RESCUE

A tween with a lot on his mind and a dog with magical powers cross paths in Langley, British Columbia.

Charlie Campbell, almost 13, is unhappy that his father will be moving out. Even soccer doesn’t feel like fun anymore. But Charlie adores dogs and dreams of becoming a veterinarian, plus he wants to avoid being at home listening to Mom and Dad arguing. So, he begs Dad’s friend Dr. Anderton to take him on as an after-school volunteer at his veterinary clinic. Charlie enjoys most aspects of the experience, but the highlight is meeting elderly chocolate Lab Buster, a retired service dog with hip problems who, like Charlie, is nursing a broken heart; Buster’s owner died, leaving him homeless and at risk of being put to sleep if no one adopts him soon. On their daily walks, Charlie and Buster encounter one unusual situation after another in which they are called on to help people in distress. It also turns out Buster has magical powers: He can fly. Through his relationship with the dog, Charlie grows emotionally and recognizes that while they were helping others, Buster was helping him, too. Animal lovers, readers who enjoy stories blending realism with fantastical touches, and young people struggling with parental conflict will enjoy this accessible novel. Charlie defaults to White; there is some diversity in the supporting cast.

A gentle, slightly fantastical story about hurting and healing.