Sydney Porter: Dog Girl

by L. G. Reed

Overview

A retired bomb-sniffing dog named Fred teaches Sydney his philosophy of kindness, about the Star Path, and how to survive on the streets. Good thing, too, since she's been magically transformed into a small brown dog. Dad's PTSD has the whole family on edge.

Sydney tells her best friend Rachael that she wishes she were a dog so that her dad would talk to her like he does with Fred, the German Shepherd he brought back from Afghanistan. A magical bus driver grants her wish and sends her on a harrowing journey, narrated by a strong female lead character who is seeing life from the perspective of a four-legged mutt.

This touching, action adventure, humorous fantasy, Teen and YA family fiction, follows Syd's journey from kid to dog and back. Along the way she meets other stray retired war dogs and forges a canine family that helps her understand her human parents.

A "touching middle grade story ... compelling, with definite appeal to young readers."-- Publishers Weekly Booklife Prize
"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." ~ Anneke, Goodreads/Netgalley Reviewer
"I absolutely adored this book, Sydney is a sympathetic and believable narrator, trying to navigate the difficulties of adolescence and a broken home life." ~ Riley, Goodreads/Netgalley Reviewer

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780985007461
Publisher:	Keyes Canyon Press
Publication date:	08/12/2019
Pages:	260
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

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

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