The Underdogs of Upson Downs

by Craig Silvey (Author)

The Underdogs of Upson Downs
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
A heartwarming and hilarious story about a girl and her dog, and of kindness, friendship, hurdles, tunnels, see-saws, and—most importantly—bringing out the best in yourself and others.

Annie Shearer lives in the country town of Upson Downs with her best friend, an adopted stray dog called Runt. The two share a very special bond.

After years evading capture, Runt is remarkably fast and agile, perfect for herding runaway sheep. But when a greedy local landowner puts her family's home at risk, Annie directs Runt's extraordinary talents toward a different pursuit--winning the Agility Course Grand Championship at the lucrative Krumpets Dog Show in London.

However, there is a curious catch: Runt will only obey Annie's commands if nobody else is watching.

With all eyes on them, Annie and Runt must beat the odds--and the fastest dogs in the world--to save her farm.
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$17.99

Kirkus

Starred Review
A perfect run of a novel with the heart of a champion.

ALA/Booklist

Heartwarming....this one is sure to please middle-grade readers.

Publishers Weekly

Eleven-year-old Annie Shearer's family farm, located in the desperately parched Australian town of Upson Downs, is at risk of being sold to greedy landowner Earl Robert-Barren in this warm and sincere tale from Silvey (The Amber Amulet). When her canine companion Runt aces a doggie obstacle course at the local fair, Annie realizes that her pet's hidden talent could be her shepherding family's ticket out of debt, and her admirable drive to "fix everything" prompts her to enter Runt into competitions to raise money to help alleviate her parents' financial burdens. There's just one problem: Runt will only perform when no one but Annie is looking, and only under the near-magical guidance of Annie's index finger. In a flurry of brief, propulsive chapters, Annie and her daredevil older brother Max devise a clever workaround to Runt's performance anxiety, rally community support, and land a spot at the prestigious Krumpet's Dog Show in London, drawing the ire of presumptive champion Fergus Fink. Forgoing nuance for charm, Silvey uses broad strokes to craft slightly cartoonish yet joyful characters who propel this affirming small-town adventure that radiates good humor and a generous spirit. Primary characters cue as white. Ages 8-12. Agent: Lesley Thorne, Aitken Alexander Associates. (Mar.)

Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-7--Annie Shearer's family lives on a sheep farm in Upson Downs, a small town in the Australian countryside. Annie is great at fixing things but is troubled by a problem apparently beyond her skills. It hasn't rained in Upson Downs in so very long, and the only source of water has been siphoned off by a greedy neighbor. Businesses are closing, and townspeople are moving away. To help bring rain, Annie builds a rainmaker machine. But rain still doesn't come to the town. At a local fair, Annie has a new plan to get money for her family--she enters her dog, Runt, in an agility contest. Runt is fast, but Runt trusts only Annie and freezes when other people are around. Amazingly, Runt wins the agility contest at the fair and goes on to win at a countrywide contest as well. This win propels Annie and Runt to an international championship in faraway London. Annie is keen to go as she figures the prize money will help her family keep the farm. A series of circumstances causes Runt to lose the final competition, but all is not lost as rain finally comes to Upson Downs. Previously published in Australia as Runt, this novel was named the Book of the Year at the 2023 Australian Book Industry Awards. Giving the characters names like Earl Robert-Barren and Basil Peppercorn, Silvey crafts lyrical prose and leaves hidden gems for readers young and old. This novel will keep middle grade readers wishing for more stories about Runt and Annie. VERDICT A delightful novel about a girl and her dog that will capture the imaginations of readers.--Charla Hollingsworth

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Craig Silvey
Craig Silvey is an author and screenwriter. His bestselling novel Jasper Jones, was a Printz Honor winner, shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Awards and the Miles Franklin Literary Award, and won the Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year Award. His other books include Rhubarb and Honeybee, which won the Australian Indie Book Award in 2021.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593703632
Lexile Measure
720
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication date
March 12, 2024
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational
JUV002070 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dogs
JUV024000 - Juvenile Fiction | Lifestyles | Country Life
JUV032000 - Juvenile Fiction | Sports & Recreation | General
Library of Congress categories
Human-animal relationships
Dogs
England
Farm life
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