“Dogtown” by Katherine Applegate & Gennifer Choldenko

Genre: Middle-grade Science Fiction

Section in the library: Juvenile Fiction

3.5 Stars

For fans of Katherine Applegate (“The One and Only Ivan”), here is another one for young readers to enjoy. The short chapters and illustrations give the book nice breaks for intermediate readers. It gives readers the chance to experience the many emotions surrounding an animal shelter without being harsh. Dogtown is a shelter for any kind of dog imaginable. Even robot dogs. Chance, a living and breathing dog, ended up in Dogtown after being left with irresponsible dog-sitters. Metal Head is a donated robot dog who wants to go back home. Mouse is a mouse who helps his dog friends in any way he can. The three decide to take a risk by leaving the shelter to find their forever homes and run into unexpected situations all along the way.