“Dogtown” by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko is a middle grade fantasy that will be extremely appealing to kids because it’s filled with dogs—real dogs and robot dogs, or really just one special robot dog. There’s even a mouse. The story is told in first person by Chance, a dog residing in a shelter at the start of the story.

But like all dogs who end up in shelters everywhere, Chance’s real story doesn’t begin in the shelter, although we have to wait a while before she’s willing to share her background. This particular shelter is run by “Management,” and we don’t find out until well into the book that Management is a woman who really loves the dogs and hates having to have “the List.” Thankfully for tender readers, the List isn’t explained explicitly, but the readers do end up with the knowledge that those on the list end up going to Doggy Heaven. Be reassured: none of the dogs at the shelter go to doggy heaven during the course of this book. But it’s a very unfortunate reality that children should know about—shelters have limited resources and the resident dogs don’t get to live there forever.

Chance has free run of the shelter, and we learn it’s because Management considers Chance a lucky dog. It has something to do with Poker Night. But Chance, who thinks she’s an Aussie/Border collie. mix (so extremely intelligent), believes that, “Here’s another thing humans are sadly misguided about: Luck is not a winning hand of cards. Luck is making a new friend.” Chance, as we come to realize, is very wise.

We meet several of the dogs and find out why they are at the shelter. Geraldine is a sweet Saint Bernard who was left at Dogtown because of the size of her poops. Buster is a golden retriever, and the authors correctly understand and share the fact that EVERYONE wants a golden. So he is adopted repeatedly. Repeatedly because Buster is not your typical calm, stately, golden. He is a bundle of energetic, rambunctious motion. He drinks from the toilet, pees on his bones and slobbers. So he is adopted, and then he is returned. The authors also correctly understand that you can’t pick a dog by their breed. Every dog is unique and each has their own personality; studies have shown just that.

We eventually find out that Chance had a family she adored with a child named Jessie and her mother, a professor. It’s not clear why Chance ended up at the shelter, though, and that mystery isn’t cleared up until almost the end of the story. What we do know is that the robot dog Metal Head is different from the other robot dogs. The other robotic dogs can do tricks, but Metal Head can think. He can speak human language, like all the robot dogs, but he also understands dog language. He can read, too, as he spends most days reading his manual instead of trying to be cute and get adopted.

Chance, shows his intelligence throughout the story. He is fluent in Dog, of course, but while he can understand Human, and write a bit in it (with his food), his writing is not grammatical. When he writes with his kibble, we can see it is definitely invented spelling, “I nid to b petd”. Chance’s mouse friend, however, is trilingual. He knows Mouse, Human and Dog. He’s clever enough to stay hidden and Chance shares a bit of his kibble with Mouse so that Mouse can feed his family.

Metal Head is desperate to escape. When Metal Head plans his escape, he needs Mouse’s help. Through some negotiations which end up saving Geraldine from being at the top of the List, Chance agrees to help. Almost by accident, Chance, Mouse, and Metal Head end up outside the shelter on a freezing cold night.

How the trio survives and what they find out is truly touching and heartrending. While Chance had thought that robot dogs can’t feel emotion, she realizes that she was mistaken. It might be because of Metal Head’s mysterious past, but he definitely is able to feel sorrow and just like all the other dogs at the shelter, have his heart broken.

I love that there is a reading program at the shelter where children come to the shelter to read to the dogs there. As Chance explains, it’s to help the children read in a stress-free environment, but it actually helps the dogs just as much as the children because the dogs love the attention and hearing the voices of the kids. This book is the perfect book for a classroom teacher to read out loud to students. It would be greatly enjoyed by first through fourth graders, and the very short chapters make it an easy read to squeeze in between classes or at the beginning or end of the day.

And there are some very important and thoughtful issues that can be discussed including the sense of community (when the dogs rally around Geraldine when she is almost on the List), friendship, trust, and family. There is a child who acts differently and can’t read as well as his peers who befriends Metal Head, which presents an opportunity to discuss differing abilities and how no matter our ability, we need someone who will listen to us.

Because I am a retired teacher who brought a dog to school with me, and because I have been in rescue for decades, I know how powerful it can be to teach children about shelters and expose them to the idea that rescuing a dog is a wonderful way to save a life and get a loving companion. As Chance might say, “It’s a two-fer.” I also appreciate that Chance is a three-legged dog. Interestingly, how well a three-legged dog can walk and run depends on which leg is missing. If a dog is missing a rear leg, they usually can run and jump just as well as their four-legged peers. But if a dog is missing a front leg, as Chance is, then it’s a bit more difficult for the dog to start walking and they must give a kind of hop to do it.

There is, at the end of the story, a section “7 Things Kids Can Do to Help Shelter Dogs.” It’s a lovely list. This is a book that will appeal to most young readers (they almost always love reading about dogs), and as such should be on library and classroom bookshelves. It would also be a well-loved gift to a young reader who either wants a pet or has a dog or cat already.

Classroom connection: Here are questions that arise from reading this book with students. Why did the authors make Chance a mix of Aussie and border collie? Is there anything special about those breeds? Why was it so difficult for Geraldine to find a home? What do we learn about shelter dogs from this story? Why might dogs adopted from shelters or rescues make good pets? Do you think the story accurately depicts what a dog might feel when he’s left at a shelter? Which dog changes the most in this story? (Note that on page 292, Chance shares, “It had been a painful journey, but when it was over, there was a place in that dog’s (Metal Head’s) heart for Quinn that hadn’t been there before.” What does that statement mean? How was Metal Head’s heart changed? Metal Head give Chance a note that says: “Your heart is a muscle, It grows stronger the more you use it.” What does that mean? If you have a dog, what do you think your dog would want to tell you? What could Jessie and the professor have done differently before they left so that Chance wouldn’t end up at a shelter? What can people do to make sure their pets are safe if something happens to the person who cares for them?

I would also take the opportunity to teach children about dog language and dog safety. Studies show that 1 out of 4 children are bitten by dogs. There are things children should know. Don’t look into a dog’s eyes as they can view it as a threat. Never run away from a dog that frightens you because all dogs, even friendly ones, will chase you if you run. If you are scared of a dog, turn sideways and slowly walk away from the dog without looking at it. Don’t put your face in the face of a dog you don’t know. Dog’s don’t usually like to be hugged. A wagging tail doesn’t always mean a dog is happy; it can mean a dog is stressed or anxious. Leave a dog alone when it’s eating.

I used to bring my facility dog to school with me and I think one of the most important things I did was teach all students about dog safety. Here’s a video that is very specific and really detailed. It’s a great way to teach that “bad dogs” who growl are really just scared and trying to defend themselves against what they perceive as a threat. And the most important lesson to teach kids is to always, always let the dog come to you instead of approaching a dog. A cornered dog might be a frightened dog.

In summary, this is a powerful story about shelter dogs and in it, children will learn that most of the dogs in shelters are there through no fault of their own. Rescue dogs are amazingly forgiving, with the ability to learn about love even when they’ve been mistreated their whole life. Read “Dogtown” and adopt a dog. Or foster a dog. Thank you so very much to Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko for writing this brilliant middle grade novel.

Please note: This review is based on the final, hardcover book provided by Feiwel and Friends, the publisher, for review purposes.