Mountain Dog

by Margarita Engle, Aleksey & Olga Ivanov (Illustrator)

When Tony's mother is sent to jail, he is sent to stay with a great uncle he has never met in Sierra Nevada. It is a daunting move—Tony's new world bears no semblance to his previous one. But slowly, against a remote and remarkable backdrop, the scars from Tony's troubled past begin to heal.

With his Tío and a search-and-rescue dog named Gabe by his side, he learns how to track wild animals, is welcomed to the Cowboy Church, and makes new friends at the Mountain School. Most importantly though, it is through Gabe that Tony discovers unconditional love for the first time.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Poetry, Adventure, Novel In Verse, Animals, Dogs

224 pages, Hardcover

Published August 13, 2013

About the author

Margarita Engle is a Cuban-American poet, novelist, and journalist whose work has been published in many countries. She lives with her husband in northern California.

Reviews

[Noe Avila · Rating 3 out of 5]

***SPOILER ALERT***Have you ever read a book about a dog who could track anyone with his nose? The genre is realistic fiction. It was a pretty good book and really fast to read. But I didn't like that there wasn't that much about the dog each chapter about the dog was at least 3 pages. But everything else was okay.

Know let me summarize the book. Tony the boy is having trouble with his mom who is in jail and has to adjust to his new life with his uncle. Gabe the dog is a rescue dog and wonders why sometimes Tony is sad and sometimes happy. Gabe also doesn't know that he is rescuing people he thinks its a game which is kinda funny. At the end Tony's uncle adopts a puppy under Tony's name so Tony could start training her to become rescue dog when Gabe retires. The setting is in Sierra Nevada where Tony's uncle lives. The theme is to let go of the past but learn from it.

A major event that changed Tony and Gabe was when Tony got lost and Gabe had to search for him because Tony was looking for the hunter's dog. Tony got scared but he learned what to do in a situation like this. Gabe got to use his skills to save Tony.

I was angry that the book didn't have that much about the dog! And the title is called mountain dog. The title is so misleading because when I get a book that has the word dog in the title I expect to talk mostly about the dog. It was like the dog was the side character of his own book.

I rate this book 3 stars because it didn't talk that much about the dog. I recommend this book to people who like emotional stories. if you are ever lost in the woods don't worry because someone will look for you. You just got to wait.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complicated story inventively and thoughtfully told, and certainly one fans of dog stories will thoroughly enjoy.

[Abigail Clearfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It brought a new experience of reading into my life. I think one theme for this book would definitely be Know someone is there for you even if you don't think anyone is. This book shows how Tony's life turned around and he had a hard time readjusting to his new life but once he realized he wasn't alone and he also had Gabe the dog who changed his view on dogs and even his future, he knew he would be good and happy in the end.

[Trevor]

Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle is an relax and enjoyable book that talks about how a boy has to change his live when his mother ends up going to prison and he is sent to live with his great uncle in the mountains. His great uncle has a chocolate lab, who is very gentle and different from the type of dogs he spent his time with in his old life. In his old life, his mother did some very mean things to make money. For an example, she would make her money by doing fights with pit bulls in a cage. Honestly, I think that is just cruel and people should not be able to fight dogs in a cage. But, Tony had to be involved in this situation because his mother forced him into counting the money she earned from fighting the dogs. Soon, Tony mother goes to jail and he sent to live with a great uncle that he never knew about. His great uncle was a forest ranger that lived in the mountains and he had a dog, name Gabe, that was very intelligent. Going to live with his great uncle has changed his life forever.
I particular like about this book is that it is very relaxing to read and overall joyful. In the book, one of the main characters is Gabe, the dog, who I personally like because my favorite pet is dogs. I have two dogs myself and I just love them a bunch. I like the idea in the book where some of the chapters are from Gabe's point of view. The characters felt real to me and reminded me of my dogs and how our relationship is similar to Tony's and Gabe's relationship. For instance, with my dogs and I like to go out and play with toys and like to chase around each other in the house. My favorite part of the story is when Tony helps out with the SAR dog training and how the process of search and rescue dogs have to train, so they will be able to find lost people in the woods. The book made me feel relaxed and I just enjoyed reading this book a lot. This book got focused on reading and trying to get to the end of the book to see what happens.
The only parts that I didn't like about the book is when Tony has to go visit his mom in prison and she is still fighting and being aggressive. One part of the book I felt relieved for a second because the mom actually started to seem that she was changing and becoming more gentle. Then the next time Tony visits his mom she is starting to fight again and this got me disappointed.
Overall, the story was good and I enjoyed it a lot. I felt like i could sit down for an hour and read this book. I really like this book and advise other people to read it. If people enjoy books with heroic dogs, then this is the book for them. Mountain Dog is a great book and I believe that anybody can this book and enjoy it.

[LaurenJ]

Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle is a novel in verse but switches to chapters when the dogs POV comes in. This is a fiction genre published in 2013. This story is about a boy named Tony who grew up with a mother who breed and fought fighting dogs. Once she was caught and sent to prison Tony's only family who he didn't even know he had Uncle Tio. He took him in. Tio is a rescue worker with a rescue dog named Gabe. Tony and Gabe form a bond which is weird for Tony because he's never seen a dog as nice, caring, loving , animals.
I would recommend this book for middle school kids with a little higher reading level. It can get confusing switching between POV's.

[Tori Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent middle grade story about the complicated emotions surrounding the flaws of family and the hope and healing we can find through animals.

[Bethany Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was sad but ended really happy.

[Leslie Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just beautifully written; laid out like poetry, and poetic indeed. A kind of Heidi story, with a Latino boy, grandfather (uncle?), a mountain and dogs.

[leslie delgadillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

******SPOILER WARNING******Have you ever read a dog book that has the cliche the dogs was the best thing ever in the world but at the end dies?Well I have and well I thought this book was going to be the same but then read and more and more and boom!No cliche the dog lives!which is a first for me.I loved the book mountain dog cause it dosent follow the same old cliche and I like how the author puts the writing in stanzas like a poem which is my favorite kind writing and there's more but I'll save that for later on.
The main setting of the story is at a mountain where the boy Tony goes to live with his tio Leonilo or in English uncle leo and his dog Gabe after his mom gets sent to prison cause the police found out she was doing dog which is illegal.the mountain is an important setting cause its where most of the story takes place along with being Tony's favorite place cause to him it feels more like a home then his real home in the city. so Tony's lived with his mom that did dog fights which is illegal so she was sent to jail and tony was sent to live with his tio. so Tony tried not getting use to his new good life and prepared for the day he would need to get back to his bad life but slowly started to love it especially Gabe the dog who helped him through the hard times.Lastly he finds that his uncle wants him to be his son and tony finally excepts his new life and gets a dog so he can be like his uncle when he grows up.The conflict in my book is person vs self cause tony is trying to not getting use to his new life,trying to get over the fact his mom is in prison and dealing with a hard time to get over things and getting adapted to new things.The theme of mountain dog to me would be that even if many things go bad or if things are not going your way at one point and things will get better one way or another.
the point of view affected the story in many ways since it kept changing from a human to a dog; which made the story even more interesting especially since the author shows a dog's p.o.v which is Gabe's through most of the story.If it was in third person it would be harder to show the thought of the dogs and it wouldn't be as interesting.the structure of the story was very interesting cause it was very short dialogue not actual paragraphs cause it was written in stanzas so it was easy to read.all the words the author used were great cause they made you feel the characters feelings and felt like you were actually part of it.like when Gabe wanted to teach Tony how to be happy you could feel the determination in him with just a few words.
I was very satisfied with the ending which was Tony's uncle adopts him and then Tony gets a dog and is happy with his new family and dog.the reason why it satisfied me was because it makes the reader think what will happen after that point like for me I thought maybe he'll grow up to be like his uncle but to another maybe he follows his mom's step without wanting to and tries not.so in many ways it can make the reader think what will happen next.My favorite part was when Tony got his own dog cause then after that you get to Tony's new dog luz,Spanish for light point of view and see that she dealt with a similar situation like Tony's and hopes to get a better life but doesn't really except it like Tony was in the beginning.that's why its one of my favorite parts.
I would rate this book 5 stars cause I because I loved it had no cliche and the way it was written.I would recommend this book to anyone who like dog books or realistic fiction or poem form written stories. but I would mostly recommend it to someone who is dealing with this kind of situation or are having a hard time and maybe need a book to relate to.this book was awesome;it was a nice very touching and just a book you shouldnt just sniff with a curiosity but smell the whole entire story.

[Rachel Hogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle.
Tony goes to live with an uncle he’s never met when his mother is arrested for having a pit bull fighting ring. His uncle lives in a remote area on the Pacific Crest Trail and Tony slowly and unsteadily adjusts to a life where he doesn’t have to worry about city dangers, but there are wildlife dangers. His uncle trains rescue dogs and leads search and rescue missions. Gabe, Tio’s rescue dog, befriends and tries to heal Tony with his dog ways. The chapters alternate from Tony and Gabes point of view. The writing is a little juvenile (however, I guess that’s appropriate), putting it towards the 4th grade end of the Caudill spectrum, but the perspective of the dog is fun and interesting to think about. How do dogs interpret things? Do they have insight humans don’t? Where do their skills fall short? Can dogs heal people? Can they find people that are lost figuratively and literally? The young writing also helps even the playing field with several tough topics: child neglect, animal abuse, gambling, dog fighting, anger, abandonment. We see realistically that it takes Tony a long time to heal and there are a lot of setbacks. He is afraid to do math because he used to be forced to be in charge of bets where the losing dogs got abused. He is afraid to love and trust Tio because he fears his situation is temporary. He doesn’t want to get to know the kids at school because they might bully him or if he likes them he’ll have to leave. The wilderness is another big thing to be afraid of in a world where he is scared most of the time. So the personal development of Tony is what I found the most interesting. Other than that, it is somewhat uneventful and the prose is simple but not in a beautiful way. I guess I could definitely see a 12-year-old character writing like that, so it’s more realistic. But I definitely would go for Sharon Creech simple prose over this. But who doesn’t love a heartwarming dog story about a boy who gets rescued from his unstable life? This is a gentle way to introduce young readers to hard concepts to talk about.
For more rescue dogs, try: White Fur Flying by Patricia MacLachlan, Mad Dog by Dandi Daley Mackall, Rock Harbor Search and Rescue by Colleen Coble,
For more children of prisoners, try: Ruby on the Outside by Nora Raleigh Baskin, Saving Sam by Susan Brocker, Sunny Holiday by Coleen Paratore, Bill Rules by Elizabeth Fensham, Chasing the Falconers by Gordan Korman, and The Graham Cracker Plot by Shelley Tougas.
Tags: dog-fighting, contemporary realistic, novels in verse, rescue dogs, search and rescue, parents in prison, foster kids, wilderness, survival skills

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character in this story is a boy named Tony who struggles with moving forward from his troubled past. This novel can serve as a tool to help students understand how someone can be affected when they experience a “break” from the pattern of their normal life. Tony is ripped from his life in the city and sent to live in the mountains with an Uncle he has never met. Talk about an extreme change! I could use this story to have students examine and write about a time when they experienced a “break” from the pattern they were used to. For example, have they ever had to move to a new place or be the new kid at school like Tony was? What was that like? Or, for another option, I could have students look at a “break from the pattern” situation from a perspective that is not their own. Then, they would write about how they might react if they were that person.

[babyhippoface · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect to like this book. I looked at it as just another dog book, and I really didn’t want to read it. But because it is on the 2016 Sequoyah master list, I read it over spring break. I was quite surprised by what I found. Written in free verse, it is the story of Tony, an 11 year-old boy who has been taken from his mother and his home because his mother is going to prison for her involvement in illegal dog fighting rings. Tony leaves the city and goes to live with an uncle he has never known, Tio Leo, who is a forest ranger in the mountains and part of a volunteer search and rescue team along with his dog, Gabe. Tony quickly learns to love the outdoors and the freshness of the mountains, and especially Gabe. As his relationship with his angry mother disintegrates, Tony and Tio become closer. Tio teaches him how to survive in the wilderness, and lets him come along on rescue missions. Tony blossoms into a strong and intelligent young man under Tio’s leadership.

What makes this book really stand out is the style in which it is written. The first voice we hear is Tony’s. We about his fears, his angers, his desires, all directly from him. Then the voice shifts to that of Gabe, the happy-go-lucky search and rescue dog. Engle seems to channel the voice of an actual Labrador retriever for all of Gabe’s chapters, as he focuses on learning by the way things smell:
I love the smell of his hands. The finger scent rhymes with good smells, food smells, friendly smells. Only his shoes hold an unfriendly odor. Bad dogs have walked near him. Strange dogs. Dangerous dogs. Their stench rhymes with bear scent and lion scent and the stink of rough places where stray dogs are caged.

I found this to be an interesting, quick, and surprising read. I will definitely recommend Mountain Dog to our students.

2016 Oklahoma Sequoyah Children’s Book Award Master List

[Saharsh N · Rating 4 out of 5]

“How do I train a boy? I try to show him how to be joyful just walking and running and chasing roundness.” (Gabe the Dog, page 92). Mountain Dog, by Margarita Engle, is a heartwarming novel with a wonderful friendship story, a touching writing style, and amazing symbolism.

Mountain Dog is about a boy named Tony, whose cruel mother is put in prison for illegal dog fighting. Tony goes into the mountains to live with his great uncle, who has a very friendly rescue dog named Gabe. Tony has a great time in the mountains, helping Gabe with search and rescue missions. As this realistic fiction story unfolds, Gabe and Tony become best friends. But, Tony struggles with the fact that he can't stay with his great-uncle and Gabe forever.

An interesting aspect to the book, is that it took on both Tony’s and Gabe’s point of view. The author helps the reader acknowledge, not only Tony’s feelings, but also Gabe’s. Another fascinating aspect of the book is that it’s written in verse form. This quick and simple style, astonishingly accomplishes intense symbolism, along with straightforwardness.

A good example of symbolism that the author uses is math. Math represents good and evil in Tony’s world. Math is evil because Tony had to count the money won from dogfighting. He had to struggle with watching so many innocent dogs lose their lives. On the other hand, math is beneficial to Tony, because in order to be a veterinarian, he has to exceed at it.

In conclusion, Mountain Dog is a wonderful book, especially for readers looking for a good friendship story. Margarita Engle is a famous poet and novelist. Some of her other books include The Surrender Tree and Hurricane Dancers.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grades 4-7 (SLJ)
Tony is in the troubling world of family court and not having a home as his story begins. His mom was just sent to prison. Tony’s social worker surprisingly finds a family member for him to live with, a great uncle who is part of a search and rescue team with Gabe, the dog.
Tony suffers from nightmares and silence and worries. He finds it hard to talk with people. He doesn’t understand math because of something his mom made him do.
Tony’s character grows and develops while living with Tio and Gabe and he learns to trust and have hope.
Author Margarita Engle tells this story through two points of view (and then a third!), Tony’s and Gabe’s, and short chapters.
This book gives me hope.

My eyes were damp throughout this whole book.

Page 91: I come away from those visits (to mom in prison)
feeling like such a loser.
If I turned into a tattoo
on Mom’s face,
I’d be
a teardrop.

Page 141: Every time I start believing
in safety,
something happens....

Page 169: Gunshots and snarls (hunting season)
bring old nightmares
rushing back.
Why do I always
have to start over
again
and again
struggling
to be free
of the past?

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a twelve-year-old kid named Tony. His mom was sent to prison, so he had to go live with his great uncle, Tío, who he's never met before. Tony is forced to move from Los Angeles to Sierra, Nevada. Tony seemed to always be worrying about his past but when him and Gabe, a SAR dog, become friends things start to get better. Tony makes friends with "loud mouth" Gracie, and her Grandmother, B.B., or as Tío calls her Bee. Once everything seems to be a lot easier for Tony he gets lost in the woods. Tony was taught to wait and stay where he is if he every gets lost, but he panics and starts to run in a lot of different directions. He's finally found after many hours of Gabe searching for him. Then, just when things have settled down Tío asks if Tony wants to be adopted by him and B.B. So Tony says yes because his mom had started fighting in the prison and a guard got hurt so she has to add time to how long she's going to be in jail. Finally, Tío and B.B. get married.

[Debby Zigenis-Lowery · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend passed this book on to me because I am working on a a middle grade novel in verse and therefore also studying the form (most novels in verse are for the YA age range). While this is a contemporary novel--something I seldom read--I enjoyed it.

The first plus it has going for it, is the setting--my beloved Sierra Nevada mountains.

Second, it's a good story about a boy trying to build a new life after his mother, a drug addict and dog fighter, is put in jail.

Third, I like the dual point of view. The chapters are alternately narrated by "Tony the Boy" or "Gabe the Dog." Engle does a fantastic job helping me to imagine how a dog might think.

I'd recommend this book for anyone who loves dogs or kids embarked on transformative journeys. Thanks, Pat, for loaning this to me.

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took too many notes on the greatness of this book to include here: if you enjoy dog POV, novels in verse, confused boy finding his place, figurative language and symbolism, it's here. Has a bit of a Ghetto Cowboy feel. Sentence that made me sad: "Dogs that didn't bring a profit lost more than money." Sentence that made me happy: "There's no rule that says a scientist can't also love words." Final thought - dogs can save a life in so many ways.... LOVE this book!

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was our third read in the Oregon Battle of the Books program. Mountain Dog is basically an open verse narrative poem. There are chapters from the viewpoints of the rescue dog, Gabe, and the young boy named Tony who as come to live with Gabe.

This is a great story about starting over in life and getting beyond the past to a new future. Pretty cool story that also gives all-new appreciation for search and rescue people and animals.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books in "verse" are the rage in children's publishing these days, and this is like many of them in that it is more in short sentences than in really carefully chosen verse. That said, students who like survival stories, or dogs, will like this story of Tony, a broken boy who makes a bond with a rescue dog owned by his uncle. Best for grades 4-6.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I started reading this book to the boys, I thought, "uh-oh" they are not going to like this one. The writing style was different and every other chapter was from Gabe's (the dog) POV. Well, they both surprised me and enjoyed it, rating it a 4 1/2 and 5 stars.

[Liam Polacinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very kind and light hearted story. The mother went to prison cause of dog abuse and illegal dog breeding AKA a puppy mill of sorts. I think puppy mills are very horrid places. Dog Abuse/Animal abuse is completely unacceptable. It was decent.

[Lstonemppl.org · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice story, but the insights of the main character do not seem realistic for a child his age.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Saif Osman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book , a mix of poetry & fiction. Feel bad for Tony.

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel written in verse which lends itself well to the two voices telling the story--that of Tony and his uncle's dog, Gabe. I loved how the dog was always so joyous.

[SaraKat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was extremely worried after the first chapter because nothing in the blurb on the back or the cover showed that dog fighting was part of this story. Luckily, it didn't get very graphic. This was a very heartfelt story about a boy who was raised in very awful circumstances and his rehabilitation by a long lost uncle and a search and rescue dog. There is nothing too terrible in the book and it is suitable for the most tender-hearted of middle grade readers. It's a bit unrealistic in its amount of happy endings, but I appreciated it! It is a novel in verse, has Cuban immigrant representation, and a lot of interesting information about search and rescue teams.

Before he was adopted by Tio,
he was a stray, lost and lonely,
but now he finds lost people,
saving their lives.

Some things in life actually do
make sense.

The SAR dogs are rescues from a shelter, which makes me happy.

It's easy to sense
how divided
a dog
feels
when he loves
two people
and longs to be loyal
to both
but he knows
he has to choose
only one.

Poor Tony's main problem is that he has to make a choice between his mom and his uncle. He feels guilty about how much better he likes living with his tio, but we can all see that he is better off there. It's hard to let go of abusive parents sometimes.

Anger is like a disease.
You can catch it.
You can give it.

This book has excellent discussions of emotions and learning to handle anger and other strong feelings. He takes lessons from Gabe the dog on how to learn to play and be happy and forgive others.

But Gabe forgives me right away.
He always forgives everyone.
If Tio gets mad at him for breaking
the No Chasing Squirrels rule,
they make up quickly, but I never
seem to get over things
swiftly
and easily
like a trusting dog
or a really smart
grown-up.

Tony also has severe insecurity about his place with his tio. He doesn't know how long his uncle will put up with him and his future is up in the air.

How long will it be
until he sends me away?
Every time I start believing
in safety,
something happens
that makes me feel
like an old toothbrush
in the lost-
and-found
box
at school.

Nobody wants someone else''s
trash.

But in the end, his tio impresses on him that he is welcome and loved and even after he makes a stupid mistake, he won't be abandoned.

But the biggest gift
my uncle gives me
is the calm, patient feeling
that I still have plenty of time
to learn
common sense.

[Eileen Mccann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony, a young boy, is taken from an abusive mother by court order and placed in the hands of his great uncle, Tio. The journey into the unknown from city life to Uncle Tio's two room mountain cabin in the Sierra Navadas is a 'falling upward" journey.

Tony is finally physically free from being required to mend the wounds of dogs, the dog fight wounds, and free from counting the betting winnings. But the mending of his mind and spirit is just beginning. In this remote forest setting, surrounded by the beauty of nature, with his quiet, loving Uncle Tia and with his ever present, totally accepting chocolate lab, Gabe, Tony is able to travel to the depths to face demons: depression, fear, insecurity, feeling unloved.

Chapter by chapter the story is told from the point of view of Tony and Gabe. Tony relates his upward climb by taking the reader on Tony, Uncle Tio, Gabe missions. Both Tio and Gabe are part of the mountain rescue squad. These trips provide companionship and insights for Tony and help to mend his wounds. Healing continues in his new school setting even though fast talking, "in your face" Gracie is challenging for him. In the Gabe chapters, the dog expresses his concern for Tony as he walks his walk. In these chapters the reader experiences the love between an animal and its companion.

The journey for Tony in reclaiming his childhood, in finding himself and in feeling the love of his new found family, is beautifully written as a Novel in Verse, the first I've read of this poetry type. The rhythmic flow of the narrative takes the reader on an emotional, graphic, page-turner of a story. Gabe's poignant expression on the book's cover invites the reader to want to know him. And the black and white interspersed pictures enhance the setting and story mood. I look forward to using it as a read aloud with my third grade grandson.

How lucky I am to have chosen MOUNTAIN DOG. It's a keeper.

[Erin Sturtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This free verse novel is absolutely spectacular! Mountain Dog, by Margarita Engle, tells the captivating and inspiring story of a young boy named Tony. Tony’s mother went to jail for arranging fights between pit-bulls, a type of animal cruelty that is illegal. Tony is forced to live with his great-uncle in the mountains. Upon arriving, Tony immediately meets Gabe, a trained rescue labrador retriever. The novel goes back and forth between Tony and Gabe’s perspective. Not only is the novel rich in factual information of animal behavior and nature, it portrays an emotional connection between Tony and Gabe. The story shows Tony’s ability to endure hardships and overcome them. He learns to adapt into an unfamiliar world, and see how dogs are applauded for the important work they do. Overall, this heartwarming novel would be great in a middle school classroom. I think kids would enjoy the parts of the novel told from the dog’s perspective. Gabe’s thoughts are characterized by short and distinct sentences, similar to how we imagine dogs would process their thoughts. While it is written in free verse, the story is pretty simple to read. However, the concepts and lessons learned from the novel would be more easily understood by an older audience. I believe ages 9-13 would benefit from this novel. The detailed illustrations in this story are black and white, and occur every so often. They would not be very exciting for young kids. I would not recommend this book for an elementary classroom, but think it would be a perfect addition to a middle school classroom.

[Sara Stelmach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I typically don't choose to read books written in free verse but, I thoroughly enjoyed “Mountain Dog” by Arthur Engel. The book tells a story of an 11 year old boy, Tony, who is sent to live with his lonely great uncle who is a forest ranger. He is sent there because his mother is sent to prison for running a dogfighting ring. Tony experiences an earth shattering change from urban Los Angeles to rural Sierra Madres. He slowly adapts and heals from his traumatizing experience with his mother by befriending his great uncle's dog. Tony bonds with a Chocolate Labrador, Gabe, who is both a rescue and therapy dog. He gets to experience unconditional love for the first time in his life. Further, Tony gains a passion for animal advocacy and the hope to become a veterinarian in the future. He even creates a blog with Gabe called the Dog Nose Blog. This wonderful story of resilience is told from the point of view of both Tony and the dog Gabe. The chapters alternate between their point of view. The cover of “Mountain Dog” is a wonderfully depicted Chocolate Lab in the mountains of New Mexico. The lab seems just like what Gabe would like sweet and intelligent. The colors used on the cover are nice pastels. I would highly recommend this book for children in 4th through 6th grade.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle.
I have never read a novel in verse and so I was not sure what to think of the book at first, however, this book was beautifully written and captured a great story. Mountain Dog begins with a young boy named Tony who has been fostered by his great uncle Leo. As the story progresses you find out new truths about Tony’s past and how his mother fought pit bulls for money and dealt drugs. Tony goes on a journey where he finds peace with visiting his mother in prison and with learning how to have a true four-legged companion. Gabe, Leo’s search-and-rescue dog, helps Tony develop trust for others and learn that his future is much greater than following in his mother’s footsteps. This book can show older elementary aged students how free verse is written. Before reading Mountain Dog I assumed all free verse novels were hard to read and understand. But, with Engle’s writing and wonderful illustrations throughout the book, I was able to follow the story line easily and understand the lessons that Engle was intending. Mountain Dog is a great read for older elementary students and for adults who love dogs.