Take one lost dog, add a determined girl, toss in a cantankerous grandpa, and you have another well-told story from an accomplished author of popular middle-grade novels.
Despite her lawyer mom鈥檚 leaving when she was a baby, Rosie鈥檚 life was pretty much perfect in her gritty (literarily!) hometown. Dad ran a donut shop, read books with her, and allowed Rosie鈥檚 big oaf of a dog, Gloaty Gus, to climb on the furniture. But when her dad has a stroke, Rosie must live with a grandfather who disapproves of everything she does. Her mother continually calls to convince her to move to California. But the worst part of Rosie鈥檚 new life is that she鈥檚 lost the 鈥渓umpiest dog you ever saw 鈥� one that pushed out screens and leaped out windows, he was so happy to see you.鈥� Her life without Gus is 鈥渄ull as paint and blank as paper.鈥�
Of course, a scrappy girl like Rosie isn鈥檛 going to let that dog go. Convinced that he鈥檚 taken off to live on a farm belonging to the town鈥檚 outcast, she sets off, rain or shine, day after day, on a quest to rescue Gus. Eventually, Rosie begins to understand that sometimes life deals you a blow and sometimes it turns you upside down, but there will always be someone to catch you. A clever plot twist, Rosie鈥檚 distinctive voice, and an intriguing cast of characters make "Chasing Augustus" a delightful, often heart-wrenching, and not-to-be-missed story.
