Beneath the odd humor and characters, readers will find an actual, dramatic mystery with Sky and her friends trying to save Area 51 and the whole state of Nevada from annihilation. The kids know someone on Earth must be helping the attacking aliens in order to calculate the exact target for the toilet missile. The plot finds them identifying different suspects on the base while trying to figure out how they’re secretly communicating into space and why they might be doing it. A subplot develops surrounding Elvis and his newly-arrived parents. Their presence complicates his family situation since he’s been living with human parents for years and cares for them dearly. Elvis discovers he has a little brother called Mini-Elvis who looks exactly like his older brother and is infatuated with life on Earth.

What didn’t work as well:

Zany humor overshadows the impending attack so the conflict may drift to the back of readers’ minds. Some of the humor may be too goofy for some people but I still enjoy it. The problem merely provides a scenario for an entertaining, hilarious adventure.

The Final Verdict:

Readers looking for a funny, groan-inducing book will love this mystery to save Area 51. The variety of space beings living beside humans is also a highlight. Overall, this book is a fun read and I recommend you give it a shot.

Skyriders by Polly Holyoke

What worked:

The author artfully pens a descriptive narrative to help readers experience the action using all of their senses. The oppressive heat of the desert is the site where Kie and others ride atop their skysteeds (like Pegasi) to face the reemergence of terrifying chimerae. Kie’s uncle has taught her the ancient skills needed to battle these creatures but few people today see any value in learning the old ways. The chimerae haven’t been seen in hundreds of years so royalty and the Skyforce feel their bigger, stronger skysteeds can defeat any dangers. However, Kie and her smaller skysteed N’Rah use their speed and agility to narrowly survive and kill two of the beasts but they still can’t get those in power to heed their warning.

This is an underdog story as almost everyone doubts Kie. Even Kie questions herself and doesn’t feel like she’s anything special. Riders make mental connections with their own skysteeds but, Kie discovers she’s able to communicate with any skysteed she touches, an ability no one else possesses. This talent makes Kie different but readers must wait to determine its significance. Kie finds the only people interested in listening to her ancient strategies for fighting the chimerae are other couriers, stable workers, and two cadet warriors. The cadets suspect the methods taught by their military superiors won’t work so they seek knowledge and advice from Kie. Garnering support from lower characters makes this truly an emotional tale of overcoming incredible odds.

Kie’s character displays many admirable qualities that make her approachable and influential. She’s extremely humble and tries to avoid being in the spotlight. When others are amazed after she slays the two chimerae, she deflects the praise and lauds the deeds of other characters. She’s fiercely devoted to N’Rah and other skysteeds and she doesn’t tolerate any signs of disrespect toward them. This attitude creates a conflict with one cadet who’s less than impressed with accounts of her brave battles but Kie really gets fired up when he makes disparaging remarks toward skysteeds. Kie follows the chain of command, even when it seems unfair, and respects those who deserve respect. Her empathy creates connections that later become friendships and her personality is what encourages others to support her.

The Final Verdict:

The book’s synopsis is unassuming but the actual story is an exciting, emotional adventure. Kie’s struggles and persistence in trying to change the minds and attitudes of her superiors create an engrossing story. The impending invasion of hundreds of deadly, devastating chimerae accentuates the conflict as the tension grows to the final, climactic battle. I highly recommend you give this book a shot and I anxiously await the release of its sequel.

Dylan’s Villain (Dylan's Dog Squad #3) by Kathleen Troy

What worked:

This book is different from the first book in the series, Dylan’s Dilemma. Casey and Dylan, a cocker spaniel, now have a strong bond and trust, and they’re able to communicate in their own way. Dylan’s Dog Squad is comprised of Dylan, Casey, and Sumo but also includes anyone in the public following Dylan on social media. The book opens with the trio taking on their first case as a detective agency. They’re tasked with finding a missing chimpanzee named Bailey that has also been stealing mail and other items from the neighborhood. Bailey’s criminal activity is unknown to the public and his owner but a young girl named Holly wants to keep it that way. Bailey is famous and Holly’s mother is a national expert in working with primates. Holly is supposed to be watching Bailey so she’ll be “dead” if her mother finds out the truth.

Holly’s story is its own subplot in the book. Holly feels angry, sad, and excluded since Bailey gets all of her mother’s attention. Holly’s mother promotes Bailey in public and takes him all over the country for promotional appearances. Holly tags along but Bailey’s the one treated like a celebrity and is doted on wherever they go. Holly misses the loving affection of her mother and the dysfunctional family dynamic is an issue throughout the book. Sumo’s mother has remarried, again, so he has a similar problem although he doesn’t display his emotions about it. He doesn’t see any reason to remember his new stepfather’s name since his mom will probably get a divorce and remarry in the future. Sad.

The overall plot feels like a collection of short stories as separate incidents involving Dylan are woven together. The squad locates Bailey, they make an appearance at the zoo, and Dylan attends a K-9 academy to finish his last two tasks toward earning a good citizen certificate. A criminal enters the picture as the academy owners may lose their business. As with the first book, Casey’s plans sometimes approach or cross the line of being legal so the boys find themselves facing the police chief. Will community service get them out of trouble this time? The boys still find time to hang out with friends and eat pizza at Big Belly’s so they’re not always involved in questionable schemes. A common theme is how Dylan always comes to the rescue.

What didn’t work as well:

As mentioned, the plot is composed of various events in Dylan’s life so the overall story doesn’t have a well-defined direction. Readers go on a ride with the characters as they encounter different situations but it’s unclear where the plot is headed. A conflict arises about halfway into the book that gives Dylan’s Dog Squad a mission but it doesn’t become the main focus until the plot approaches its climax.

The Final Verdict:

Lovers of pets and everyday adventure will enjoy this book as Dylan’s Dog Squad finds itself in and out of iffy situations. Dylan has a huge presence on social media and the squad often calls for help and support from his admirers. Overall, this book is very entertaining with a happy mood and I recommend you give it a shot. You can’t go wrong with a cute cocker spaniel as the main character.

Dylan’s Dilemma (Dylan's Dog Squad #1) by Kathleen Troy

What worked:

Dylan is an American Cocker Spaniel although the story begins with Aidan purchasing the dog from a South Korean pet shop. Aidan is forced to give up Dylan so the dog finds himself flown across the ocean to live with Aidan’s mother and little brother Casey. This creates a conflict with the mother since Dylan is a “serial chewer” and Casey has one month to prove Dylan won’t be a problem. As the plot unfolds, Dylan does typical doggie things but a mother might view them as definitely not things a good dog should do. This becomes the conflict driving the story as the family tries to improve Dylan’s obedience and impulsive behavior to become a permanent member of the family. The fact that Casey is impulsive and mischievous only complicates matters.

The story is told from Dylan’s viewpoint with his thoughts displayed in italics. He finds the pet carrier too cramped with not enough room to turn around in order to drink from his water bottle. He likes the taste of nice shoes and claws up pictures on the floor to make a comfy bed for his nap. He likes to snatch food from unsuspecting humans and he can’t resist any opportunity to playfully chase geese and other animals. Dylan can’t communicate with the human characters but his thoughts indicate he understands English, but sometimes misunderstands situations. There are moments when humans seem to comprehend what Dylan’s thinking and they respond to his thoughts in kind.

The highlights are found in the second half of the book but I don’t want to include any spoilers. Casey leaves Dylan leashed in a public park but the dog’s natural instincts create a problem that results in legal issues. As a result, Dylan and Casey begin a journey of community service that elevates their relationship and their public image. These chapters expose readers to common efforts to improve childhood literacy and care for patients at a children’s hospital. Dylan encounters a potentially life-threatening problem when visiting a fair but his actions add to his emerging social popularity. It seems like this problem might lead to the plot’s climax but Dylan’s legend continues to grow until the end.

What didn’t work as well:

Most of the communication between Casey and Dylan is inferred so the moments where Casey seems to actually hear the dog’s thoughts are unusual. In other scenes, Dylan’s thoughts indicate he’s aware of everything going on and reacts “logically” to situations. The overall book is realistic fiction but these moments give it a slight feel of speculative fiction. Whatever, the story is fun to read.

The Final Verdict:

Pet owners will love this book and dog owners will probably identify with many of the mishaps found in the first half. With the narrator inside Dylan’s mind, readers will connect with the dog’s kind spirit and curiosity and root for him to have a happy ending. I recommend you give this book a shot.