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Book Review By Cloud City
The Good Dog by Avi

Jack's malamute, McKinley, is the leader of all of the dogs who live in his home town, Steamboat Springs.    McKinley is always worrying about everyone but himself, so when Duchess, a mistreated dog, runs away, he immediately goes to find her and see what is happening.   When he finds her, he learns that she is hiding in the wild with a wolf, Lupin, who had came to recruit dogs to join her pack.   Later, he meets the Wolf with his “human pup,” Jack, and learns that she is much stronger than he is and could easily take over the position of lead dog.   It worries him that some of the dogs in his pack might join her.   The situation escalates when Duchesses owner wants to get her back, and sends Redburn, a leash - licker who does everything his humans ask him, to find her.    Redburn leads his owner and Duchesses owner directly to the wolf, and they shoot her.   McKinley knows he has to do something and so he and Aspen, his best friend, help Lupin and take her to a abandoned house because she is way to weak to survive on her own.   Then McKinley finds out that Redburn has declared himself the top dog.   And finally, Jack has decided he wants to run away and live with the wolves.   Then, as yet another thing, the humans are going to hunt for the “wild dangerous wolf” the next day.   McKinley knows he must do something, but his only plan will get him in major trouble, and that goes directly against his nature.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - upbeat
Time/era of story - 2000+ (Present Day)
Animal story Yes
Kind of animal:
Is this an adult or child's book? - Age 7-10
Animal talks/thinks aloud? Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Age: - 20's-30's

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 60's-90's
Profession/status:
Eccentric/Smart/Dumb: Yes
Eccentric:
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - below average

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 3 ()
United States Yes
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee - very gullible, like Gomer Pyle

Writing Style
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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