Review for Woof by Dakota Douglas

Book Description

Publication Date: October 29, 2013

WOOF is a magical tale for ages 7 plus about a friendship between an unusual dog and a boy struggling to fit in. Jeremy Turner is the new boy at school. He’s shy and struggles to make friends. When he follows his classmates to the park, the last thing he expects is to be off on a freaky adventure. But when he meets a stray dog, weird things start to happen. The pair share an unusual secret that will put Jeremy in danger if it leaks out. An ambitious scientist is determined to use Jeremy to get 15 minutes of fame and nasty crooks will go to any lengths to keep their own secret. Can Jeremy stop them? If not, will he ever see his family and friends again? Kids & dog lovers of all ages will enjoy this action-packed fantasy tale filled with humour and suspense. A great middle grade read for adults and children to get their teeth into and enjoy together.

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (October 29, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 149354196X
• ISBN-13: 978-1493541966

Review:

“Woof” by Dakota Douglas is a delightful book to spark a child’s imagination. Jeremy and his family just moved to Castlebridge. His parents are lawyers and work long hours. Jeremy often feels alone, as most children who move do until they make friends. One day at the park he passes by some children from his school. They are going to play soccer. Jeremy loves to play soccer but one of the children thinks he is stuck up so doesn't give him a chance. Jeremy feels more alone then ever, until a dog comes up to him. Always wanting a dog, Jeremy and him became fast friends. But the dog is a special dog and after hearing Jeremy's wish that he would rather be a dog than a human, the dog makes the wish come true. They change bodies, like in the movie Freaky Friday, and experience the others life. When Jeremy realizes that the grass is not greener on the other side, and in fact much worse, he wishes to be human again. But can he help save them both and discover some inner purpose when he helps catch some nasty crooks?  

This 192 page chapter book is a story with a great message. Children who have moved will be able to relate to the character's plight. They will also enjoy the twists and turns in the story that are woven in a fantasy way. The chapters are only a few pages long so is appropriate for young readers 7-11 years of age. There are also a few pictures. These are simple and sweet, though at times the kindness of the character pictures doesn't always match up with the characters true ambitions but they do give a good representation.