Good Dog, McTavish (McTavish Stories)

Gr 2-5--This quirky and humorous early chapter book tells the story of how an adopted mutt, McTavish, sets a dysfunctional family on a path to success after Mom relinquishes her role as the family's sole caretaker. Once Mrs. Peachey decides she's had enough, things fall apart quickly--nobody else cleans, cooks, or keeps the family on schedule. This is a tough subject that could hit close to home for many readers, but the story does not dwell on the melancholy premise of a parent leaving home. Instead, it uses exaggerated caricatures--the know-it-all teen, the bumbling, distant father--and overly formal language to create humor. Betty, the youngest and most sensible member of the family, decides that adopting a dog will help her to feel less "lost, lonesome, and lacking in love." The rest of the Peacheys, including Pa Peachey, tend to do what they are told (no matter who tells them) and adopt McTavish, who soon has the family doing laundry and cooking healthy food once again. Perhaps this solution oversimplifies the novel's main problem--Mom feeling unappreciated--but it makes for a feel-good ending. The book's humor is sarcastic and tongue-in-cheek, and Rosoff shows off her writing chops, but sophisticated vocabulary such as "sociopath," "foray," and "acquisition" might make the story a hard sell for younger, less experienced readers. However, the slimness of the volume and Easton's illustrations, which bring Melissa Sweet's work to mind, may turn away older readers who might better appreciate the prose. Alone on the shelves, this book may struggle to find the right reader, so it is recommended for libraries where early chapter books, such as Kate DiCamillo's "Mercy Watson," circulate well. VERDICT A humorous tale about how a dog can bring a family together using love and a little common sense.--Shannon O'Connor, Unami Middle School, Chalfont, PA

Fetching from start to finish, this novel by Printz Award winner Rosoff (How I Live Now) introduces the Peacheys, a family in disarray, and McTavish, the clever canine who comes to their rescue. There is "a great deal more squabbling and a great deal more squalor" in the household after Ma Peachey abdicates household responsibilities to immerse herself in yoga. Betty, the youngest and wisest of three siblings, proclaims she is "feeling lost, lonesome, and lacking in love," and suggests that they adopt a dog. Pa Peachey begrudgingly drives his kids to an animal shelter--"Just to browse"--but relents when Betty and McTavish irrevocably bond. The inclusion of the take-charge dog's voice augments the narrative's hilarity (he deems humans "puzzlingly dim"). The fact that responsibility for running the household falls entirely on the mother might feel like a frustrating throwback, but many readers may recognize their own families in the dynamics here. McTavish's sorting-out of the Peacheys conveniently serves his own interests (he uses clothes strewn on the floor to make his bed cozier and feigns lack of appetite to get the kids to cook healthy meals for all)--while teaching his new family much-needed lessons with droll flair. Ages 7-10. (Apr.)