Reach for this book when your teen is struggling with a reputation for being a troublemaker or feels like authority figures have already given up on them. It provides a grounded, realistic look at the weight of past mistakes and the difficult work required to earn back trust. The story follows a boy on probation who is forced to work at an animal shelter, where he finds an unlikely connection with a dog facing its own last chance. McClintock uses the mystery of a possible crime to explore deep themes of integrity, justice, and the difference between being guilty of a mistake and being a bad person. It is a perfect choice for middle and high schoolers who appreciate grit over sentimentality. Parents will find it a valuable tool for discussing how we define ourselves when the world expects us to fail.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewSituations involving a break-in and the threat of a dog being euthanized.
The book deals with the juvenile justice system and the reality of living under police surveillance. The approach is secular and highly realistic. While there is a hopeful resolution, it is grounded in the reality that consequences don't vanish overnight.
A 14-year-old boy who feels pigeonholed by his teachers or the law, or any teen who prefers fast-paced, realistic mysteries over fantasy and wants to see a protagonist who feels 'real.'
Read cold. The book is straightforward, though parents may want to be ready to discuss what probation and legal 'last chances' actually look like in the real world. A parent might see their child being accused of something they didn't do, or notice their child becoming defensive and 'prickly' when questioned by authority figures.
Younger readers (12) will focus on the 'whodunit' mystery and the bond with the dog. Older teens (15-17) will resonate more with the systemic unfairness and the internal struggle to change one's identity.
Unlike many 'troubled teen' books, this avoids melodrama. It uses the crime-thriller genre to examine the psychological toll of being stereotyped as a criminal.
Liam is a teenager on probation, narrowly avoiding juvenile detention by completing community service at an animal shelter. Just as he begins to bond with a difficult dog named Pete, a break-in occurs at the shelter. Because of his history, Liam is the immediate suspect. He must navigate a web of suspicion to find the real culprit while protecting the animal that has become his only friend.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.