Answers to Dog by Pete Hautman

"He went back to the gate and shoved his paw through the chain link and batted at the latch handle. It moved a little, but the gate remained locked. He got up on his hind feet and pushed both front paws through and clawed at the latch. It moved in a new way. The dog remembered how the metal bolt had slid to one side. He nudged it over with one paw. It was not enough. He pulled his paw out and pushed it back through, one space over, and nudged the bolt again, until it would go no further. He pulled his paw free and butted the gate with his forehead. It swung open."

Evan sees a dog outside his house. He knows his mother (and probably his father too) will never allow him to have a dog but right from the beginning he seems to have a special connection with this white Border Collie dog. Meanwhile 'Dog' as he is called has run away from an intensely cruel situation. On the edge of town there is a dog breeder - he breeds Border Collie dogs and perhaps in the past he was kind but now he is drunk most of the time and the dogs are starving and horribly neglected.

Evan tracks down the dog kennels ironically named Happy Dog. He finds the stray and their friendship strengthens but Peter Grey, the owner, demands $5000 for this dog. There is no way Evan could ever find that much money.

In a book like this you just know early on that this cruel man is destined to be 'punished' in some way and so I cheered when he was hurt falling off a ladder. I cheered when Dog ran to Evan's house and then  made the boy run the 7 miles back to the kennels and I cheered (well no I won't tell you this part but this story does have a truly wonderful and happy ending). 

My biggest question at the end of this splendid book is about Evan's mother. I wanted to know more about her life and about her withdrawal from the world and about her previous dog. Mum cooks fantastic meals even though each recipe is different the meals follow a set pattern of stew, chicken, roast, soup and sandwiches, and a vegetarian meal. Her care with the food and of her garden and later of Evan when is feet are badly hurt gave me tiny glimpses into this important character. Evan's father is also a complex character but he does connect with his son and the scenes where they share meals together are very special. 

There are other minor characters in this story who are also interesting: Calder has alopecia; Kellen is very small for his age with huge ears and so is a victim of relentless bullying; and Hana has just had complex surgery to repair her leg and so she has limited mobility. Hana is an important character because she loves dogs and she is able to help Evan and answer his questions about the dreadful practice of puppy farms. 

If you are talking with your class about foreshadowing, you could use this passage:

"The driveway was rutted, uneven and dotted with clumps of yellowing weeds. It curved through a stand of trees then opened onto a large weedy lawn that hadn't been mowed for a long time (and there was) an old two-story farmhouse badly in need of paint."

I started to read Answers to Dog this morning and lifted my head early in the afternoon - this story engulfed me. I love the meaning of the title - the dog answers to the name Dog - although we do discover his real name is Samarkand (Sam for short).  In an interesting twist Evan's dad is named Sam and mum's previous dog that died aged 17 was called Evan. I guess also Evan finds some answers about his family and friends through his friendship with Sam and more importantly he makes some discoveries about himself. 

"Dad told me you named me after your dog,' Evan said. 'Not exactly,' she said. 'Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted a son named Evan, so really the dog was named after you, even though you weren't born yet.' 'What if I'd been born a girl?' 'I would have named you Evangeline."

How did I find this book? I am the sort of person who always has to spend time in bookshops. We have several shops in the CBD of the city. When I go into a bookshop - yes you are right - I have to buy a book. But which book to buy? I picked this one up because it is about dogs, it is about a boy and his love of one special dog (more of these at the end of this post) and it was published by Candlewick (Walker Books) and they consistently produce terrific books for kids. I do need to say I had never heard of Pete Hautman and I did not read the endorsement on the cover of the book until much later.

As always Ms Yingling gives an in depth review here. 

Whether it’s a dog in a kennel or a boy trapped within his solitary parents’ routines, themes of neglect and isolation dominate the story, although the author’s careful approach ensures that this heaviness is balanced by the presence of uplifting supporting characters, such as Hana Ganz, who’s a dog enthusiast despite her allergies, and track coach Mr. Raley, who displays subtle kindness. The balance of the third-person limited narration between the perspectives of Evan and the dog makes this an enjoyable gateway book for readers who typically prefer stories featuring talking animals. Kirkus

Publisher blurb: Evan doesn’t seem to fit in at school or at home. He goes out of his way to avoid attention. He sits at the back of the bus, keeps his head down in class, and keeps to himself. But when a burr-covered border collie—a survivor with a gut instinct about the Boy—starts following him around and joining him on his runs, Evan’s simple duck-and-dodge existence becomes a lot more complicated . . . a lot more like life. Evolving from wary companions to steadfast friends, Evan and the dog run fast and far together, thwart an abusive dog breeder and the school bully, and find the courage to stand up for themselves and to open up to those who matter most. Narrated in alternating viewpoints, this relatable contemporary novel with classic coming-of-age themes has all the hope, pathos, and emotional complexity that mark Pete Hautman’s books for middle-grade readers—and is a deeply satisfying read for animal lovers.

Pete Hautman says as a boy he loved dog stories by Jim Kjelgaard. 

Companion books for dog lovers:

One Dog and his Boy

Shiloh

The Way of Dog

Brave like that

Talking to Alaska

The truth as told to Mason Buttle

You could also look for this very old book which might be in your school library (content warning this one is very violent):

Out of print - published in 1991.

Companion book for kids who love running:

Ghost

Running my own race

Here are some other books by Pete Hautman: