Just Gus

Best Friends Dog Tales #2

by McCall Hoyle

Return to the world of devoted working dogs and the humans they love in a new book from the best-selling author of Stella.

A boy and his dog learn that they are better together.

Gus is a livestock guardian dog with one job—protecting his farm from coyotes and foxes. He likes keeping the sheep, the chickens, and his humans safe, and he’s very good at it.

One day, Diego and his dad come to visit the farm, and Gus immediately connects to the small boy. They both like to sit still and enjoy the quiet, and Gus can tell that Diego likes being around a gentle giant of a dog, that it helps relieve the boy’s constant worry.

When Gus detects the scent of a bear in the woods, he rushes to protect his flock, injuring his leg in a fight with the dangerous beast. Wounded, Gus needs to rest and heal away from his sheep, so he doesn’t risk reinjuring his leg. Diego suggests Gus come home with them to the North Carolina coast.

Suddenly, Gus is thrust into a new world of saltwater and sand and neighbors who don’t appreciate the presence of a large guard dog, like the neighbor who reminds Gus of his first owner—the junkyard man with the heavy boots.

Gus realizes Diego might need a friend as much as his sheep need a protector, but if he can’t learn to control his instincts, like barking and patrolling the neighborhood, Gus might lose his chance to stay in his new home. If he can’t protect the farm or his boy, Gus worries he might never find his place in the world.

Just Gus is a tender story of belonging and of two friends who learn they are better together than they were alone.

Genres: Middle Grade, Dogs, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Animals, Childrens

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2023

About the author

McCall Hoyle lives in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains with her husband, children, and an odd assortment of pets. She is a middle school librarian and teacher. When she's not reading, writing, or teaching, she's probably training one of many dogs. You can learn more about her at mccallhoyle.com.

Reviews

[Emma☀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brought a huge smile to my face. I loved how the novel explored Diego overcoming his anxiety, with the help of his gentle giant - Gus. The relationship between boy and dog was so wholesome and heartwarming, and the illustrations made it even better. I recommend it to everyone of all ages and dog lovers too.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Warning ! Have a full box of Kleenex ready when you read this one!* (And no, not because the dog dies, because he doesn’t!)
Beautiful middle-grade story about a rescue dog who is all about protecting sheep, Then, he and a very anxious little boy meet, and bond, and then very tough decisions must be made…
I’m not a big fan of books written from the viewpoints of animals, but “Just Gus” and the author’s previous novel “Stella”, are definite exceptions. These are wonderful, touching books, that will grab the interest of anyone who loves dogs!

[Eva Millan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing because I could relate to it a lot because I have a dog named Gus, who acts just like Gus in the book.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Gus by McCall Hoyle is a wonderful fiction that speaks of life, love, adversity, and friendship between humans as well as canines.

This is such a wonderful and heartwarming story. The friendship between boy and canine was so genuine and really tugged at my heart. As someone that really loves dogs and feels the need for their presence in my life, I really identified with this story. It may be geared towards tween and young adults, but adults can easily enjoy and identify as well. I read this first before sharing with my son. I know he will love this as well.

Diego and Gus present as a wonderful pair that through their introduction and partnership of sorts, both find love, acceptance, and a place to belong.

Highly recommend.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/24/23.

[Sheena · Rating 5 out of 5]

McCall Hoyle's novels about dogs are just pure serotonin and absolutely wholesome. Just Gus is a spin off from Hoyle's previous book Stella that came out last year and was just as amazing. They can be read separately or together but I recommend together to meet all the characters. I loved Gus, he was such a good dog and I wanted to give him a big hug through the story. I recommend reading this asap for any dog lovers and this is also great for all ages!

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy and can't wait to see if there will be another book!

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gus is a working dog on a farm. His job is to protect his flock of sheep. When he has an unexpected encounter with a bear, Gus has an injury that requires him to stay inside and rest for six weeks. His owner decides to send Gus with her brother and his son, Diego, to their home in North Carolina near a beach where Gus can be with Diego.

Diego and Gus bond when Diego visits the farm on his summer vacation. Shy and suffering from social anxiety, Gus helps calm Diego in a way that no on else can manage to do. When the two have time to bond with North Carolina, things become complicated.

Gus' time with Diego is limited to the six weeks. His job is to take care of his flock of sheep. Has Gus found a new job?

A great read about how animals help us in so many ways. I love Gus and I love Diego and his resilience in facing his fears.

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I on a dog book spree? Yes, yes I am...do I regret it? Not at all...lol... What I love about Hoyle's book is that they are told form the dog's POV which remind me of my favorite dog movie, A Dog's Purpose (and yes, I know that it's a book too, I haven't gotten around to reading that one yet.).

Characters:
Gus...He's so lovable and it written so well! I've been around a several pyrenes and I love Gus Intermonologue! It's literally how I always imagined these dogs! From the ones who guarded sheep on a ranch we stayed at on vacation to the one that belonged to childhood friends down the road. Snow didn't let his boys out of his sight.
I loved Diego and his arc alongside Gus! And seeing Stella and Chloe again was also so fun! I loved this book!

Romance:
N/A

Language:
N/A

Violence/Gore:
Talk of an attack, torn ligament, healing, surgery, mentions of PTSD, etc...but all handled so well! This is a fantastic book! It tackles emotional support animals and social anxiety and the healing that a dog can bring.

Overall:
I loved this book and seriously need it on my shelf! Another bonus of this series is that all the books are set in North Carolina, so I can easily imagine the settings and the smells and the whole vibes! I love it!

Recommend for age 7+

[Angie Rothfuss · Rating 5 out of 5]

A companion to the book Stella for you animal-lovers! Told from the point of view of Gus, a herding dog who was seeking his one and only human.

[Sydney Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! If you’re an animal lover, this is the book for you. There was a lot of conflict in the book, which always made you sit on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend reading this book!

[Grace.holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 4 year old and I loved reading this together!! It was so sweet!

[Amber Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Allen White ✅

Another cute story from McCall Hoyle giving life and thoughts to a dog! I think of talks could talk to us they would have a lot of the same thoughts as Gus! We see the behaviors and mannerisms of dogs, but putting those to words and giving them meaning and purpose is a beautiful way to see dogs the way I think they would want to be seen.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended as a “bonus book” for book club as the author is a teacher at my son’s school. Me and my younger son really enjoyed this sweet story. Gus’s voice was very pure and perfect message for my 9 year old.

[Ruby Bagienski · Rating 5 out of 5]

It made me feel all excited inside! Although that happens with every good book I read.

[Christine Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this dog loving book. Appreciated the references to the book Stella. This is a cute story about a herding dog turned therapy dog.

Topics: dogs, anxiety, loss of a parent

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like STELLA, a companion book to JUST GUS, McCall Hoyle shows herself clearly to be a “dog person.” Stella, a dog who has experienced trauma and not only survives, but thrives, becomes a medical support dog and friend to Cloe who has epilepsy. Gus, a Great Pyrenees, endures abuse as a puppy but becomes a loyal livestock guardian dog and then finds another role helping Diego deal with his social anxiety. Both Stella and Gus are rehabilitated, trained and loved by Esperanza and after these two wonderful books, I am hoping for a whole series of “Esperanza’s Dogs!” ELA teachers will love that the story of Gus and Diego is told from Gus’ perspective and the fact that Hoyle includes thoughtful discussion questions at the end. Readers may not care about those things, but they will definitely care about Gus (esp. when he is badly injured by a rogue bear) and Diego. For those who read Stella, readers will appreciate a little follow up on that little cutie and her partnership with Cloe. The cover and the black/white sketches included periodically are beautiful and make me wish, not for the first time, that I could draw something other than stick figures. Text is free of profanity, sexual content, and the only violence is that done by and to the bear, none of which is particularly descriptive or gory. Representation: Esperanza and her family present as Hispanic (indicated by combining references to “Tio,” other name associations, food choices, and descriptions of complexion), Diego lives in a single parent home, MC struggling to handle extreme social anxiety. Excellent choice for libraries serving grades 4-6.

Thanks for the arc, Shadow Mountain and McCall Hoyle.

Note: In the arc form, illustrations appear to be in final form, but I wish that the illustrator had read the scene of eating Grandpappy’s ice cream as Diego is said to be spooning it into his mouth but the picture shows him with a cone.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Book Riot and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this copy of Just Gus, which I received as part of a giveaway along with two other titles from the publisher. (I won the giveaway this past summer. Sorry it took me so long to finally read one of those books!)

This book was so incredibly charming, but also quite poignant and thought-provoking. I came for the mental illness representation, but wound up becoming quite fascinated by the dog's intelligence and emotional detection. Are dogs really that intuitive? Maybe my next read should be a book on dog intelligence and behavior!

Intially, I wasn't sure how I felt about the story being told from Gus' perspective. There were times where I wish the book was told more from one of the humans' perspectives or perhaps even a third person omniscient point-of-view so we could bounce around the characters, perhaps back and forth between Diego and Gus. But after a while, it grew on me. And again, it was charming. While it took me some time to figure out what Gus meant with some of his terminology - like milk balls and talking boxes - I ultimately found it cute and funny. I'm sure he'd correct himself if he learned the correct terms, but I might like his names better. I'll definitely be calling ice cream "milk balls" from now on, LOL. (Oh god, I hope that doesn't sound inappropriate outside of the context of this book...)

As I said, what drew me to this book was the mental illness representation. I've suffered from anxiety for a very long time - I think I was even younger than Diego when I first started going to therapy for it. I never had the option of doing school online like Diego, 'cause, well, I grew up in the 2000s, so it wasn't really a thing then. (I still remember seeing the ads on TV for online college growing up and my family all joked about me going that route. And while I did defy them and start out going to in-person classes, I eventually switched to taking classes fully online - about a good year before you-know-what happened, actually.) Nor did I have any discussions with my parents about emotional support animals, because, again, I don't think that was much of a thing back then? At least not outside of the veteran spaces.

But aaaaaanyways, given that I had to grow up with only therapy on my side, I've become very interested in emotional support animals and what benefits they might have for anxiety sufferers like me. (Of course, ironically, any consideration I might have now of getting an emotional support animal for myself is tainted with anxiety, mostly pertaining to how successful/unsuccessful I'd be at caring for said animal. Welp.) I was very into a Netflix series, entitled The Healing Powers of Dude, several years ago about this very subject. There are quite a few similarities between that series and this book, in that both focus on boys who suffer from anxiety and turn to dogs for comfort, and they both anthropomorphize said dogs by giving them human thoughts/feelings; but the biggest one is that while Noah gets to bring his dog, Dude, to school with him to help his anxiety, Diego, as far as we know when the book ends, doesn't get to do the same with Gus. Which probably is one of my very few issues with the book. Well, maybe calling it an "issue" is a stretch, but I guess I was just hoping that somehow Gus would get to go to school with Diego and support him throughout the day. But I do also understand that Gus is a much bigger dog than Dude was, so it wouldn't be a good idea to bring him to school, and somehow, Diego seems pretty okay at school without him, which is impressive.

I've probably talked too much about myself in this review, haven't I? I'm sorry, I was just drawn to it for very personal reasons and saw a lot of myself in Diego and couldn't help but compare our experiences to each other!

Okay, I should wrap this review up before I start to ramble. (The downside of writing up my reviews at 2am when I've just finished my books and am running on fumes...)

I really do adore this book and it makes me yearn for a Gus of my own (though, admittedly, if I got an emotional support animal, it'd probably be a cat, not a dog; sorry!). And I'll give it my highest form of praise - I want a movie adaptation pronto. It feels like one of those good, wholesome family films or like a Hallmark movie (minus the romance, of course; unless you make Esperanza and Martin childhood friends rather than siblings). The scene in particular where Gus escapes the farm to run after Diego and Martin and finds them at that ice cream shop really felt cinematic to me. I can just imagine the swell of the music when Gus gets back on his feet and finally sees Diego and Martin again. I'm already emotional!

[Teenage Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot:
Gus was a working dog, his job was to protect the sheep. Unlike Nando and Stella, dogs whose purposes include protecting their humans Esperanza and Cloe, Gus’s purpose was protecting the entire farm from coyotes and foxes. It was important, but as a Great Pyrenees, it was also in his DNA. When Esperanza’s brother visits them, bringing his son Diego, Gus finds a connection with a shy boy who needed a friend. When protecting the farm leads to Gus getting hurt and unable to protect the sheep, Diego begs his dad to let them take Gus home to the Outer Banks, at least while Gus is healing. Leaving the farm for the first time, Gus is a little taken aback by this strange world so very different than his farm. Some neighbors do not like dogs, words like “come” and “stay” that Esperanza never used, and the ocean that Gus could swim in for hours. Yet, like the farm, Gus does have a job, and where it is not during the sheep from coyotes, it is giving Diego the strength to overcome his social anxiety. Diego wanted a friend, like Gus always wanted an owner, and the two of them form an unbreakable bond that solidifies a well-known fact that dogs are a man's best friend.

Thoughts:
McCall Hoyle brings us back to Esperanaza’s farm, this time telling us the story of Gus, the farm dog who never was supposed to be a pet. With fast pace writing, Hoyle successfully targets her young reader's audience with easy writing that makes the plot easy to follow. The story is told from the perspective of Gus, our dog, giving it a unique tale as readers can laugh about the human things done throughout the novel that confuse Gus, to appreciate the hard work our dog puts into building relationships with the humans, his human in particular Diego. Like many children, Diego struggles with social anxiety and finds Gus to help him find the courage to do things that he normally fears, like talking to strangers. With a rise in social anxiety among youth, this story serves as a way to remind people that they are not alone in their anxiety and that there are ways to get better, like Diego getting Gus to be his emotional support animal. The parts of the novel I did not like, not that it matters to children, is why the other dogs do not speak. We know dogs can communicate with each other, and Hoyle proves that Stella has a fantastic voice, yet in this novel, Gus just sees her and Nando as other dogs, unable to communicate with them as he could with the readers. It is frustrating because I feel like Hoyle could add so much to the story by allowing our past narrator Stella and current narrator Gus to talk to each other and share what they learn. Where this is a completely stand-alone novel, it is nice knowing the story behind Stella and Cloe as Hoyle builds a relationship between Gus and Diego. Overall, it is another fantastic dog-narrating novel for Hoyle that teaches children with social anxiety how to find the courage to speak up for the things they believe in and find friendship in a four-legged friend.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Cloe and her mother Esperanza brought Stella to their farm, where they rehabilitate dogs after the dog was traumatized and lost her owner. They also have Gus working on the farm, herding sheep, after he was abused and left tied up outside by an uncaring owner. The book is told from Gus' point of view. Cloe's cousin, Diego, and his father are spending some time on the farm before going back to the house along the beach. Diego suffers from significant social anxiety, and is planning on returning to in person schooling. He sees a therapist via computer, but still is very anxious. After Gus suffers a bad leg injury after a harrowing bear attack and can no longer run around the farm taking care of the sheep, Diego is the only person who can get Gus to calm down and do what he says. He finds that spending time with Gus calms him down, and since Gus needs to always be working, caring for Diego is something that he can do while recuperating. When it's time for Diego and his father to return to the beach, they decide to take him with them after Gus clearly doesn't want to be separated from his boy. Unfortunately, there are neighbors who object to Gus' barking, and report to the property owner that the dog is over the fifty pound limit. At one point, one man taunts Gus and pretends to be bitten, and has animal control take Gus away. Will Diego be able to find a way to keep the animal who clearly loves him, and who gives him emotional support?
Strengths: I like the depiction of working dogs; Stella was an epilepsy alert dog. There are lots of good details about training dogs, as well as caring for them when they have injuries. The depcition of Deigo's mental health challenges gives the reader just enough information to understand his difficulties without slowing down the story. There are not enough cousins in middle grade literature. The information about emotional support dogs, and the way in which the neighbor is eventually convinced that they are helpful, was handled well.
Weaknesses: The Vivienne To cover is great, but there is something about it that made me think it was a fantasy book and Gus was a guardian angel dog.
What I really think: Dog books have been increasingly popular in my library, and since this is a short, fast paced book that also addresses some health issues and has a great cover, I will probably buy it. Stella has circulated frequently.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as sweet as Stella, with way less crying on my end (less, not none. I made it to page 150 and then when he gets taken in by animal control and runs through the list of places he thought he was going to belong, only to conclude that maybe this is where he really belongs, "with all the other dogs that can't find a permanent place or person of their own," I lost it). I automatically care less about boys than girls, but I like the expansion of the world in multiple ways, with Diego being Cloe's cousin. Parents who rent should prepare to be pestered, though, with questions along the lines of "I just found out emotional support dogs are exempt from pet restrictions! NOW can we get a dog?"

And I love Gus even more than Stella, because Great Pyrenees dogs are amazing and I'm so grateful that I got hands-on experience with one as a kid. (Time to tell my favorite story: the petting zoo I spent a ton of time in during my hometown's weekly summer festival had one of these dogs, who was always included among the farm animals. He was a wonderful gentle giant, who took his community service duties of "stretched out on his side, mostly asleep and accepting affection indiscriminately, even from little kids who didn't always know how to be gentle" very seriously.)

P.S. Gus's story arc in two images:



("I am doing my job" makes me giggle every time. This comic and more are taken from The Pyr Review)

[Katie Reilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an early copy for #bookexpedition to read and review.

In this follow up to Hoyle’s Stella, Gus’s story is full of a dog’s heart and love for both his job and his humans.

Told from Gus’s point of view, we learn of his calling as a livestock guardian dog (on the farm where readers first met Stella). His job is to protect the farm’s animals from the sneaky coyotes and foxes that prowl around at night. One day, relatives comes to visit the farm and Gus immediately connects with Diego, the boy who always smells of worry.

When Gus catches the scent of a bear near the farm, he rushes to protect his animals and humans, injuring his leg. Wounded, Gus need to rest and heal, but for a working dog, that’s impossible when he’s at the farm.

Diego suggests that Gus returns home with him and his dad, and suddenly Gus is thrown into a new world of saltwater and sand, and a neighbor who doesn’t like the presence of a large, working dog. But Gus realizes that his job now means being a friend and protector to Diego, whose has social anxiety. Wanting to help Diego find the courage within himself, Gus must learn to curb his instinctual patrolling and barking if he wants to stay with the boy.

Working through their tragedies with love, acceptance, and a place to call home, Gus and Diego form an incredible bond that will warm readers’ hearts. Publishing in April 2023!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very sweet book for early middle readers, told from a dog’s point of view. The dog in question, Gus, is a Great Pyrenees who, after some rough treatment as a junkyard dog finds himself “better off” alone, in charge of guarding a small flock of sheep. He’s good at his job and appreciated for it by Esperanza who runs the farm and also rehabilitates dogs for the local shelter.

But one day, a menacing creature ambles on to the farm, sick and hunting for something sheepish to eat. Gus bravely takes him on and is gravely injured in the process. The story is about Gus healing from his wounds and coming together with a boy, Esperanza’s nephew, who needs him more than even his sheep do.

The theme here is about being “better together” and it’s a lesson learned by both Gus and his new boy, along with the adults in the story. The lesson is beautifully illustrated and it has many applications as we learn to take personal risks and to trust, even against our own instincts sometimes.

One wonderful thing about author McCall Hoyle’s dog books (there are three; all wonderful) is that the dogs don’t die at the end. Not to say that there aren’t emotional challenges along the way, but the stories are full of ways to tackle problems and learn from them. I’m a big fan of her books and would unreservedly recommend them, especially to young readers with pets, or who are soon to acquire one.

[Kim B (Our Charming Bookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possible Spoilers

Gus is a rescue dog that finds his new purpose on a farm protecting sheep. Esperanza and Cloe take care of him but his number one job is to protect. Cloe’s cousin Diego comes to visit for the summer and he always smells so nervous and doesn’t talk much.
One night Gus has the biggest animal he must protect his sheep from, a bear.
After his encounter he needs time to heal away from the sheep. So he Diego offers to take care of Gus far away at the beach where they live.
Gus starts to notice that Diego is braver, calmer, and more talkative when Gus is near him and he can be petted when Diego feels nervousness. Gus realizes his new protect job is Diego. He becomes super aware of his feelings and helps calm him.
A neighbor tries everything to get rid of Gus. But in the end can they stay together or must Gus go back to the farm to protect the sheep?

This story was so cute and told from the prospective of the dog Gus
A perfect youth book.

Sensitive content for kids:
The bear scene felt a little suspenseful for my 6 year old
Talks about the “junkyard man” kicking Gus in the side when in trouble.
Anxiety

Thank you to the publisher and author for this gifted copy

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just Gus
By McCall Hoyle

Gus is a working dog tasked with guarding sheep and chickens. And Gus is good at what he does, keeping the wild prey away. Until Gus comes up against a dangerous foe who injures him badly. Gus needs to rest someplace while he heals. But for a working dog, Gus is driven to do his job, so he needs to be away from his sheep and his need to guard.

Gus's connection with Diego proves to be a blessing. Diego struggles with worry and fear, but his connection with Gus helps him cope. But can a dog use to open outdoor spaces be content living in a house in a neighborhood?

Just Gus is an excellent book for middle-grade readers. The book is presented through Gus's point of view. We experience Gus's fear and frustration as he faces the unknown when his very identity is challenged. What determines a person's (or dog's) worth? And how do we handle our fears and worries when they overwhelm us?

This is a story with heart and is perfect for any young reader who loves animals, especially dogs. I love how it shows Gus's transition from a guardian of livestock to an emotional support dog. I also liked how Diego changes when he has Gus at his side. I have no qualms about recommending this book to middle-grade readers. This book both informs and entertains while exploring this timely topic.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gus is a livestock guardian and he is great at his job. But one night while protecting his flock he smells something different and it is when one of the other dogs runs out after it that Gus remembers the smell, Bear. He runs to protect his family and gets hurt in the process, when he comes home from the vet and must rest, but only Diego understands him and is just there letting him figure ow to do things out by himself, of course a bunch of bacon doesn’t hurt. Once he gets so he can move about some he doesn’t want to rest, he thinks he needs to resume his duties as a livestock guardian. That is when Diego asks if they could take him home with them to recuperate. That is when Gus learns the most important lesson of his life.
This is the best book and shines a light on the proper assistant animals. I really enjoyed this book so much I hope there are many more like it in the future. I wish we all knew what our pets where thinking it would make things so much easier. If you like working dogs of any kind this is a do not miss book.

[Emily Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just Gus by McCall Hoyle is about Gus, a Great Pyrenees, who guards sheep & chickens on the farm. He lives with Esperanza, Cloe, Stella & Nando. Gus does the important work of keeping everyone safe who lives with him. One night, Nando goes after a bear, and Gus has to follow. When Gus gets hurt, he doesn’t know what he will do without protecting the farm. Luckily, Cloe’s cousin Diego and his dad have come to visit. Diego has social anxiety and Gus can tell he gets nervous a lot. While he is in recovery, Gus and Diego become closer and closer. To keep Gus away from the field and protecting the sheep while he recovers, Diego takes Gus home. Gus learns that having a boy of his own is just what he needed. This is a sweet story about the power of getting help and knowing what you need when it comes to anxiety. The bond between Gus and Diego is powerful and Diego grows and overcomes a lot with Gus’s help.

If you loved Stella, this is a must read! I am really hoping there will be another book about Nando soon! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[maiaisreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

#BookRevew: JUST GUS by McCall Hoyle

Have you read Stella? I did and I was so excited to see a new book by the author. Just Gus is about Gus, a Great Pyrenees, who looks after the sheep & chickens on Esperanza’s farm. Gus loves his job and was always in earnest to do well. It was also nice to revisit Esperanza, Chloe and Stella in this book.

I enjoyed reading Gus’ perspective. It was cute how the author wrote Gus’ feelings and thoughts. The plot was good and I liked the pace. I appreciate that the book explored Diego’s anxiety and how to secure an emotional assistance dog. Gus is a large dog but very gentle. He calms Diego.I liked how he says that Diego is his boy.

The book is so heartwarming. The illustrations are adorable, especially with Gus and the sheep. I loved Stella a lot and I think Gus' story is a good one too. I look forward to more books by this author.

Rating: 4 ⭐
Pub date: 04 Apr 2023

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Debbie]

As soon as I saw the cover of Just Gus, I knew I had to read this book. While there are a lot of books about collies, golden retrievers and German shepherds, there aren’t many books about Great Pyrenees dogs. I feel sure that McCall Hoyle must own a Great Pyrenees because she perfectly captures their loyalty and stubbornness. The book is told from the point of view of Gus, a livestock guardian who cares for his flock of sheep. After Gus is injured in a bear attack, it is important that he have a quiet indoor life while he recovers. His owner realizes that Gus will need some place away from his sheep in order to stay quiet and heal. Her nephew, Diego, begs for the chance to take Gus home to North Carolina and care for him. Diego has problems with anxiety and being around Gus calms him. Gus enjoys the change – especially the ocean - but his barking and protection of Diego stir up problems. I was so glad that the book had a wonderful, heartwarming ending.
Although Just Gus is geared toward children, it will appeal to dog lovers of all ages.

[Viktória Vojteková (The_books_hunter) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kamoš Gus je kniha pre deti od 9 rokov, ale je príjemným čítaním aj pre dospelých. Mám 25 rokov a ja som si pri nej oddychla, užila si čítanie, ponorila som sa príbehu a moje srdce si získali všetky hlavné postavy. Až na tie zákerné, tie mi zvyšovali tlak. 😄

Knižka je voľným pokračovaním knižky Šanca pre Stellu. Knihu o Stelle som nečítala a naozaj to nerobilo problém pri čítaní tohto pokračovania. Takže aj samostatne viete čítať tieto príbehy.

Gus bol psík, ktorý si v minulosti prešiel zlými skúsenosťami a preto si zaslúžil šťastné pokračovanie a nájdenie pravého zmyslu jeho psieho života.

Ak máte radi príbehy, kde je rozpravacom samotný pes, tak vám túto knižku odporúčam ako pre deti tak aj pre starších čitateľov.

Zároveň sa v knihe autorka jemne dotýka aj takých vážnejších tém ako je napríklad úzkosť. Je tu krásne zachytený rast ako Gusa, tak aj Diega, chlapca trpiaceho úzkosťou.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a boy, Diego, and a dog, Gus. Now Gus is not an ordinary dog, sadly he was abused and rescued, and now he is a working dog. This read is told from a dog's point of view, which most children, and adults, appreciate.
Gus's job is taking care of sheep, and he takes his job very seriously! We quickly learn which scents he likes and which send him into a threat mode.
Now Gus is a big dog, he is a Great Pyrenees a working dog, a big white strong fellow. He is intimidating to most of the predators, and as we read he becomes injured by a bear.
This is the story of healing, both for Gus and a little boy named Diego. A story of bonding that will tug on your heart, making it a page turner for answers! Can a dog move from a farm to the beach?
I received this book through the Publisher Shadow Mountain, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gus was a Great Pyrenees and was considered a working dog. His main job was to take care of livestock, primarily sheep from coyotes and foxes.. Other than a working dog, Gus was a family pet and an emotional support animal. One day, Gus met a boy named Diego and the big dog made him feel less anxious.
Every dog needs a boy.
Often dogs and boys experience their first best friends, because of s dog.. McCall Hoyles tells that story of love and companionship and he tells it well.
The author wrote this book for Middle Grade readers;however, I would recommend the book for an age reader. Most importantly, ther book would be a perfect addition to a home or school library.
Thank you McCall Hoyle, Vivienne To Illustrator, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this novel.