One of the puppies dies and the kid has to bury it. I’m out. This should be a content/trigger warning at the beginning of any book that has animal death.

This book was ok. I understand the double meaning of the title, and I do think certain aspects of the teens' lives were well represented, however, there were unrealistic aspects as well. I didn't fully believe that Jordan continually went back to the lake on the urging of premonitions and dreams or how mean all the adults were in the book, with the exception of Jordan's parents. I did believe the relationship between Jordan and his parents, and I thought that the embarrassment he felt when his mom went a little over the top was definitely realistic. As a whole though, I didn't feel there was anything really deep or important in this book, and I do not think I'll be getting it for my library.

What Worked: The book has a little something for everyone: basketball, friends hiding piccolo talents, puppies, young love, and some adventure. There are little nuggets for everyone to enjoy.

What Didn’t: (It’s going to sound like I’m tearing this book apart, but that is not my intent.) To start, the book had no stakes. Stuff was just happening with rare lasting consequences, and readers had no idea where the book was going, which turns it was nowhere. The bits of magical realism came out of nowhere and were unnecessary. The dialogue sounds like the author Googled current slang. And I’m very concerned about Jordan’s love and devotion after how he just instantly flipflopped at the end there. Maybe other people will like this. Maybe younger readers will be more forgiving and less critical.

Rating: Okay

This is a hilarious and heartfelt book. It shows all the sweetness, melodramatic, naivete, earnestness, and silliness of first crushes but never fails to take the feelings seriously. You'll love the characters and remember your own overwrought but still totally real middle school feelings. I loved it.

This wasn't for me. I thought I could get into it but the AI narrator wasn't vibing with me. I also think I just wasn't in the right headspace for a middle grade. It was not my cup of tea but my patrons would likely enjoy it.

Puppy Love is a very sweet story of Jordan and his first crush. As an adult and teacher, I love that the main character and his friends are kind and good examples of strong friendships.

Puppy Love is a really heartfelt story and I’d recommend it to children in grades 4-6. It has a great blend of friends, family, sports, school and pets (through finding abandoned puppies).

Gary Soto is a wonderful author and I really like this new novel!

Jordan has a secret crush. He also has a secret adventure that only his parents know about. Jordan likes a classmate Sierra and doesn't want her to think he can't play basketball. He missed an important basket, and she was there to see it.

Meanwhile, he one day finds himself at walking by the canal and hears mournful cries coming from the water. It turns out to be a drowning puppy. He jumps into the water and saves it. A couple nights later he dreams there were more puppies. He sneaks out of the house and finds two more puppies, one who didn't make it, (so he carefully buries it). Luckily, his parents fall in love with the puppies and help to rescue them and bring them back to health. Later, he has another dream and thinks there was a third. No one believes he's a hero, but he's OK with that.

Another great novel relatable to middle school students with crushes, insecurity, and friendship.

I was given the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of this title by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun book for kids! My class loved listening to this fun Gary Soto novel. So relatable for middle schoolers. It was fun to watch them listen and make connections to their own experiences. A definite hit!

This review is based on the arc provided in exchange for a review. A fun and engaging story is hiding behind the title of "Puppy Love." Follow two 13-year-old boys through basketball, being a nerd, a crush or two, and of course rescuing puppies. Once Soto gets you cheering for Jordan and Antonio, one of them acts on their conscience which leaves his fingerprints at a crime scene. Will the detectives continue their profiling and eventually arrest this good Samaritan, or will they see he really is a good kid?

Book Title: Puppy Love
Author: Gary Soto
Narrator: Synthetic VoiceGalley has been created only for early review use, VoiceGalley advance audio
editions are an environmentally friendly and convenient way to preview books.
Publisher: Harper Audio –Clarion Books
Genre: Middle School/Children's Fiction
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
My Rating: 3.5 rounded up

Jordan Mendoza is thirteen years old, in the seventh Grade, and a basketball player trying to impress Sierra. Unfortunately he blows the last shot in the game a basketball game and the Patriots lose! Ouch certainly an embarrassing way to impress Sierra and his friends as well as other students at school, won't let him forget it.
While walking home feeling sorry for himself, he comes across puppies that have slipped into a nearby canal, and jumps in to rescue them. One is dead, and he buries it and takes the other one home. He is a hero ~ Right?

I am not the target audience for this book but as an educator I love to read. I remember how I got turned on to reading especially mysteries when I was a young girl. I loved reading children’s stories to our daughters and then grandchildren. So it is not unusual for me to read a fun child’s or middle school book. When parents find out that I am an avid reader they’ll often ask if I have any recommendations. ~ I can always say~ as a matter of fact - Yes I do!
“Puppy Love” is a good name for this story. It is a story of Jordan’s first love, his best friend Antonio, his supportive parents, and yes! Puppies!
I know this story will be enjoyed by middle schoolers-both boys & girls.

Want to thank NetGalley and Harper Audio-Clarion Books for granted me this early VoiceGalley.
Publishing Release Date is scheduled for June 13, 2023

This book had a great idea and the idea of dealing with a first crush, figuring out how you fit on a team, and finding and saving abandoned puppies. However, the middle school voice feels forced and like and adult. It isn't authentic and seems like it is adding in very unrealistic dialogue at times as well as the parents reaction to him bringing home two puppies without asking. It also felt dated and used terms like "homemaker" and felt like it was supposted to be set in present day but then dated itself. It also felt like a lot of the prose was forced. It didn't seem like Soto's typical work. I can't put it into words exactly but it felt rushed or not proofread. It just didn't have the flow of a well written novel.

A cute story of tweenager love and all the drama that is middle school. Seeing a crush story told from the viewpoint of the boy is refreshing. This high interest book will be good for reluctant and passionate readers alike.

After missing a layup that cost his team an important game, 13-year-old Jordan Mendoza sits by the canal to reflect on his embarrassment as everyone including his crush, Sierra, saw his failure. He doesn’t have the chance to wallow long because he suddenly spots a puppy desperately struggling to stay afloat in the water. Jordan saves the puppy, and eventually its siblings, and brings them home, where they become part of the family. The rest of the plot is part redemption story, Jordan’s missed layup incident ends up online and he is faced with teasing from peers so he sets off to prove that he’s a good player, and part love story as Jordan finds that he can no longer hide his feelings for Sierra from his parents, best friend, and Sierra herself. However, despite Jordan’s penchant for heroics, he finds himself questioned for a crime committed by the canal and has to show his innocence while helping his team to win the basketball championships and confess his feelings for Sierra.

It’s audience-friendly, although definitely for the older children on the cusp of 11-13 years olds. The representation in the story was enjoyable and I liked how the author sprinkled the English/Spanish language and culture throughout the story. There’s a little bit of everything in Puppy Love, from saving puppies, winning basketball games, being interrogated by juvie officers, and navigating his first love. I found that the genre-blending works well in this book, especially the magical realism, which I felt was a nice touch because it seemed to only add to the world of a 13-year-old with a wild imagination and a tendency to exaggerate. Jordan’s character was one that stuck with me, he could be sweet and heroic yet awkward and I found myself smiling at his innocent thoughts about life, friendship, and love.

I felt the crime aspect of the book was suddenly introduced or perhaps I missed subtle details indicating Jordan lived in an area where crime happened so openly at the canal. If there were any way to show that a little more before getting to that point then I feel like it will only add more appeal to the book. Either way, great story.