November 1, 2021
A girl's telepathic connection to a stray dog helps her process change. Fifth grader Sadie Mitchell-Rosen is feeling frustrated. Her best friend has moved away, she and her brother can't get along, and her moms are trying to hide her grandfather's worsening dementia from her. She doesn't know how to feel about the new IEP for her processing disorder, which sometimes makes focusing difficult. But everything changes when she discovers an injured dog named Dewey in the woods. They are able to communicate telepathically, and Sadie learns from Dewey that she has one week to be claimed by her owners from the kennel at Sadie's Mom's vet clinic before being euthanized for aggression. Making it her mission to rescue Dewey, Sadie recruits her Gramps, who has just moved in with her family, and a classmate she used to dislike. While there are plenty of bumps along the way, the happy, hopeful ending is satisfying. Sadie's first-person narration balances action and introspection, creating a thoughtful exploration of interpersonal relationships and what it means to do right by others and ourselves. Sadie and Dewey's telepathic connection is never explained or deeply explored, but readers who feel profound bonds with their pets won't be bothered by this. Sadie's family is described by skin tone: Mama reads as White, Mom has dark-brown skin, and Sadie's and her brother's complexions are somewhere in between. A quiet winner for animal lovers and fans of realistic fiction. (Fiction. 8-12)
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December 6, 2021
Eleven-year-old narrator Sadie Mitchell-Rosen lives with her mothers (brown-skinned Mom and cued-white Mama) and 14-year-old brother, Noah (the siblings are “gold and sand”–skinned). Recently diagnosed with a processing disorder, “or as my moms always say, a difference,” the young artist dreads “the carnival of suckage that fifth grade has become.” Sadie has recently drawn the ire of “Mean Machine” Macy, who’s of Japanese descent; her best friend has moved away; and her increasingly confused grandfather comes to live with the family for reasons her moms won’t share. The one bright spot is a dog, Dewey, whom Sadie encounters in the woods near her home and who communicates telepathically with her. So when Dewey is slated for euthanasia at the shelter where Sadie’s veterinarian mother works, the girl becomes intent on saving Dewey’s life, and Gramps hatches a plan to hide the animal. Smith (Something Like Gravity) creates three-dimensional characters and a warm family dynamic, sensitively portraying learning differences and a beloved grandparent with dementia, and exploring difficult feelings without offering easy answers. Sadie’s struggles with friendship and being taken seriously ring true, as do her sympathetic voice and heartfelt love of dogs. Ages 8–12.
January 1, 2022
Gr 3-7-Turning 11 has meant nothing but trouble for Sadie. School is awful, her best friend has moved away, her older brother has turned into a brat, and now her grandfather, who is fighting dementia, is coming to live with them. If only something good would happen in her life, she might just make it through this terrible year. For Sadie, that something good wanders into her yard one day and she instantly makes a connection. It's a dog, but not just any dog-Sadie swears they can communicate telepathically. The dog is scared and wants nothing more than a good meal and a warm place to sleep. Sadie knows her moms will never allow her to have a dog, not with Gramp's arrival and the changes that are about to come with taking care of him. If only she could tell someone about her ability to communicate with the dog, whom she names Dewey. With the help of a possible new friend and, surprisingly, Gramps, Sadie decides to rescue Dewey anyway and bring her home. But if she's caught, it could be big trouble for everyone. In this heartening tale, readers will meet families with two moms, single parents, as well as extended families. Each shares the bonds of love in unique ways. Characters also confront learning disabilities, mental health issues, and bullying in ways that are uplifting and positive. Sadie finds release in her art and her highly active imagination as well as her deep love for her grandfather. Even her brat of a brother has a heart. Realistic issues are depicted with honesty and reach satisfying conclusions. VERDICT Charming and touching, this novel will find a place with fans of realistic fiction who enjoy a bit of sentimentality.-Carol Connor
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January 1, 2022
Grades 4-7 Sadie's best friend just moved away, her older brother has developed a mean streak, and Gramps is living in the guest room after some mysterious mishaps. She feels like even more of an outsider at school after being diagnosed with a processing disorder and enrolled in a specialized education plan. A wonderful distraction arrives in the form of a sweet stray dog in her backyard, and miraculously they seem to have a telepathic connection! The pair knows they're meant to be together, but the dog is due to be put down in less than a week. Sadie conspires with her increasingly forgetful grandfather and a former school nemesis to save the magical pup and put her world to rights. Sadie is a wonderfully compassionate and introspective narrator, and her family, including two mothers, is realistically complicated and loving. There's a beautiful emphasis on learning to see the world through different perspectives, and all of the characters are given room to grow. A touching tale of dogged determination and the magic in unexpected connections.
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