Flawed Dogs: The Novel: The Shocking Raid on Westminster

by Berkeley Breathed

Overview

Pulitzer Prize-winning Berkeley Breathed's first illustrated novel about a group of unlikely underdogs

"Breathed, through words and lush illustrations, tells a story that will charm many readers."—The New York Times

Sam the Lion is actually a priceless dachshund, bred to be a show dog. More important, he is Heidy's best friend, and she needs one like never before. Living with her reclusive uncle is hard, but Sam has a way of making her feel soft and whole. Until the day Sam is framed by the jealous poodle Cassius, and is cast out by Heidy's uncle, alone on the wild streets, where he is roughed up by a world he was not bred for. Sporting a soup ladle for a leg, Sam befriends other abandoned dogs and journeys all the way to the Westminster Dog Show, where his plan for revenge on Cassius takes an unexpected turn when he and Heidy spot each other after years of being apart.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780425289518
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	03/07/2017
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	213,565
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Berkeley Breathed (www.berkeleybreathed.com) is the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of the renowned comic strips "Bloom County," "Outland," and "Opus" which have appeared in over 1,200 newspapers worldwide and have earned Berkeley millions of loyal fans. He recently decided to bring back "Bloom County" after a 25-year absence and has been overwhelmed by the response—and by how much fun he is having. Berkeley Breathed is also the creator of the illustrated novel Flawed Dogs and the New York Times bestselling picture books Mars Needs Moms! andPete & Pickles. He lives and works in Santa Barbara, California.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Flawed Dogs

 "Breathed, through words and lush illustrations, tells a story that will charm many readers."—The New York Times

"Flawed Dogs is hilarious and sweet with a message of friendship and faithfulness that anyone (even cat lovers) will find uplifting. Each animal in the book is an unforgettable character, drawn and written with Berkeley Breathed's signature brand of wit. His illustrations add an extra measure of emotion to the already lovely book. Berkeley Breathed's illustrations are amazing and they impart the message of the story with humor and poignancy."—Common Sense Media

"Breathed knows how to use just the right language to engage even the most reluctant readers. This book will warm the hearts of animal lovers and promises to engage readers to the very last line."—Children's Literature

"[S]mooth writing and humorous exaggeration...[T]he various canine and feline players are an endearing mix of odd attributes and engaging personalities." —Kirkus Reviews

"A moving tale about the beauty of imperfections and the capacity for love." —Publishers Weekly

"[An] engaging and well-paced tale." —School Library Journal

"An easily understood but very fun and crazy plot that takes hold of the reader."—VOYA

From the Publisher

Breathed, through words and lush illustrations, tells a story that will charm many readers
—The New York Times

John Schwartz

Bloom County cartoonist Breathed (Pete & Pickles) makes the move from picture books to middle-grade fiction and, from the harrowing opening scene at a dog fight, readers will be rapt. After spending eight years isolated at a boarding school in Minnesota, 14-year-old orphan Heidy McCloud is invited to live with her dejected uncle Hamish, greedy Mrs. Beaglehole and their evil poodle, Cassius, on the vacant McCloud Heavenly Acres dog ranch in Piddleton, Vt., “Home of the World's Most Beautiful Dogs.” En route, Heidy meets Sam, a Duüglitz dachshund worth $180,000, and a reciprocal, platonic love is born. However, Cassius resents the attention Sam receives and sets a trap resulting in the dachshund's imprisonment in a pound with “the seven most ridiculous dogs [Sam] had ever seen,” as well as Sam's suffering an awful injury. But the dog's determination to reunite with Heidy doesn't wane. Dramatically lit and featuring comically exaggerated characters (human and canine alike), Berkeley's b&w artwork augments the story's drama and humor. A moving tale about the beauty of imperfections and the capacity for love. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Gr 3–6—This chapter book is a spin-off of Breathed's 2003 picture book of the same name (Little, Brown). Sam the dachshund was bred to be an award-winning show dog, right down to his priceless "Duüglitz tuft." But Sam has no interest in appearances; like all dogs, beautiful or "flawed," all he really wants is to belong to someone special, and to be loved. After a dramatic escape from his frightful new owner, he sneaks into a girl's luggage and soon wins her affections. But Cassius, a champion full-size poodle and denizen of Sam's new home, is not accustomed to being second in anyone's heart and is determined to get rid of him. What follows is a series of misadventures for Sam and a group of abandoned animals from the National Last-Ditch Dog Depository. Featuring some harrowing moments, this is not a story for the faint of heart, but readers will definitely be rooting for Sam and his comically imperfect band of followers. Black-and-white and full-color illustrations, done in the award-winning author's familiar style, are sprinkled throughout, adding depth to an already engaging and well-paced tale.—Jessica Marie, Renton Public Library, WA

School Library Journal

Breathed's fans won't be surprised by the dark tone of this outlandish tale, but readers expecting a heartwarming pet story may be taken aback by the difficulties that face Sam, the canine hero. Luckily, smooth writing and humorous exaggeration make it relatively easy to get through the violence of a dog-fighting ring, the perfidy of an envious poodle and three long (mercifully undescribed) years in a research lab. Characterization of the humans is sketchy at best, but the various canine and feline players are an endearing mix of odd attributes and engaging personalities (except for the murderous poodle). Sam's clever plot to infiltrate the Westminster dog show combines the suspense of an over-the-top caper film with the slapstick of the Marx Brothers (Mrs. Nutbush bears a striking resemblance to Margaret Dumont). Clearly growing out of, but not a simple expansion of, the 2003 picture book of the same name, these pups' tale carries the same message of caring and concern and will likely worm its way into the hearts of readers able to persist through the problems and pain. (Fantasy. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews

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