Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Told in multiple viewpoints, Secondhand Dogs, is a very heartfelt and real look at what it means to be a leader, a part of a family, and how to care for each other.

A ragtag group of dogs are introduced to a new addition to their furry family. Decker clearly doesn't want to be a part of the pack and it is up to Gus, the former leader to keep his found family together no matter chaos Decker causes. Each dog or animal has a chapter that describes their before. The hard times and painful goodbyes that led them to this home.

This book is a good introduction to foster care, bullying, and blended families told in an age appropriate way and without being twee. I highly recommend this book to libraries and know that I will be recommending it to the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade readers I provide reader's advisory for.

A surprising gem of a book.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, Balzer + Bray, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I'll admit, I requested this book based solely on its cover. Isn't it just the cutest? Gus, Roo, Tank, and Moon Pie are all of Miss Lottie's secondhand dogs. When Miss Lottie adds a new dog, Decker, to the pack, Gus has a bad feeling, but he's too timid to speak up for himself and the rest of Miss Lotti;e's pack. The canine characters are reflective of humans that we all seem to have encountered. I especially loved that the story let readers know that not every dog is a good fit for every family, but that there is a family out there that's perfect for each and every dog.

First, I must say: kids are going to love this book. Seriously. Go pick it up for the kid(s) in your life.

I always go hesitantly into dog books because, as I am sure it is with all of you, the emotions when it comes to animal books are on high alert! And please know that your emotions are going to be going on a roller coaster of emotions in this one!

The first emotion you are going to feel is love. As soon as you hear Gus’s voice, you know that he is a dog you can trust. Then as you meet each of the pack, they automatically go into your heart. Crimi does an amazing job telling the current narrative while also flashing back to show the dogs’ (and Miss Lottie’s, Quinn’s, and Ghost the cat’s) past. This allows you to jump into the story while also learning about how the pack gets together.

The next emotion you are going to feel is anger. Decker is a challenger to the pack. The way he manipulates and bullies, specifically Moon Pie, is devastating. It is true manipulation. You will definitely feel anger. Also, you learn more about Quinn’s life which will definitely make you feel angry.

Then comes the feelings of suspense, sadness, happiness, pride, and more! I can’t get more into the story because I don’t want to spoil! It is a good ride, I promise!

First sentence: Gus lifted his head and sniffed the chilly November air. The smell of dead leaves wafted through the windows and into the cramped kitchen. Someone a few houses down had a fire burning in their fireplace and that smell, too, curled its way inside.

Premise/plot: Miss Lottie rescues dog. Gus, one of our main narrators, was her first rescue and is the leader of the pack. Through the years, the pack has expanded. Miss Lottie has a LOT of love in her heart. When the novel opens, the pack includes: Gus, Tank, Roo, and Moon Pie. But a new member has come into the house--for better and worse--and not every one in the pack thinks it's a good fit or match. Decker, well, Decker doesn't much appreciate any of the dogs--he wants to be the one and only dog--and he doesn't much appreciate Miss Lottie either--not for who she is and what she does.

The book chronicles their adventures and misadventures as they adjust to Decker's arrival...

My thoughts: Secondhand Dogs reminds me of some of Patricia MacLachlan's animal stories...and then, of course, there's Kate DiCamillo. I really loved everything about this book. The writing. The characters. The alternating characters. The story. The premise--the idea of each dog being born with a special, unique gift. The emotional depth of both the animal and human characters. The ending. This one was just a treat of a book. I highly recommend.

Would I have read this book as a child? That's a good question--though not particularly relevant, perhaps. But I bring it up because as a kid I was a super-super sensitive reader. I was hesitant/reluctant to read ANY book with a dog on the cover. Would the dog make it through the book? Would the dog die? Would it get run over? Would it get sick or be poisoned? Was it an older dog who might die naturally? I just didn't have any trust in authors who books with dogs on the cover. NO DOGS die in Secondhand Dogs. So you can breathe easy there. But it is an emotional book with a few intense scenes. Quinn, a human boy, works for Miss Lottie, and his home situation is ROUGH. (He's being BULLIED). This might be a trigger for some. But no dogs die during the book. (I believe there is brief mention of a former dog who had died long, long, long before this novel starts.)

The dogs at Miss Lottie's house have formed a bond and become a family, but suddenly there is a traitor mixed in, who is out to tear them apart.

Miss Lottie has quite a pack of secondhand dogs. Nervous Gus tries to keep everyone happy, but the pack dynamics are challenged when a new dog named Decker joins the family. This heartwarming tale about family does not disappoint. Crimi brings each dog's unique personality to life as they escape their sad pasts and find a place to belong.

I have a feeling this will be a big hit in my 5th grade classroom. Secondhand Dogs has cute illustrations, short chapters, adorable pets, and suspense. Each dog has a distinct personality. (The cat does too!) Miss Lottie and Quinn are lovable. The messages about being part of a pack and how to treat others are fairly universal. If I could change one thing, it would pertain to Quinn's brother, Jessie. His character was underdeveloped which caused his motives to seem cryptic.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Miss Lottie has 4 “secondhand” (read rescue) dogs: Gus, the pack leader terrier; Tank, the bulldog; Roo, the 3-legged hound; and Moon Pie, the young pug. They all get along until Miss Lottie decides to add another dog, Decker, the German shepherd. Decker comes with a LOT of baggage and wants to be the only dog in the house so he schemes to get rid of the other dogs. He tricks Moon Pie into leaving, telling him that his previous owner is waiting for him, and soon the other dogs go in search of him. Quinn, the neighbor boy who recently lost his father and then his dog, helps Miss Lottie care for her pack. He feels guilty because Moon Pie escaped through a hidden hole in the garden fence and regrets not fixing it. Everyone, except Decker, is out looking for the little pug, encountering dangers along the way. Will the dogs make it home safely?
I love dog books, especially A Dog’s Purpose and Stella. This one initially drew me in but it never really clicked with me. I felt it could have moved along faster. Anyway, my rating is really a 3.5/5. I would still recommend it to young readers.
#SecondhandDogs #NetGalley

Got this for my kiddo and they LOVED it! Said it was a fun, quick read. And of course, it had DOGS, so you couldn't go wrong.

Gus is a terrier and the leader of a motley crew of secondhand dogs. Each of his pack members has been through struggles, but they have yet to face their most perilous trouble yet. When a new dog tries to worm his way into the top dog spot, not only Gus but his entire family is threatened.
Although cozy at times, this book opens up the real struggle abused and abandoned dogs face as they try to find a place in their forever homes. Kids can pick up some helpful tips on healthy dog ownership and the strength of doing what's right. Warm illustrations and hopeful dialogue pepper this creative yet believable story. I'd recommend this book for middle grade readers who love dogs as well as people of any age who enjoy a realistic story about overcoming past trauma.
Thanks to HarperCollins and the author for this ARC.

I really loved this book. I will definitely purchase this title for my elementary library. The students are sure to love it. I love how each of the dogs has it's own distinctive personality and students will be able to relate to each one of them. I think this story can be related to people as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Secondhand Dogs is a delightful tale about family and love. Miss Lottie loves all the dogs she has rescued, although she is not terribly good at picking up on dog behavior. Gus is the leader of the pack, which is rounded out by Tank, Roo, and Moon Pie.

When Miss Lottie rescues a large shepherd mix, Gus gets a bad feeling. What happens in the book results in a search for Moon Pie by the dogs and Quinn, the neighbor boy who helps Miss Lottie with her dogs. There are some scary moments, but all works out well in the end for everyone.

This book is very suitable for middle school children and as an adult I enjoyed it very much myself! The illustrations depict all the characters well. Highly recommended for dog lovers!

This story uses the experience of dogs in a rescued pack to teach about dealing with bullies. The behavior of the new dog - a previously abused German Shepherd named Decker - as well as the behavior of Quinn's bullies may be triggering to kids who have been victimized by bullies in the past. The resolution, however, is a healthy and encouraging response to standing up to bullies who turn out to be hurting in their own ways.

Animal lovers will snuggle up with this one and wish they could play in the yard with Quinn and the entire pack of unique and lovable dogs! This story was full of its share of adorable and family love. It reminds readers of the power of a relationship between human and dog, and it gives all the feels about warmth and peace after sadness and/or struggles. This book will find its way into the hearts of many and may just result in a surge in dog rescuing.

Reading this on a black and white kindle, I did not get to fully appreciate the fun illustrations.
This book is told both in alternating points of view and different references to time.
All was simple to follow and understand.
I say this book is appropriate from middle schoolers to adult readers who love dogs.

Miss Lottie loves her dogs. They are her family and her purpose for being.
Gus has been with her the longest and is the pack leader of the household. After Miss Lottie, of course.
This is not a house devoted to one breed or even one size of dog. If they need a home, Miss Lottie is willing to take a dog in.
She has help from a neighbor boy, Quinn.
Life has not been easy for him and he seems lonely.

This is a book about friendship and finding one's place and purpose.
It draws on the reader's emotions and relates to their own life experiences.
There are tense moments but all works out in the end.
I was very glad about the way sensitive topics were gently handled.

Secondhand Dogs by Carolyn Crimi is a fun read. Miss Lottie has adopted 4 dogs and a cat. She receives help with her animals from Quinn, who is bullied by his older brother. One day, Miss Lottie adopts a fifth dog, Decker. Decker was abused by his previous owner and begins to bully the other dogs in his new home. When Decker convinces one of the dogs to take off, the other three dogs run off to try and find their friend. Adorable illustrations created by Melissa Manwell are included throughout the book. Children who enjoyed The Incredible Journey or The Dog’s Purpose series will love this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
The cover of this book immediately drew me in and I knew it would be a good book. Yes, I judged it by the cover. I'm a sucker for rescue dogs. This story is cute and each of the dogs have their own characteristics. The adventures are somewhat suspenseful as the pack tries to work out its problems.

I loved this book! I am a huge dog lover (ask my four dogs they'll tell you) so anytime I see a cute book with dogs involved I have to have it. This book was of course no exception.
I loved all of the characters in this book both human and dog. I felt like they all had very distinct personalities and voices which can be rare in a book with so many characters. I especially loved how the dogs personalities seemed to match with their breeds. I also loved the little back stories about the dogs and their "dog gifts".
I also really enjoyed one specific bit at the end. I don't want to spoil anything but it was such a sweet addition to this book and fixed the only thing I thought might be a problem.
I also wanted to gush about how adorable the illustration are! The dogs look so cute and so perfectly match their personalities! I wanted to just kiss and cuddle every dog in this book.
This is just a wonderful book for dog lovers. I give it two thumbs up and all the tail wags. My dogs and I all adored it and can't wait to get a copy to add to our ever growing shelf of dog books.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the early copy.