WALKIN' THE DOG

A boy launches a lucrative business walking his neighbors’ dogs in order to help his family financially and to cope with big changes in his life.

After reluctantly looking after Amos, his family friend’s dog, 13-year-old Louis realizes he can turn a profit through dog care. He’s anxious about starting high school in the fall after years of home schooling and isolation from kids his own age. His dread is compounded by his family’s economic struggles in the wake of his mother’s being injured at work, losing her job, and going to an inpatient program for painkiller addiction. The stress of this separation also strains Louis’ relationship with Ike, his older brother, and Louis uses sarcasm and silence to avoid talking about family issues with his stoic fisherman dad and 11-months-younger sister, Faye. His dog-walking business, however, unexpectedly helps him make new friends among the neighborhood kids, and Louis begins to grow as a person and nurture new relationships, including a first love. Louis, who reads white, overcomes his hopelessness, and the novel explores how children experiencing stressful home lives often hide their problems and struggle alone. The story illustrates the central importance of building community and friendships as a key to surviving and overcoming difficult times. There’s also plenty of engaging canine content that will appeal to animal lovers.

Without sugarcoating crises, tenderly underscores how love and trust can shepherd lost kids toward hopeful futures.