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katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Viral dystopia, virtual reality time travel and dogs. Clever, unsettling and expects some maturity from its readers.
All of Welford's novels for children have expected the reader to be able to cope with some element of darkness. Each has impressed me, and this latest adds to a catalogue of sophisticated stories for KS2/KS3-aged young people.
Multiple issues mesh nicely in this story of a girl and her adopted dog, as a canine-carried virus begins to take hold of the world, just as Georgie and her best friend meet a scientist who needs them to test a virtual reality experiment that can take them into the projected future.
This kind of dystopic vision is common in teenage literature, to place it into a juvenile novel is brave and daring, but Welford has shown excellent judgment with similarly grown-up issues previously.
The world of Mr Mash, the adopted dog who inadvertently becomes key to the global pandemic that could kill both dogs and humans, is our own, and scarily so, as we watch the start of a virus. Our King has a Jack Russell - it is our world but not quite. Georgie narrates the story from her future ("Right, I think you're nearly caught up, in terms of the things you need to know."), giving us hope that all will end well, allowing us to feel a connection with the story and characters.
She's a smart one, Georgie. Realistically unhappy about her dad's girlfriend Jessica, unashamedly adoring of Mr Mash, appreciative of her best friend and his own issues, she's a very normal-sounding girl. Readers will empathise with her mistakes, and what she has to go through, how brave she has to be. Ramzy too, her best friend, is a well-rounded boy who jumps off the page - and as an immigrant with a protective family, is good to see in a book as a positive role model.
Quite an exciting story, one you need to concentrate on as well, with adult characters that aren't just there as wallpaper. I can picture this as a film, it will be refreshing to see this type of genre aimed at a family market.
All Welford's standalones are excellent thoughtful stories for capable readers. 'The Dog' will be enjoyed by readers who like science themes, end-of-the-world scenarios, friendship and adventurous plots. For ages 9-14.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.
All of Welford's novels for children have expected the reader to be able to cope with some element of darkness. Each has impressed me, and this latest adds to a catalogue of sophisticated stories for KS2/KS3-aged young people.
Multiple issues mesh nicely in this story of a girl and her adopted dog, as a canine-carried virus begins to take hold of the world, just as Georgie and her best friend meet a scientist who needs them to test a virtual reality experiment that can take them into the projected future.
This kind of dystopic vision is common in teenage literature, to place it into a juvenile novel is brave and daring, but Welford has shown excellent judgment with similarly grown-up issues previously.
The world of Mr Mash, the adopted dog who inadvertently becomes key to the global pandemic that could kill both dogs and humans, is our own, and scarily so, as we watch the start of a virus. Our King has a Jack Russell - it is our world but not quite. Georgie narrates the story from her future ("Right, I think you're nearly caught up, in terms of the things you need to know."), giving us hope that all will end well, allowing us to feel a connection with the story and characters.
She's a smart one, Georgie. Realistically unhappy about her dad's girlfriend Jessica, unashamedly adoring of Mr Mash, appreciative of her best friend and his own issues, she's a very normal-sounding girl. Readers will empathise with her mistakes, and what she has to go through, how brave she has to be. Ramzy too, her best friend, is a well-rounded boy who jumps off the page - and as an immigrant with a protective family, is good to see in a book as a positive role model.
Quite an exciting story, one you need to concentrate on as well, with adult characters that aren't just there as wallpaper. I can picture this as a film, it will be refreshing to see this type of genre aimed at a family market.
All Welford's standalones are excellent thoughtful stories for capable readers. 'The Dog' will be enjoyed by readers who like science themes, end-of-the-world scenarios, friendship and adventurous plots. For ages 9-14.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.
artisticbookworm's review
5.0
it was not at all what I expected. I thought it would be more focused on time travel and technology, but there were lots more important elements in the story like relationships and love. I really liked the friendship between Georgie and Ramzy, and I think Dr Pretorius was a really unique character.
shoelessgirl's review
5.0
Another excellent Welford novel, featuring time travel, pets and flawed yet loving families - Welford seems to have a theme, and it works. If you've ever been 10 and madly in love with a pet, you will sympathise with the protag, who makes some poor yet completely understandable life choices. I loved her and the book.
emjrey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
Firstly, it was after I finished this that I realised it was published before COVID. Previous to that realisation, it was hitting a bit close to home and I felt that it being a virus originating from china was a bit on the nose. However, I liked the friendship and characters, though the actual story gets pretty dark. Definitely not recommended if you don't like to read about animal death. Maybe in light of COVID, maybe for ages 12 up?
leniiiii's review against another edition
4.0
Anfangs war ich noch recht skeptisch bei diesem Buch, vor allem weil mir einige Situationen und Figuren eher suspekt waren. Allerdings sind mir diese im Laufe der Geschichte allesamt ans Herz gewachsen.
Der Spannungsaufbau ist wunderbar gelungen und zieht sich bis zum Ende hin durch, wird aber von einem gelungenen Ende abgerundet.
Das Thema der Geschichte ist ja doch sehr aktuell, sowohl die ausgebrochenen Seuche als auch die neue Computer Technik, die Anfangs mehr wie eine Spinnerei scheint, zum Ende hin aber immer nützlicher wird.
Die komplizierten technischen Vorgänge kann man beim Lesen super verstehen, da sie sehr leicht erklärt sind, was definitiv nicht ganz einfach zu schreiben ist.
Den Titel finde ich leider etwas irreführend, dabei habe ich an einen ganz anderen Verlauf der Geschichte gedacht, auch wenn er im Nachhinein betrachtet doch Sinn Macht.
Das Cover ist sehr gut gelungen und hat mich direkt angesprochen, also alles in allem war ich wirklich begeistert von dem Buch und kann es nur empfehlen.
Der Spannungsaufbau ist wunderbar gelungen und zieht sich bis zum Ende hin durch, wird aber von einem gelungenen Ende abgerundet.
Das Thema der Geschichte ist ja doch sehr aktuell, sowohl die ausgebrochenen Seuche als auch die neue Computer Technik, die Anfangs mehr wie eine Spinnerei scheint, zum Ende hin aber immer nützlicher wird.
Die komplizierten technischen Vorgänge kann man beim Lesen super verstehen, da sie sehr leicht erklärt sind, was definitiv nicht ganz einfach zu schreiben ist.
Den Titel finde ich leider etwas irreführend, dabei habe ich an einen ganz anderen Verlauf der Geschichte gedacht, auch wenn er im Nachhinein betrachtet doch Sinn Macht.
Das Cover ist sehr gut gelungen und hat mich direkt angesprochen, also alles in allem war ich wirklich begeistert von dem Buch und kann es nur empfehlen.
izziewizz08's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
natashas_notes's review
4.0
I originally gave this 3 but have upgraded to 4 as I must have been grumpy when I did the review! On reflection, as a children’s book, it has everything I would have wanted - Adventure, science, strong female characters and (most importantly) DOGS!