Oh My Dog!

by Iva-Marie Palmer Narrated by Jocelyn Duford

Overview

Twelve-year-old Caroline Kline doesn't believe in miracles. Not after her mom died, and certainly not after her family lost everything in Hurricane Emma. All Caroline wants to do is fit in at school, make some friends, and, above all else, just be normal.

But when Caroline takes a job walking Denver, her neighbor's dog, her plans quickly get turned completely upside down. As it turns out, Denver is no ordinary dog: Not only can he talk-and not like bark-bark but in actual English-but worse than that, Denver tells Caroline that he's been sent from the heavens with a message just for her. It's up to Caroline to find a way to bring belief back to the world.

From acclaimed children's author Iva-Marie Palmer comes a hilarious and heartwarming new tale about miracles, faith of all types, and the good that connects us all.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Caroline must find a way to balance making new friends, becoming a minor TikTok star, and rekindling her faith in the world. Via quietly heartfelt prose, Palmer presents a thoughtful meditation on connection, belonging, and people “seeing the goodness in themselves and others" ... in this positive story with an uplifting message.  — Publishers Weekly

An imaginative novel that explores the path to finding faith after hope is lost.  — Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

2024-05-04
A talking dog teaches a sixth grader about faith in humanity.

Caroline and her widowed father survived the hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast of Texas. But now money is tight, and Caroline’s 12th birthday present might just be jeans and underwear from the local mall. Her grieving dad tries his best, but his grocery store job only covers the essentials. Although Caroline’s best friend, Yumi, who’s Japanese and Jewish, is loyal and kind, Caroline, who presents white, wishes she were part of the popular crowd. She lands a job walking Denver, a rambunctious dog who shocks her by being able to speak—but only to her. He says he was sent with “a message from the heavens” to help Caroline remember that “goodness is out there.” Denver persuades her with a miracle: raining down grape juice and cupcakes! Caroline ends up on a news broadcast as an eyewitness, and the in crowd notices her; it’s hard to regain her belief in humanity when she’s distracted by social status. Along the way, Caroline neglects Yumi, whose unselfconscious enthusiasm seems immature compared to the cool kids. Caroline’s journey reflects positive values and messaging about one tween’s impact on her community. Denver carefully tells Caroline that his version of faith refers to people’s collective goodness, separate from religion, but Caroline and her father are Christian, which shapes her frame of reference.

An imaginative novel that explores the path to finding faith after hope is lost. (Fiction. 8-12)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940178235010
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	08/13/2024
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

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