Search

June 01, 2012 The Kids Beat

Pin It
Reddit
Email
Print
Favorite
Share

Doggone Good Read 

Books: The Storm: Dogs of the Drowned City

By
click to enlarge kidsbeat2-1.jpg

The best children's book authors are the ones who, without whitewashing or pandering, can turn sad realities into happy fictions — or at least hopeful ones. Burlington author Dayna Lorentz pulls this off in her middle-grade series for Scholastic, Dogs of the Drowned City, which tells the story of Hurricane Katrina from the viewpoint of the pet dogs left behind.

Lorentz doesn't downplay the storm's terrifying force. But young readers will find adventure, humor and surprising resilience in the motley crew of canines that her hero, a former fighting dog named Shep, liberates and leads in search of a haven from the storm.

Lorentz lends her protagonist human — and humane — characteristics, yet Shep and his friends still have enough pungent dogginess to make the novel fun. There are witty and poetic touches, too, like a dog's description of her laser toy ("crafty, oh so crafty ... so tiny it can never be caught"). Kids who love dogs and can handle some violent scenes will be itching to get their paws on the entire trilogy.

"The Storm: Dogs of the Drowned City" by Dayna Lorentz, Scholastic series. $5.99 softcover, $16.99 hardcover. Listed for ages 8 and up.

More The Kids Beat »

Tags: ,

Comments

Subscribe to this thread:
By Email
With RSS

Add a comment

Keep commenting classy! Read our guidelines....

Readers also liked…

More by Margot Harrison

  • '<i>1984</i> With Cute Boys'

    '1984 With Cute Boys'

    A grown-up's guide to the YA world of sexy vampires and rebels with a cause
    • by Margot Harrison
    • Jul 1, 2012
  • Beyond Flying Fists

    Beyond Flying Fists

    A film critic recommends "super hero" movies for boys
    • by Margot Harrison
    • Mar 1, 2012
  • Middle-School Crisis

    Middle-School Crisis

    Books: "Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life"
    • by Margot Harrison
    • Sep 1, 2011
  • More »

camps central

The Willowell Foundation

The Willowell Foundation

Monkton, VT

The Willowell Foundation is proud to host thirteen camps on our 230-acre property in Monkton, Vermont. Our camps bring children closer to the land and to each other— combining adventure play, nature studies, leadership skills, the arts, and farming. Join skilled and caring leaders in: Rooted Youth Leadership; Stir the…(more)

other camps » learn more »

The Kids Beat

Top Viewed Stories

Contact Us

Submissions

The Magazine

PO Box 1184
Burlington, VT 05402
802-985-5482