The Long Road

The Last Dogs #3

by Christopher Holt, Allen Douglas (Illustrations)

A science experiment gone horribly awry has granted Max, Rocky, and Gizmo the unique ability to read and understand human words. Armed with this know-how, they continue to journey south, on the lookout for beacons planted by a trusted friend's owner -- beacons that promise to lead the trio to their people.




When the companions reach the ocean's edge, they find a free-spirited beachfront community. Reunited with long-lost friends (and introduced to a new delicacy -- cat kibble ), Max, Rocky, and Gizmo gain the motivation they need to keep going. But danger lies ahead. . . . As their travels take them deep into the spooky swampland, can they discover what's driven the humans away? Or have they finally reached the end of the long road?




The Last The Long Road is the third book in a thrilling series about three unlikely friends on an epic quest to find their people -- and bring them home.

Genres: Middle Grade, Dogs, Animals, Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Mystery

328 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 2013

Reviews

[Michelle Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

This series is just a whole lot of meh. It seemed fine for the first two books; fine, not awesome. By book three with one more to go, I just can't find much merit in this series. It has no heart.

This series takes place in the southern United States, and it's just filled with the most obnoxious lingual stereotypes: idioms such as Y'all","Ya hear?", "Bless your heart!" and "You gonna get ate!" I'm southern, and I have never said anything of the sort.


I know this series is MG, but my mind keeps getting hung up on how electricity is still being supplied to homes and stores, despite humans having deserted most of the country. Working power occurs too often to be attributed to solar panels, and I can't see people still working the jobs required to produce energy when there's a scary virus that people from all walks of life are running from, and powering communities people have abandoned en masse is an odd risk to take under the circumstances.


Mostly, this series is just too bland to even care about. I'm done. I won't be reading the final installment.

[Booklover456 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sister recommended me this series and I really like it.
It is easy to breeze me and the characters are great.
I LOVE GIZMO!
But what irritates me is when an author makes constant references to their goal. It doesn't have to be repeated so much. It started to get on my nerves that were going on an "adventure."
The action is never ending.
I usually have this flaw when I write, but there is no build up for an important scene. It's just action after action, leaving no spine for a plot.
But some scenes were good.
Like the Mudlurker. The Silver Tongued Rocky.
Christopher Holt could do a little better.
But I did like this installment, despite the flaws.
A nice dystopian fiction with dogs. The idea of a virus slightly resembles Planet of the Apes, but I couldn't stop reading!
Actual rating: 3.5 stars✖

[Jreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆4.5
This has got to be my favorite book of this series and I'll get into why

I think what really made this book great was the exploration of worlds and other animals.

We meet a lot more species in this book some good some bad. In the first 2 books the villains were the wolves or the dog of the week but in this book there are possums, gators, another dog but like different and other foes.

I also enjoyed the team picking up new members for awhile. In earlier books they would meet allies such as Raoul but they would all stay where they were beforehand, but in this book we meet more allies who stay with the crew for parts of their journey which was fun to see considering the different dynamic each ally brought to the main 3.
------spoilers ahead----
Speaking of allies, I loved Georgie and I'm also happy he didn't end up going with the 3 dog crew longer because while I loved him it would be weird to add another dog this late into the series.

I'm very intrigued as to where Dolph will end up and I'm happy they added more to his character, I have a feeling he'll turn more into an antihero rather than stay the villain but I'll just have to find out.

I'm also interested to see what the plot of the last book will be- I assume they're going to try and find Madame's leader again but it was nice to finally meet her and also find Belle.

Quick side note: can we get a spinoff with Belle, Georgie, Whitey, and Fletcher because they seem like a really interesting crew and I would have loved more time with whitey.

The possums were ok, the gators were fine, neither of them struck me same with the dogs at the beach and the animals with madames leader. You'd need more time for me to actually be interested in those characters but I was pretty bored of them. There was nothing bad about them they were just bland.

Overall;
☆4.5 ▪︎ 328 pages

[Twyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part was when the dogs found the lady, and she was nice to them and learned that they had been cured of the virus and were very smart and could understand her and how to read. I also liked it when they met Buddha, Possum, and Panda again, along with another cat from the cat house in the first book. My least favorite part was when Belle had turned almost crazy after the humans had left, and she had been so nice before. At least Max managed to convince her to leave the old mansion and go with Georgie and his friends. I also didn't like it when the rats tried to keep the dogs and Whitey trapped in the junkyard with them, especially when they acted so nice at the start.

[Saga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book really, really much even though it was a little too easy to read for me. The way the author has worked with his characters to bring them to life is absolutely stunning. Max, Rocky and Gizmo symbolizes so much hope during the whole story and the dogs they encounter each have different personalities and reactions to the humans' disappearance.

This book never felt too long or too repetitive and the way the author brings up past events to help you remember is amazing. Old characters show up again and together they bring the story forward.

I highly recommend it!

[Savannah K · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Dogs is an adorable little book, simple but with a lot of meaning. There are some plot holes - the dogs can talk to some animals but not others, etc. Also, Max has nightmares pretty much every night which really lessens their impact, and the messages in the nightmares are very obvious. There isn't much subtlety, but it had a nice message.

[Rick Bavera · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is entertaining. Good at building the suspense of what might happen next.

One thing I found strange in this book is that two of the dogs that were described as "mutts" and sort of "bad dog" types had the names "Blanche" and "Devereaux". It left me wondering if the author was a fan of Golden Girls and Blanche Devereaux, or DIDN'T like the show and the character.

[K.C. Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enigmatic storytelling? A quirky and colorful cast??? The revelation of the unintended effects of a medical-experiment-turned-bioweapon?????

I regret not finishing this sooner – sign me up for the next and final book.

[Alia McClard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the book, when georgie scared away the gallters! I was shocked when that happened! I learned that in the book that if the animals thinks that a muddlucker would scare them off, then prove it! This is a great book to read, seeing them running for their lives!

[Worm of the Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how this one touched on the part of even if somebody’s treating you poorly you can look for the good in them and that’s what happen with the wolf Dolph and Bell and all the other animals that helped Rocky and Gizmo and Max.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max, Rocky and Gizmo, who can understand human speech and writing, set out to Baton Rouge to find Belle. Along the way they encounter wolves, possums, and alligators. Very good, easy read. Very good illustrations by Allen Douglas.

[Kendal Bottenfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a pretty good book, but compared to the first two it dragged out most of the events. It's definitely worth reading though because the last book has a very interesting plot.

[Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of adventure and action. I really liked it!

[Tiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it Dolph is so mean and won't give up

[Rick Slottow · Rating 4 out of 5]

somewhat slower the the first two. still a joy to read/

[Krys · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Natalie Wince · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love when the rats come.

[Nikki Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series as a kid. It's perfect for dog lovers who also enjoy science-fiction.

[Joachim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Long Road, it being the end of the series and a fascinating conclusion illustrating the struggles the dogs had to go through to get back to their regular lives and survive in the wild.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great third installment! I think this book series handles some serious topics very well for teaching young children. Messages of faith and never losing hope especially come across strongly in this series. In a world of such depressing news channels and Facebook feeds, it's a delight to find a serious topic with an upbeat, positive message.

If someone had walked up and told me there was a book series out there about a post-apocalyptic future where dogs have to find their own way in a world where humans have vanished, I would have thought that person was kinda weird. But I have enjoyed it immensely!

[Snapdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

.More reviews like this one on my blog Snapdragon Alcove
There nothing new to this sequel, however it is needed for the series to help avenges the plot.

Does Max and co. find the women leaving the beacons behand?

Do they make it to Baton Rouge?

Do they find Bell?

Along with find the humans seems a little too much to end the series. Each side plot does bring them closer to the humans. I do like the characters and how they meet other dogs and animals that they never seen before on their journey.

I’m glad it didn’t end like the second book with a dog dying.

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third installment in a children's series that I have really enjoyed. Max, Rocky and Gizmo are on a mission to find their people. As they have journeyed through the South, they grow closer to the answer of what has happened to the animals that has made the people flee.

I have been intrigued by the struggles the dogs encounter along the way and I also find the story compelling.

I look forward to the final book.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max, Rocky and Gizmo continue their journey to find Belle and the lady with the hat who will hopefully help them return to their owners. This part of the trip takes them to alligators, possums, rats, and Dolph and the other wolves. Some are friendly, most are not and some change a little. This brings the end a lot closer and I'm looking forward to the final book.

[Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good book. I know my cousin would adore this book because all it's dogs. When Max, Rocky and Gizmo found Belle, I did not expect her to be what she was. Wonder why Boss loved her. I know she changed a bit but still. I liked the part with Dr. Lynn. Great book!

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the 1rst book more than the 2nd book or the 3rd book but the 3rd book and the 2nd book are still pretty good.I have not heard of a car wash in a swamp before but it is pretty reasonable.There is some things the possums could of done like sneak out of the swamp and live somewhere else.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, Max and his friends meets a kind woman named Dr. Lynn. They learned from her in why the humans disappeared from the cities and towns. Will Dr. Lynn find the cure so the humans can go back home? Will Max and his friends find their owners?

[Haley]

I loved this book because Max, Rocky, and Gizmo survived all kinds of things like snakes and crocodiles! They even found who they were looking for. The dogs met a lot of new friends and were very adventurous. Loved the ending! :)

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 3rd of 4 books in the series about Max, Rocky and Gizmo going in search of their masters. This one involves swamp land and laboratories where the 3 of them acquire amazing abilities. Can't wait for the last - later this year.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of all of The Last Dogs books thus far, I think this one may actually deserve the five stars I gave it five years ago. I really like this one. Looking forward to rereading Journey's End.

[Jennifer Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids and I been reading this for nearly a year, but don't let that speak to how enjoyable the book is! Really great continuation of this story. Looking forward to the final book in the series.