Midnight at the Shelter
by Nanci Turner Steveson (Author)
Written with a distinctively doggy voice, great humor, and plenty of heart, this novel from acclaimed author Nanci Turner Steveson is a perfect pick for readers looking for a touching animal story in the vein of Because of Winn-Dixie or Marley & Me.
Rescue dog MahDi is happy helping his human partner, "MomDoc," with the important work at her vet clinic and the local animal shelter. The two of them make a good team, caring for the town's pets and matchmaking rescue animals with the families who need them.
When the shelter is suddenly down a staff member, the animals have to deal with a new caretaker: Huck, an unpleasant man who seems to have no problem threatening the animals he's supposed to care for. As more dogs crowd into the shelter than are going to new homes, MahDi begins to worry that if MomDoc isn't around, there is no telling what Huck might do.
With three perfectly good legs, the heart of a true leader, and his pack mates by his side, MahDi is willing to risk everything to save his shelter-friends from an uncertain future.
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Publishers Weekly
Alternating dogs'-eye views propel this immersive pack story from Steveson (Lizzie Flying Solo). A former shelter dog, three-legged MahDi now lives with veterinarian MomDoc, who often volunteers at a local dog shelter, where she and MahDi act as intuitive matchmakers for canines and people. When a temporary manager takes charge, his blatant fear of dogs--and willingness to designate long-term residents for euthanasia, or "The Unthinkable"--escalates the stakes for the already vulnerable charges, and MahDi tries to find each the right forever home, an intervention that culminates in the titular midnight event. Primarily following MahDi's perceptive, dialogue-laden narration, the viewpoint shifts between a full cast of dogs who detail experiences of hardscrabble survival, abandonment, and abuse en route to the shelter ("The leg where she shot me last time burns hot with fever," one account reads). The expansive cast can be difficult to track across perspective shifts, but themes of love, hope, and belonging resound throughout, balancing the sometimes dark content. Human protagonists read as white. A veterinarian's afterword concludes. Ages 8-12. Agent: Susan Cohen, Writers House. (Nov.)
Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
Nanci Turner Steveson sagely delivers all the feels through well-crafted, cinematic scenes. From hard losses to the triumphs of finding home again, each creature—canine and human—takes their unique journey to the ultimate gift of unconditional love. Truly unforgettable. — Leslie Connor, author of National Book Award Finalist The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle
"Oh, if only we could see it all from a dogs'-eye view. Maybe we'd understand more fully the importance of kindness, a full plate of kibble, and a loving human to seal the deal. By the end, I wanted to adopt all of the dogs in this story. It's that kind of book: a game changer for any creature who's ever been lost or found or both." — Kathi Appelt, Newbery Honor author of The Underneath
Each dog's story illustrates one of the many ways dogs come to need new homes and how wonderful rescue animals can be. — Kirkus Reviews
Alternating dogs'-eye views propel this immersive pack story from Steveson... Themes of love, hope, and belonging resound throughout, balancing the sometimes dark content. — Publishers Weekly
JUV002000 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | General
JUV024000 - Juvenile Fiction | Lifestyles | Country Life
Dogs
Animal shelters
Animal fiction
Animals with disabilities
