Dogtown is a dog shelter where unwanted dogs- both canine and robot- end up. There is a rivalry between the two types, primarily on the side of the living, as many families coming to adopt a dog like the idea of one that won’t need feeding, cleaning up after, and can be stored in a closet. And robot dogs need not fear ending up on the List. This book details the unlikely friendship of Chance, a three-legged dog who misses his family desperately, Metalhead, a robot dog who unexpectedly seems to feel the same way, and Mouse, a mouse who befriends them both. Will this unlikely trio be able to find forever homes for a three-legged canine and a robot dog who seems to feel? Dogtown is a delightful early chapter book, with Chance as the scrappy narrator who is doing his best to succeed in the pound environment. His suspicions of the robot dog are negated by his desire to help a child, making him an empathic hero. Learning Chance’s backstory and how he ended up in Dogtown will have the reader rooting for him to find his way home. Additionally, Applegate’s authorial skill gently delivers lessons about responsible pet ownership, appropriate for the reading audience. One suspects that this might be the first in a series, because Metalhead’s story doesn’t feel complete, and Mouse is still a bit of a mystery. I cannot wait, because I am excited to see what adventures these three cook up next. I was given an e-advance copy in return for an honest review.

I read an e-arc courtesy of NetGalley. There is so much packed into this short book! Being true to yourself, accepting others while also supporting them to be their best and better selves, coming to terms with reality while holding on to hope!!

This book tells the story of Chance, a dog who is orphaned due to a hapless dog-sitter while her beloved owners are away. She lands in a shelter after some dangerous encounters. Over time, she learns to trust and the conditions for a kind of stability in the shelter.

There’s also the undercurrent of distrust due to the shelter also housing robo-dogs.

I enjoyed reading Dogtown! I am apprehensive about how sad the story may be to some sensitive readers. Hearing the back stories of the dogs gives a complete picture of the various ways dogs end up in a shelter. I wanted to adopt all of them and make their tail wag go super speedy fast.

This book would be an excellent read-aloud for elementary and middle school classes. It would be a great learning opportunity to help those sensitive readers (and others) process their feelings about what is happening or what had happened to the dogs. Dogtown is also a great read about making new friends even if they are so very different from you. And working together you can accomplish (practically) anything!

A must-have for all libraries!

#Dogtown @kaaauthor @choldenko #Dogs #KidLit #MGLit #SchoolLibraries #SchoolLibrarians #Read #Books #ReadBooks #DogStories

Fun, funny, and informative. Choldenko and Applegate know and love dogs and this story will enhance readers’ appreciation of their animal friends.