Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heartbreak, help on the way in poignant, quirky dog tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Chance, a dog with three legs, lives at DOGTOWN, an animal shelter, where the staff and volunteers are kind and do their best, but there are always too many dogs in need and they get overwhelmed. Also at Dogtown: a mouse who shares Chance's food bowl and becomes her friend. Plus Metal Head, a robot dog Chance views with suspicion (robot dogs get adopted faster than real dogs, because they don't pee, poop, shed, or bark at bad moments). The dogs turn out to have something in common -- they both long for their once-loving homes and are determined to get them back. But, of course, it's not that simple.
Is It Any Good?
A three-legged dog, a robot dog, and a mouse become unlikely friends, supporting each other through loss, heartbreak, and mortal danger in this fast-paced tale launching a new animal-tale series. There's quite a bit going on in Dogtown, some of which packs a devastating wallop. The plucky, emotional roller-coaster narrative and issue-packed world-building feel superficial and rushed in places, though future series installments may develop them further. But there's still a lot to cheer as friendship, chosen family, and creative problem-solving carry the day. As Chance says, "Friendship is mysterious. I have dog friends who look like me, but the friendship doesn't last. There's no glue holding us together. Then along comes a tiny rodent and a metal dog ... as different from me as it's possible to be. And we're littermates for life."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about stories like Dogtown, about dogs who end up in animal shelters, how they got there, and what affects their fate. What other stories with this theme do you know, and how does Dogtown compare?
Has someone you love ever suddenly decided they didn't want anything to do with you? How did you feel? What did you do?
Have you ever disliked someone when you first knew them, and then changed your mind later? Why did you change you mind, and how did it turn out?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Wallace West
- Genre : Animals
- Topics : Activism , Adventures , Animals , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Feiwel and Friends
- Publication date : September 19, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 352
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate