Code Name: Serendipity

by Amber Smith

Overview

Fans of Katherine Applegate, Holly Goldberg Sloan, and Lynda Mullaly Hunt will love New York Times bestselling author Amber Smith’s heartwarming middle grade debut about family, friendship, and the magic connection between a girl and her dog.

Eleven-year-old Sadie’s school year is off to an awful start. Her best (and only) friend has moved away, her older brother is a jerk (as always), and her beloved Gramps is having more and more trouble keeping his memories straight. But when she comes across a stray dog, she discovers something wonderful and magical—she and the dog, Dewey, are able to communicate telepathically. Sadie knows that Dewey is destined to be her friend.

Dewey is quickly captured and sent to a shelter. And Sadie’s moms say Dewey is dangerous, a bite risk, and that Sadie, whose mind is always wandering with a larger than life imagination, needs to prove she’s more responsible before she can adopt any pets. But Sadie is running out of time—Dewey lets Sadie know that her days at the shelter are numbered.

The only solution: break Dewey out of doggie jail.

In this reaffirming, magical, and uplifting story of friendship, family, and believing in yourself, New York Times bestselling author Amber Smith assures readers: it’s okay to think big and act with your whole heart.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593204917
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	01/04/2022
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	1,073,460
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.20(d)
Lexile:	770L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Amber Smith is the author of the young adult novels Something Like Gravity, The Last to Let Go, and The Way I Used to Be, which was a New York Times bestseller. This is her first novel for middle grade readers. She grew up in Buffalo, New York, and now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her wife and their ever-growing family of rescued dogs and cats.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1

THINGS THAT DON’T SUCK, LIKE FRENCH TOAST AND WEEKENDS

I’m always the first one to wake up on Sundays because it is my favorite day, and I never want to lose any time on the weekend by spending it asleep. Weekends mean no school. No math. No waiting, friendless, at the bus stop morning after morning. Weekends mean I get to video chat with my best friend, Jude, who just moved to Utah, and I get to help my moms make a big Sunday-morning breakfast. Weekends mean I can pretend things are still easy, the way they were before I turned eleven a few months ago.

Today is no different.

I hop out of bed and stick my feet into my frog slippers—which ribbit if I step hard enough on the little buttons inside the stuffing-filled frog heads—and make my way downstairs to the kitchen. My slippers echo ribbitribbit, ribbitribbit with each step.

I start getting out all the pans and mixing bowls and ingredients we will need, lining them up on the kitchen counter: bread from the old wooden bread box; eggs, milk, and real butter—not the healthy fake butter that Mom hates but Mama always tries to get us to use instead—from the fridge; vanilla extract and cinnamon and powdered sugar from the cupboard where we keep the spices; and Mama’s vegetarian sausage patties from the freezer, because that is one food she won’t negotiate on.

Sunday-morning breakfast is a family tradition. The best part is dipping the bread into the egg batter and then slapping it onto the hot skillet and listening to it sizzle. French toast is my favorite food of all time. I would eat it for every meal of every day if my moms would let me. But they won’t. I’ve asked.

This is when Catniss Everdeen—my older brother Noah’s cat—comes wandering into the kitchen sniffing around to see if she can steal anything. He named her after his favorite book character. I thought we should name her Purrmione Granger, but Moms said it was Noah’sdecision. Catniss is very good at creeping in and sneaking food when you’re not looking. Once she walked off with a whole package of “faken,” which is what Noahcalls Mama’s veggie bacon, and no one even noticed.

My moms usually come downstairs and start making their morning coffee by the time Catniss makes her way to the kitchen. So I sit on one of the stools at the counter and wait.

And I wait.

Catniss loses interest when she sees that no cooking is happening, and she curls up into a tiny cat-ball inside of the square of sunlight that shines through the window onto the kitchen floor.

Still no Moms.

My slippers ribbitribbit as I make my way back up the stairs, with Catniss leaping alongside me, swatting at my feet every few steps. I open my moms’ bedroom door, expecting to find them sleeping in, only to discover the bed already made and my moms nowhere in sight.

“Moms?” I call out.

No answer.

I look everywhere—in the bathroom, behind the shower curtain, even in the closet—but the whole house is quiet.

Too quiet.

My heart starts to race as my mind scrolls through all of the terrible things that could have happened to my family: Abducted by aliens. Swallowed by a sinkhole. Trapped inan alternate universe that sucked in everyone in the world except for Catniss and me. Or maybe I’m the one who’s stuck in an alternate universe!

“Moms!” I scream this time, struggling to breathe normally.

I hear Noah’s bedroom door creak open in the hallway.

“Sadie, stop yelling,” he says, with his eyes sleep-squinty and his big curly hair mushed up on one side of his head, flattened on the other. Catniss darts from Moms’ bed and pounces on my left frog slipper, making it croak out a smal lribbit, before she leaps inside Noah’s room.

I let out the breath I’ve been holding, relieved to see him, because at least that rules out the whole alternate-universe thing. But I don’t tell him that.

Instead, I ask, “Where are Moms?”

“Grandpa Ed’s,” he mumbles, and starts to go back to his room. “That means I’m in charge, and I say stop yelling and let me go back to sleep.”

“But it’s Sunday,” I say. “And why didn’t they ask if I wanted to come?”

I love when we visit Gramps. We always go to the park that’s across the street from his apartment building and feed the pigeons and play checkers on this special table that’s made out of two different colors of stone. Gramps likes to talk to everyone we see because he says they all have stories inside them. He even sees stories in me, and he always listens as I tell him all about the graphic novel I’ve been working on: The Interstellar Adventures of S.Hawkins, Special Agent. And he never forgets to ask about the progress of the fairy fortress—not fairy garden—that Jude and I created in the backyard way back when we were in second grade.

“Am I Mom?” Noah snaps at me, in that grumpy way he’s been snapping at everyone lately. “How would I know?”

Noah just turned fourteen, which means he’s in ninth grade this year. Now that he goes to a different school and takes a different bus than me, and has a girlfriend (even though he always says, “She’s a girl who’s my friend—not my girlfriend”), it’s like he’s decided to start acting like he’s too cool to hang out with me. Or even be nice to me anymore. Which basically means he’s turned into a total butthead.

“But what about breakfast?” I say, crossing my arms. “I already started getting everything set up.”

“So?” he says with a shrug, pretending he doesn’t know full well that Sunday-morning breakfast is a family tradition. “Just have cereal.”

“Cereal?” I groan. “Cereal is for school days!”

“This is me caring.” He rolls his eyes and closes his door in my face.

As if everything else wasn’t already sucky enough, I’m really beginning to despise being the younger sibling. I used to love being the youngest. It made me feel special.But now that we’re older it just feels like an excuse for everyone in my family to not take me seriously. I generally don’t believe people should go around having archenemies and things like that, but if I had one, it would definitely be Noah.

So I knock as loud and hard as I can, pounding both of my fists against the door, and I don’t stop until he opens it again.

“Leave me alone,” he grumbles.

This time I walk away from him, saying loud enough to catch his attention, “I’m calling Moms!”

“Don’t call them, Sadie,” he says as he follows me down the stairs. “I’m serious; they’re busy, and they don’t need you annoying them right now!” I reach for the phone in the kitchen and start dialing, when Noah takes it away from me.

“Hey, butthead!” I yell at him. “Give that back to me. I’m telling Moms you’re being mean.”

“Don’t be such a toddler!” That’s his favorite thing to call me lately. “Moms didn’t want me to tell you this because you’re such a baby, but Grandpa Ed is—” He stops in the middle of his sentence.

“Gramps is what?” I ask.

“Gramps is . . . old, okay? Get a clue, buttmunch, they’re not going for fun. They’re going because he can’t live alone anymore.”

“Why not?” I ask, even though I’m not sure I want to know the answer.

Noah sighs and looks down. “The people at his apartment building called Mom because something happened in the middle of the night with Gramps being confused. He was wandering around the halls, or something weird like that.” Noah pauses, and now even he looks a little worried, and he never seems worried about anything. “So Moms went there today to bring him back here.”

“Maybe he was just sleepwalking?” I offer.

“He wasn’t sleepwalking. He couldn’t remember which apartment was his. Mom says he can’t live alone anymore.” He pulls down the boxes of cereal from the pantry, and I sit at the table. “I think he might have to go to a—” But he stops talking.

“To a what?” I ask when he doesn’t finish. “Where does he have to go?”

“Never mind. Just don’t tell Moms I told you about Gramps, okay?” he says, a little bit nicer—more like the way he used to talk to me—even if there is something he’s not telling me. “They want to explain it all to you later.”

Noah takes his bowl of cereal into the living room and turns on the TV.

Suddenly, the air in the kitchen feels strange and sticky and weird. Not at all like what a Sunday is supposed to feel like. I spoon my lumpy, soggy cereal to my mouth, but I’m not hungry anymore.

Editorial Reviews

12/06/2021

Eleven-year-old narrator Sadie Mitchell-Rosen lives with her mothers (brown-skinned Mom and cued-white Mama) and 14-year-old brother, Noah (the siblings are “gold and sand”–skinned). Recently diagnosed with a processing disorder, “or as my moms always say, a difference,” the young artist dreads “the carnival of suckage that fifth grade has become.” Sadie has recently drawn the ire of “Mean Machine” Macy, who’s of Japanese descent; her best friend has moved away; and her increasingly confused grandfather comes to live with the family for reasons her moms won’t share. The one bright spot is a dog, Dewey, whom Sadie encounters in the woods near her home and who communicates telepathically with her. So when Dewey is slated for euthanasia at the shelter where Sadie’s veterinarian mother works, the girl becomes intent on saving Dewey’s life, and Gramps hatches a plan to hide the animal. Smith (Something Like Gravity) creates three-dimensional characters and a warm family dynamic, sensitively portraying learning differences and a beloved grandparent with dementia, and exploring difficult feelings without offering easy answers. Sadie’s struggles with friendship and being taken seriously ring true, as do her sympathetic voice and heartfelt love of dogs. Ages 8–12. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

A touching tale of dogged determination and the magic in unexpected connections.“ —Booklist
 
"A warm, appealing novel about a girl who learns that even though it might seem like everything is going wrong, a bad day—or year—can always change for the better." — Bookpage
 
“Smith creates three-dimensional characters and a warm family dynamic, sensitively portraying learning differences and a beloved grandparent with dementia, and exploring difficult feelings without offering easy answers. Sadie’s struggles with friendship and being taken seriously ring true, as do her sympathetic voice and heartfelt love of dogs.” – Publishers Weekly
 
"A thoughtful exploration of interpersonal relationships and what it means to do right by others and ourselves. A quiet winner for animal lovers and fans of realistic fiction." — Kirkus Reviews
 
“Charming and touching.” –School Library Journal

“Tender-hearted and triumphant, this uplifting story shows the many kinds of ways to be lost and found. I couldn't put it down.” — Gillian McDunn, acclaimed author of Caterpillar Summer and The Queen Bee and Me
 
“For anyone who doesn’t already know that dogs are magic, this book will make you a believer. Amber Smith crafts a heartwarming story that will have you cheering for the power of a bond between a girl and her dog. Simply perfect.” —Megan Shepherd, NYT bestselling author of The Secret Horses of Briar Hill
 
“Smith hews closely to the perspective of her eleven-year-old protagonist, tenderly portraying her challenges—the shame of having an IEP, possibly losing a friend to a move, and witnessing her grandfather struggle with dementia—as well as her solutions: rescuing and hiding a dog. Code Name: Serendipity is a heartwarming story about the friendships found in unexpected places, family relationships deepened by trials, and animals who ‘speak’ to us.” —Jenn Bishop, author of The Distance to Home and Where We Used to Roam
 
“Smith's debut MG novel is a gentle and generous look at how change, even when it's uncomfortable or painful, can lead to good if we let it. With a sweet dog, a mischievous grandpa, and a new friend, our heroine learns to balance following the rules versus following her heart, and that honesty really is the best policy when it comes to the people we love.” —Rebecca Petruck, author of Steering Toward Normal and Boy Bites Bug

From the Publisher

01/01/2022

Gr 3–7—Turning 11 has meant nothing but trouble for Sadie. School is awful, her best friend has moved away, her older brother has turned into a brat, and now her grandfather, who is fighting dementia, is coming to live with them. If only something good would happen in her life, she might just make it through this terrible year. For Sadie, that something good wanders into her yard one day and she instantly makes a connection. It's a dog, but not just any dog—Sadie swears they can communicate telepathically. The dog is scared and wants nothing more than a good meal and a warm place to sleep. Sadie knows her moms will never allow her to have a dog, not with Gramp's arrival and the changes that are about to come with taking care of him. If only she could tell someone about her ability to communicate with the dog, whom she names Dewey. With the help of a possible new friend and, surprisingly, Gramps, Sadie decides to rescue Dewey anyway and bring her home. But if she's caught, it could be big trouble for everyone. In this heartening tale, readers will meet families with two moms, single parents, as well as extended families. Each shares the bonds of love in unique ways. Characters also confront learning disabilities, mental health issues, and bullying in ways that are uplifting and positive. Sadie finds release in her art and her highly active imagination as well as her deep love for her grandfather. Even her brat of a brother has a heart. Realistic issues are depicted with honesty and reach satisfying conclusions. VERDICT Charming and touching, this novel will find a place with fans of realistic fiction who enjoy a bit of sentimentality.—Carol Connor

School Library Journal

2021-10-13
A girl’s telepathic connection to a stray dog helps her process change.

Fifth grader Sadie Mitchell-Rosen is feeling frustrated. Her best friend has moved away, she and her brother can’t get along, and her moms are trying to hide her grandfather’s worsening dementia from her. She doesn’t know how to feel about the new IEP for her processing disorder, which sometimes makes focusing difficult. But everything changes when she discovers an injured dog named Dewey in the woods. They are able to communicate telepathically, and Sadie learns from Dewey that she has one week to be claimed by her owners from the kennel at Sadie’s Mom’s vet clinic before being euthanized for aggression. Making it her mission to rescue Dewey, Sadie recruits her Gramps, who has just moved in with her family, and a classmate she used to dislike. While there are plenty of bumps along the way, the happy, hopeful ending is satisfying. Sadie’s first-person narration balances action and introspection, creating a thoughtful exploration of interpersonal relationships and what it means to do right by others and ourselves. Sadie and Dewey’s telepathic connection is never explained or deeply explored, but readers who feel profound bonds with their pets won’t be bothered by this. Sadie’s family is described by skin tone: Mama reads as White, Mom has dark-brown skin, and Sadie’s and her brother’s complexions are somewhere in between.

A quiet winner for animal lovers and fans of realistic fiction. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews