"A life affirming story about one boy and the dog who saves him."
March 2025 Debut of the Month
This beautifully written debut is both heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure, giving us a sensitive and nuanced portrait of a young boy coping with grief and huge life changes.
Rhys has a deep love of dogs, which he shared with his mum who sadly dies at the start of the book. Together they would watch a TV show called The Dog Rescuers presented by Rhys' idol Dr Jimmy and on what turns out to be his final visit to his mother’s bedside, Rhys spots a lonely black labrador under her hospital bed and because of Dr Jimmy, he knows just how to care for him. His Dad has come to look after Rhys and does not like dogs and so this has to be a secret. The depiction of the dog is wonderfully ambiguous and keeps the reader guessing.
Keeping Worthington secret is even more challenging when Rhys has to leave his home in Wales, his beloved grandparents and move to London, where his father now lives with his new wife, Lucy, and baby daughter Evie. We can feel all of Rhys’s anxiety at facing a new school and finding new friends and his heartache and confusion in trying to fit into a new family where he is not sure of his place. Worthington is his only comfort. When Rhys makes a series of wrong choices, things reach a crisis point and Rhys realises he needs help and that he is surrounded by people who do want to help.
A touching and authentic story about grief, which has sorrow, but also moments of brightness, humour, joy and love. It also a tale about being open and truthful and about building friendships and very obviously highlights the bond that can exist between children and dogs.
The wonderful characteristically warm illustrations by David Litchfield only add to this memorable reading experience.
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A story about friendship, home, love, loss and adventures with new friends.
I really enjoyed this book which I read with my Mummy and Daddy. I love books with animals as the main characters so this was a big hit with me. The book is about a boy whose mum dies early on in the book and how he comes to terms with her death and the fact that he has to move from Wales to London to live with his dad, his girlfriend and their family. Sometimes the book was a little sad because of this.
However, the boy finds a lost dog, called Worthington, in the hospital and a strong friendship is formed. The dog helps the boy to overcome his problems and together they go on adventures.... Read Full Review
