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Dogtown
by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko
illustrated by Wallace West
ages 8 and up
Feiwel and Friends / Macmillan
ISBN 978–1‑2508–1160‑8
Synopsis
Dogtown is a shelter for stray dogs, misbehaving dogs, and discarded robot dogs, whose owners have outgrown them.
Chance, a real dog, has been in Dogtown since his owners unwittingly left him with irresponsible dog-sitters who skipped town.
Metal Head is a robot dog who dreams of being back in a real home.
And Mouse is a mouse who has the run of Dogtown, pilfering kibble, and performing clever feats to protect the dogs he loves.
When Chance and Metal Head embark on an adventure to find their forever homes, there is danger, cheese sandwiches, a charging station, and some unexpected kindnesses along the way.
Awards and Recognition
- Amazon Best Children’s Book 2023
- Amazon Editor’s pick
- Amazon Best Book of the Month September 2023
- Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Maryland’s Children’s Choice) nominee
- California Young Reader Medal nominee
- Horned Toad Tale Award (Houston’s Children’s Choice) nominee
- Illinois Bluestem Award nominee
- Indiana Young Hoosier nominee
- Indiana Upper Elementary Read Aloud List
- Indie Bestseller list 6 weeks
- Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
- Large Print US
- MacKids audio
- Nebraska Golden Sower nominee
- New York Times Bestseller list 14 weeks
- One Book, One School selection (very popular)
- Sequoyah Book Award (Oklahoma Children’s Choice) nominee
- South Carolina Book Award nominee
- Texas Bluebonnet nominee
- William Allen White Children’s Award (Kansas Children’s Choice) nominee
International Editions
- Germany
- Greece
- Holland
- Israel
- Japan
- Korea
- Poland
- Romania
- Spanish
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
Reviews
“Super short chapters, perhaps suggesting a dog’s alleged limited attention span, keep the novel’s pace moving briskly toward a climax sure to please animal lovers despite a few sad moments along the way. … West’s grayscale art perfectly captures canine emotion and unbridled energy. … When Applegate and Choldenko collaborate, readers win.” (School Library Journal, starred review)
“Newbery Medalist Applegate and Newbery Honoree Choldenko team up for this uplifting escape novel.” (Publishers Weekly)
“Eminently readable and appealing; will tug at dog-loving readers’ heartstrings.” (Kirkus Reviews)
“A sweet spotlight on shelter animals that is as heartwarming as it is entertaining.” (Booklist)
“An accessible, appealing romp that provides a dog’s‑eye view of the nature of hope, belonging, and found family.” (The Horn Book magazine)
“The plot unfolds gently but directly, making this an easy choice for a classroom or family read-aloud, though tellers and listeners should have tissues on hand.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books)