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Jimmer "JD" Dobbs is back in town after spending the summer "upstate." No one believes his story about visiting his aunt, and it's pretty clear that he has something to hide. It's also pretty clear that his mom made a new friend while he was away---a rescued Rottweiler that JD immediately renames Johnny Rotten (yes, after that guy in the Sex Pistols). Both tough but damaged, JD and Johnny slowly learn to trust each other, but their newfound bond is threatened by a treacherous friend and one snap of Johnny's powerful jaws. As the secrets JD has tried so hard to keep under wraps start to unravel, he suddenly has something much bigger to worry about: saving his dog.
"Compelling . . . Michael Northrop deftly describes teens who are tested by the endless snow." --USA TODAY
"A gripping disaster story . . . Northrop's solid storytelling should keep readers rapt." --PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"An edge-of-your-seat experience . . . Just as he did in GENTLEMEN, Northrop gets at the core of human nature through masterful pacing." --KIRKUS REVIEWS
Praise for GENTLEMEN
"Northrop's first novel is creepy, yet it has what can pass for a happy -- or at least satisfying -- ending." --THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
"A riveting thriller . . . This is a rare sort of book that may work just as well for reluctant readers as it will avid ones." --BOOKLIST
Read4YA
Posted April 12, 2013
Rotten is a heart-warming story about a boy and his dog. Sounds cliché, right? Not so. Michael Northrup puts a fresh spin on an old idea.
Jimmer “JD” Dobbs gets home from “upstate” and discovers a new roommate: a rescued Rottweiler. JD renames him Johnny Rotten after the lead singer of Sex Pistols. I have to admit that the name suits the dog, but the idea that JD listens to old school punk seems far-fetched. JD’s voice wavered, at times coming across as younger than his sixteen years, but it evened out about halfway through.
Like most doglovers, I fell for Johnny Rotten. Northrup could’ve made the dog any one of the “bully” breeds, but there’s something lovable about Rottweilers. Yes, they can be vicious, but they can also be as loveable as a retriever. The fact that he’s a rescue adds to his character.
The reason JD spent his summer “upstate” is pretty easier to figure out, but the details are a little surprising. As the events unfold to the reveal, I kept thinking I didn’t want to know. The mystery added to JD’s character. Of course, I just didn’t want it to be something so horrible that I’d think differently of him after I found out. Yeah, I grew attached to JD.
Overall, Rotten is a great story without the usual fluff found in a lot of YA. It could be qualified as a “boy book,” but I think girls will enjoy it too. It’s definitely one for school librarians and teachers to get their hands on.
JenniferPittman
Posted April 2, 2013
I am partial to “bully” breeds. I grew up with Rottweiler’s, and currently have a pit bull. I had to think about whether I wanted to read this book or not. Rottwieler and a dog bite doesn’t mix. I had to decide if the chance of the dog being put down was worth the time to read Rotten. I don’t mind reading about people getting killed in books……just not dogs. I am glad that I read the book.
Rotten was a great book. You get to experience what a teenager (or anyone for that matter) goes through when getting attached to a pet that has bit someone. We had a biter. A biting Rottweiler at that. The emotional ties between a person and their dog, their companion, is strong. They become your best friend, your family.
The beginning of the book starts with JD (Jimmer) coming home at the end of summer. When he gets home he finds out his mother has rescued a Rottweiler from his death. JD renamed him Johnny Rotten. Not long after JR bites Mars, JD’s friend.
Anonymous
Posted April 1, 2013
Dog tale
An awesome book about a boy and his Rottie!
Anonymous
Posted April 23, 2013
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
A troubled teen. A rescued Rottweiler. An unlikely friendship.
Jimmer "JD" Dobbs is back in town after spending the summer "upstate." No one believes his story about visiting his aunt, and it's pretty clear that he has something to hide. It's also pretty clear that his mom made a new friend while he was away---a rescued Rottweiler that JD immediately renames Johnny Rotten (yes, after that guy in the Sex Pistols). Both tough but damaged, JD and Johnny slowly learn to trust each ...