Sydney Porter: Dog Girl:

by L. G. Reed

Overview

Eleven-year-old Sydney has a problem named Fred. He's a retired bomb sniffing dog that her wounded veteran dad brought home with him from the war. Dad suffers from PTSD and only talks to Fred. Mom copes with the stress by working more. Sydney handles homework, household chores and a bully at school all on her own. This is not the perfect family she dreamed of while he was away.
Sydney wishes she was a dog so Dad would talk to her too. When her wish is granted her disappearance as a kid causes a breakdown that puts her dad in the hospital. Sydney's inner strength bubbles up as she struggles with life as a dog on a journey that opens her eyes to what Dad and Fred endured in Afghanistan. Her wish ultimately heals them all and gets her closer to her perfect family.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780985007461
Publisher:	Keyes Canyon Press
Publication date:	08/12/2019
Pages:	262
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.59(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

L. G. Reed first published an award-winning short story in high school, then went on to aerospace engineering in the Los Angeles area where she published numerous non-fiction magazine articles. Her first indie novel, “The Maiden Voyage of the Maryann” won the Cygnus Awards 1st Place - Women's Fantasy/SciFi Category. She lives in California with her husband and their two dogs - Brownie and Latte. Brownie was the inspiration for Syd, the small, brown dog in Sydney Porter: Dog Girl.

Editorial Reviews

Sydney longs for a normal family, not one coping with war wounds and PTSD, until the strangest thing happens—she turns into a dog. Sydney discovers what Dad and his bomb-sniffing canine. Fred, had to endure in Afghanistan. She takes an extraordinary journey on four paws, learning about love, sacrifice, and strength from a pack of strays. Only then does she find her way home—Cindy Rankin, author of Under the Ashes.

author of Under The Ashes - Cindy Rankin

I absolutely adored this book, Sydney is a sympathetic and believable narrator, trying to navigate the difficulties of adolescence and a broken home life. She is understandably confused and bitter when her father returns a different person and it makes her entirely relatable as a character. Fred reminded me of the webcomic character Brutus from the viral Pixie and Brutus webcomic series and became a stellar father/uncle/grandfather figure when Sydney needs it most.
Also, DOGS!

Goodreads

This is an adorable Middle Grade Book, about love, kindness, dogs, PTSD, bullying and friendship. All thrown together with an element of magic and speculative fiction.

Goodreads/Netgalley

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