The Good Dog [Hardcover]

Avi (Author)

Book Description

In the Colorado mountain town of Steamboat Springs there must be three hundred dogs.

Jack's malamute, McKinley, is the leader of them all. But Jack, being human, has no way of knowing that. For him, his family's dog is just a great pal. And protector.

Jack cannot know that Redburn, a "leash-licking" Irish setter, is McKinley's rival for the job of head dog. The boy cannot know, with the sudden hillside appearance of a she-wolf, Lupin, that not only McKinley's job -- but his life -- is in danger. Lupin's message: Dogs free yourselves from mankind. Come join us, we who need you to replenish our diminishing wolf pack in the wild.

But imagine how a good dog, loyal to his human pup, would hear Lupin's call!

McKinley's thrilling story tells itself, as first he and the boy together encounter Lupin in a canyon perfect for an old-time ambush, and later as they try to save her from both Redburn and a neighbor, a vicious man armed with a gun and a grudge. No one -- not even McKinley -- can foresee the end.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Themes reminiscent of Jack London's The Call of the Wild ring throughout this vividly imagined animal story. From a canine perspective, Avi (Poppy) relates how a malamute named McKinley's life changes after he encounters a wolf. Head dog in Steamboat Springs, McKinley leads a busy life, protecting his family (including his "human pup," Jack) and keeping order among his canine compatriots in the mountain town. While trying to aid a runaway the forlorn greyhound, Duchess, whose owner offers a reward for her return McKinley encounters Lupin, a wolf who hopes to recruit dogs for her dwindling pack. Lupin's indictment of dogs ("tongue-lapping, tail-wagging slaves who take their food from bowls!") both stirs and shames McKinley; he soon finds his loyalties torn as he simultaneously tries to foil Jack's misguided plan to join the wolves, keep a wounded Lupin safe from those hunting her and fend off Redburn, a conniving Irish setter bent on usurping the hero's place as head dog. The action moves along at a crackling pace, reaching a crescendo in a dramatic moonlight confrontation. The dog's-eye point of view allows for some creative touches, including insights into animal behavior and the vocabulary McKinley uses for various human objects ("eating sticks" for utensils; "a block of staring papers" for book; "glow box" for television), but most compelling of all is the transformation of McKinley's happy-go-lucky character into a truly majestic leader. Ages 8-12.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-A story with a decidedly canine point of view that will delight dog lovers. Jack's malamute, McKinley, is the top dog in Steamboat Springs, CO. His enemy is not a cat but a sad excuse for an Irish setter, Redburn. Sedate small-town life is interrupted by the appearance of Lupin, a she-wolf that urges dogs to free themselves from the tyranny of domesticated life. The noble McKinley tries to help her, and save a mistreated greyhound, but is misunderstood and relegated to the "dog house" by rather dim-witted humans. Communication between dogs and humans is awkward at best. There is a lot of dialogue among the dogs, among the humans, and between humans and dogs. The people come off as pretty stupid and McKinley is rather tolerant of the limitations of his "human pup" owner. It is confusing that sometimes McKinley seems to understand exactly what humans think and say and at other times professes ignorance. Still, fans of the film version of The Incredible Journey and Beethoven will lap this up as it has a very cinematic feel. Many scenes seem almost written directly for film. Readers will have no problem following the rapid, almost relentless action. John Erickson's "Hank the Cowdog" series (Viking) and James Howe's "Bunnicula" series (Atheneum) are similar in tone.

Marilyn Payne Phillips, University City Public Library, MO

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books; 1st edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689838247
• ISBN-13: 978-0439416856
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,395,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Avi has published more than sixty books. Among them is Crispin: The Cross of Lead, winner of the 2003 Newbery Medal. Other novels with nineteenth-century settings, like The Traitors' Gate -- his grand nod to the work of Charles Dickens -- are listed before the title page, and include the Newbery Honor Book, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Avi and his family live in Denver, Colorado.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Avi Does it Again!, April 21, 2003

By 

T. Thompson (Wales, ME) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Good Dog (Hardcover)

I have read several of Avi's books. I must say I have yet to be disappointed. Nearly every one of his stories is written in a different style. Avi does not get type-cast or pigeon-holed... he finds a way to stay fresh and creative in every book he writes. I can't help but be blown away by his originality. Well, enough gushing about the author.
Avi takes a page from Jack London in this story. It is a take on the classics like, Call of the Wild and White Fang. McKinley is a loyal, smart, loving, caring dog. He is devoted to his family, and takes great pride in caring for his human pup. He is loyal to his human family and watches over them carefully.
But, McKinley is also the leader of a community of dogs. So he spends time rounding up the dogs in town and caring for them. One of his dog compatriots says he cares too much for other dogs. And that appears to be true.
When McKinley goes to help a dog named Duchess who has run away
from her abusive master, he meets up with a wolf. His life is forever changed from this point on. McKinley must decide if he will be loyal to his human family or break away and head into the wild with the wolf pack... Interesting stuff. Avi does a wonderful job of getting into the head of the McKinley. He gives us some insight into what he sees as the thought process of a dog.
The ending is dramatic and ties together nicely. McKinley gives an amazing statement on what he sees as a dogs relationship to humans. The care relationships dog's have to humanity is expertly rendered by Avi.
I couldn't put this book down and devoured it in a couple of days. The pace is fast and carries the reader along. I hope you read it... you will not be disappointed! :-)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book, November 23, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Good Dog (Paperback)

I like this book because it has lots of details and it's from the dog's point of view. It is about a dog named McKinley and a wolf. McKinley is the head dog of the pack in Steamboat Springs. He has to pick whether to stay with his human pup Jack, or to go out with the wolf Lupin. He also has to deal with the lost dog Duchess.

I highly recommend you to get this book. You won't be sorry once you have read it!!!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Avi succeeds again!, August 18, 2004

By 

j westacott (amersham, bucks) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Good Dog (Paperback)

Good Dog is not for the dogs! It is an excellent adventure whereby a wolf comes to town seeking dogs to join up with the wolf pack and live a life of freedom in the wilds of Colorado. People are secondary in this story - it is the dogs' interactions which make the plot exciting.

Avi writes fabulous animal stories. How he manages to think like a dog is beyond me, but he has hit the characterization on the head. Great book for kids who need something really exciting and different.