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PAWS #5
The Trouble with Leo
The girls of PAWS have a bone to pick with a group of rival dog walkers in the fifth book of this heartwarming and hilarious graphic novel series that is the Baby-Sitters Club for pets!
It's been seven whole dog years of PAWS (or just one if you're a human), and business is at an all-time high! But after a regrettable run-in with Gabby's arch-nemesis, Leo, things take an unfortunate turn. The two have an argument and Leo leaves the girls with an ominous "You're not the only one who can walk dogs..."
It's not long before the girls notice flyers advertising a new dog walking business, SCAMPS. Sure enough, Leo and friends Brandon and Nolawi are behind it. And when Gabby and Mindy take some not-so-righteous retribution on these PAWS copycats, what could just be a little healthy competition turns into an all-out turf war.
In the midst of it all, Mindy gets stuck doing a group project with Brandon, bringing her face to face with the enemy. But is it possible they have more in common than not? As the battle between the two groups escalates, and neither side is playing fair, the girls are forced to reconsider who the true villain of this story might really be.
It's been seven whole dog years of PAWS (or just one if you're a human), and business is at an all-time high! But after a regrettable run-in with Gabby's arch-nemesis, Leo, things take an unfortunate turn. The two have an argument and Leo leaves the girls with an ominous "You're not the only one who can walk dogs..."
It's not long before the girls notice flyers advertising a new dog walking business, SCAMPS. Sure enough, Leo and friends Brandon and Nolawi are behind it. And when Gabby and Mindy take some not-so-righteous retribution on these PAWS copycats, what could just be a little healthy competition turns into an all-out turf war.
In the midst of it all, Mindy gets stuck doing a group project with Brandon, bringing her face to face with the enemy. But is it possible they have more in common than not? As the battle between the two groups escalates, and neither side is playing fair, the girls are forced to reconsider who the true villain of this story might really be.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2026
96 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 1, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
While we haven't seen much of classmate Leo in Gabby Gets it Together, Mindy Makes Some Space, Priya Puts Herself First, or Hazel Has Her Hands Full, we get to spend a lot of time with him in this volume of PAWS. He and Gabby have always had a fraught relationship after a misunderstanding at her birthday party three years ago, but when Gabby runs into an angry Leo in the park, things escalate. Leo decides to start a competing dog walking service with his friends Brandon and Nolawi. The trio plaster the neighborhood with posters advertising Super Cool and Mobile Pet Support, and these even include a QR code to a WALKR app where customers can schedule appointments. Gabby is furious, and takes down the posters. She shows the poster to her father, who is more concerned with how much of a cut the app takes from gig economy workers. She even goes so far as to leave negative reviews on the WALKR site, even though SCAMP doesn't actually have any clients. There is a science project at school, and because Gabby and Leo made a fuss when people were picking their own partners, Mindy is paired with Brandon. They actually get along, share a love of drawing and manga, and need time to work on the project outside of school, which infuriates Gabby, who is bent on destroying her nemesis. This causes problems in the PAWS business, which is often overbooked. The owner of Scraps uses SCAMP, but cancels when Gabby ask about the service. Since this was SCAMP's only customer, and they are out a lot of money for all of their posters, Leo is angry. After Brandon accidentally picks up the PAW's contact book and Leo uses the information to find clients, Gabby and Leo come to blows. It is revealed that Leo's dad moved to Toronto with his dog, and also that Gabby was the one in the wrong during the birthday party. Even though it is difficult, Gabby apologizes, and PAWs is able to increase their business by adding the SCAMPs staff to its own.
Strengths: This newest volume in the PAWs series really ups the game with the introduction of Gabby's nemesis. This is certainly something that comes up in middle school with alarming frequency, and man, does Gabby hold a grudge. Leo is also very devious, and sets out to destroy Gabby rather than set up his own successful business, although Brandon and Nolawi have some great ideas. This all unfolds in a realistic way, and Gabby certainly walks all over her friends at PAWs as well. I love how realistically dark this is, and how very, very wrong Gabby is at the end. Poor Leo, losing his father AND his dog to another city, and then to be treated so poorly. Dramatic and traumatic in the extreme. Add in a sweet relationship between Brandon and Mindy, and this is middle school melodrama at its finest. I already have students eager to read this volume, and they will not be disappointed.
Weaknesses: I understand long, long grudges as well as anyone (Remember that purple crayon in 3rd grade, Mark? I do.), Gabby is way out of line when she leaves negative reviews. I'm surprised she didn't get into more trouble for her actions.
What I really think: This is a popular series in my library, and I love the fact that the characters are all involved in a bunch of activities and are generally upbeat in their outlook. It will be interesting to see how the series continues as Mr. Fairbairn steps down to do other projects and turns over the leash to Ms. Assarasakorn.
While we haven't seen much of classmate Leo in Gabby Gets it Together, Mindy Makes Some Space, Priya Puts Herself First, or Hazel Has Her Hands Full, we get to spend a lot of time with him in this volume of PAWS. He and Gabby have always had a fraught relationship after a misunderstanding at her birthday party three years ago, but when Gabby runs into an angry Leo in the park, things escalate. Leo decides to start a competing dog walking service with his friends Brandon and Nolawi. The trio plaster the neighborhood with posters advertising Super Cool and Mobile Pet Support, and these even include a QR code to a WALKR app where customers can schedule appointments. Gabby is furious, and takes down the posters. She shows the poster to her father, who is more concerned with how much of a cut the app takes from gig economy workers. She even goes so far as to leave negative reviews on the WALKR site, even though SCAMP doesn't actually have any clients. There is a science project at school, and because Gabby and Leo made a fuss when people were picking their own partners, Mindy is paired with Brandon. They actually get along, share a love of drawing and manga, and need time to work on the project outside of school, which infuriates Gabby, who is bent on destroying her nemesis. This causes problems in the PAWS business, which is often overbooked. The owner of Scraps uses SCAMP, but cancels when Gabby ask about the service. Since this was SCAMP's only customer, and they are out a lot of money for all of their posters, Leo is angry. After Brandon accidentally picks up the PAW's contact book and Leo uses the information to find clients, Gabby and Leo come to blows. It is revealed that Leo's dad moved to Toronto with his dog, and also that Gabby was the one in the wrong during the birthday party. Even though it is difficult, Gabby apologizes, and PAWs is able to increase their business by adding the SCAMPs staff to its own.
Strengths: This newest volume in the PAWs series really ups the game with the introduction of Gabby's nemesis. This is certainly something that comes up in middle school with alarming frequency, and man, does Gabby hold a grudge. Leo is also very devious, and sets out to destroy Gabby rather than set up his own successful business, although Brandon and Nolawi have some great ideas. This all unfolds in a realistic way, and Gabby certainly walks all over her friends at PAWs as well. I love how realistically dark this is, and how very, very wrong Gabby is at the end. Poor Leo, losing his father AND his dog to another city, and then to be treated so poorly. Dramatic and traumatic in the extreme. Add in a sweet relationship between Brandon and Mindy, and this is middle school melodrama at its finest. I already have students eager to read this volume, and they will not be disappointed.
Weaknesses: I understand long, long grudges as well as anyone (Remember that purple crayon in 3rd grade, Mark? I do.), Gabby is way out of line when she leaves negative reviews. I'm surprised she didn't get into more trouble for her actions.
What I really think: This is a popular series in my library, and I love the fact that the characters are all involved in a bunch of activities and are generally upbeat in their outlook. It will be interesting to see how the series continues as Mr. Fairbairn steps down to do other projects and turns over the leash to Ms. Assarasakorn.
March 30, 2026
3/29/2026 4.25 stars. Adorable! Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
3/30/2026 This fifth installment of the PAWS graphic novel series for Middle Grade readers is too cute!
Jumping into a series on its fifth installment can always feel a little disorienting, so I do recommend reading the earlier books in the series first to get a better understanding of who some of these unintroduced characters are. That said, the book does work as a standalone. I can't imagine not wanting to get started with the prior books, tho, if they're anywhere close to as charming as this one is!
It's been a whole year since a group of girls who weren't allowed to own dogs, but who really wanted to hang out with them, started a dog-walking service called PAWS. Members have come and gone in the interim but business continues to grow for Gabby, Mindy and Hazel. The girls and their families and friends are having an anniversary picnic at the park when a regrettable encounter between Gabby and her nemesis Leo leads to the latter declaring that he'll just start his own dog-walking business then.
Gabby laughs it off, but when flyers for a new dog-walking service called SCAMPS start showing up around the neighborhood -- staffed by Leo and his friends Brandon and Nolawi -- an all-out turf war erupts, with both sides resorting to dirty tactics. Gabby's big mouth, however, winds up getting Mindy and Brandon assigned to work on their class science project together. As an unlikely friendship springs up between the two, can they figure out a way to calm things down before one of the pet-lovers does something that there's no coming back from?
I love how generous and warm-hearted this book is, and the much-needed perspective it gives on the beef between the kids. Sometimes people are genuinely terrible and should be shunned because they're calcified in their hurtful behavior. However, most people -- and especially kids -- are just poor communicators far too willing to overreact before getting all the information. Teaching kids in particular to have conversations instead of going ballistic is a valuable life skill, so they can grow into people who don't aggressively protect their own egos by lashing out at others for seemingly no reason. It's also important to teach that you can't do bad things in the name of your side, and that fairness is far more necessary than scoring invisible points against your opponent, when the real victory would be working together to ensure a better community outcome.
The art is adorable, and such a departure from the work of Michelle Assarasakorn (under the name MsassyK) that I'm familiar with. The characters are expressive, and scenes flow well from one panel and page to the next, with excellent colors. The fantasy interlude is a trip! This will actually be Nathan Fairbairn's last title on the series, and while I'm sad to see him go, I'm super excited to see where Ms Assarasakorn will take PAWS next.
The Trouble With Leo by Michelle Assarasakorn & Nathan Fairbairn was published March 3 2026 and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
3/30/2026 This fifth installment of the PAWS graphic novel series for Middle Grade readers is too cute!
Jumping into a series on its fifth installment can always feel a little disorienting, so I do recommend reading the earlier books in the series first to get a better understanding of who some of these unintroduced characters are. That said, the book does work as a standalone. I can't imagine not wanting to get started with the prior books, tho, if they're anywhere close to as charming as this one is!
It's been a whole year since a group of girls who weren't allowed to own dogs, but who really wanted to hang out with them, started a dog-walking service called PAWS. Members have come and gone in the interim but business continues to grow for Gabby, Mindy and Hazel. The girls and their families and friends are having an anniversary picnic at the park when a regrettable encounter between Gabby and her nemesis Leo leads to the latter declaring that he'll just start his own dog-walking business then.
Gabby laughs it off, but when flyers for a new dog-walking service called SCAMPS start showing up around the neighborhood -- staffed by Leo and his friends Brandon and Nolawi -- an all-out turf war erupts, with both sides resorting to dirty tactics. Gabby's big mouth, however, winds up getting Mindy and Brandon assigned to work on their class science project together. As an unlikely friendship springs up between the two, can they figure out a way to calm things down before one of the pet-lovers does something that there's no coming back from?
I love how generous and warm-hearted this book is, and the much-needed perspective it gives on the beef between the kids. Sometimes people are genuinely terrible and should be shunned because they're calcified in their hurtful behavior. However, most people -- and especially kids -- are just poor communicators far too willing to overreact before getting all the information. Teaching kids in particular to have conversations instead of going ballistic is a valuable life skill, so they can grow into people who don't aggressively protect their own egos by lashing out at others for seemingly no reason. It's also important to teach that you can't do bad things in the name of your side, and that fairness is far more necessary than scoring invisible points against your opponent, when the real victory would be working together to ensure a better community outcome.
The art is adorable, and such a departure from the work of Michelle Assarasakorn (under the name MsassyK) that I'm familiar with. The characters are expressive, and scenes flow well from one panel and page to the next, with excellent colors. The fantasy interlude is a trip! This will actually be Nathan Fairbairn's last title on the series, and while I'm sad to see him go, I'm super excited to see where Ms Assarasakorn will take PAWS next.
The Trouble With Leo by Michelle Assarasakorn & Nathan Fairbairn was published March 3 2026 and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
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February 27, 2026See my full review here: https://yabookscentral.com/paws-the-t...
PAWS: THE TROUBLE WITH LEO is an engaging graphic novel about entrepreneurship, friendship, and rivals. Gabby and her friends are crushing it with their dog walking business, PAWS. However, things become more challenging when Gabby's nemesis, Leo, wants to join the team. After he is rejected, he decides to get revenge and starts his own dog walking business, SCAMPS.
As things heat up between the two rival businesses, the kids will find themselves making challenging decisions and reaching a breaking point. They will need to figure out how to resolve this and work together for the good of all involved.
What I loved: This is a highly engaging and relatable story. Middle grade readers will relate to the feeling of rivalries and nemeses while having to work together at school and navigate these relationship challenges. The book handles these well, while also showing the challenges to entrepreneurship and starting your own company plus handling all the logistics that come with it. While PAWS is more established, SCAMPS is getting off the ground and finding the market more difficult than anticipated.
There are many lessons to be learned as they navigate these spaces and relationship challenges. Feelings and businesses are in the crossfire, and both Gabby and Leo learn about communication, kindness, and the trouble with animosity.
The images are really fantastic throughout with lots of great color and expressive characters. The speech bubbles are easy to follow and attribute, without overloading any of the images. The presentation is perfect throughout and the format is perfect for the story.
Final verdict: PAWS: THE TROUBLE WITH LEO is a consuming and entertaining graphic novel with great themes for middle grade readers. Highly recommend for fans of friendship, creativity, and thoughtful stories.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
PAWS: THE TROUBLE WITH LEO is an engaging graphic novel about entrepreneurship, friendship, and rivals. Gabby and her friends are crushing it with their dog walking business, PAWS. However, things become more challenging when Gabby's nemesis, Leo, wants to join the team. After he is rejected, he decides to get revenge and starts his own dog walking business, SCAMPS.
As things heat up between the two rival businesses, the kids will find themselves making challenging decisions and reaching a breaking point. They will need to figure out how to resolve this and work together for the good of all involved.
What I loved: This is a highly engaging and relatable story. Middle grade readers will relate to the feeling of rivalries and nemeses while having to work together at school and navigate these relationship challenges. The book handles these well, while also showing the challenges to entrepreneurship and starting your own company plus handling all the logistics that come with it. While PAWS is more established, SCAMPS is getting off the ground and finding the market more difficult than anticipated.
There are many lessons to be learned as they navigate these spaces and relationship challenges. Feelings and businesses are in the crossfire, and both Gabby and Leo learn about communication, kindness, and the trouble with animosity.
The images are really fantastic throughout with lots of great color and expressive characters. The speech bubbles are easy to follow and attribute, without overloading any of the images. The presentation is perfect throughout and the format is perfect for the story.
Final verdict: PAWS: THE TROUBLE WITH LEO is a consuming and entertaining graphic novel with great themes for middle grade readers. Highly recommend for fans of friendship, creativity, and thoughtful stories.
Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 28, 2025
I would like to thank edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. In the fifth book in the series the girls have some competition from a new all boy dog walking club. Can these two clubs co-exist or will there be trouble? A cute and fun read. Can't wait to see what the next one will be about.
April 16, 2026
PAWS dog walking group is doing well....until Leo and Gabby start fighting. Leo decides to start his own dog walking group called SCAMPS and chaos ensues as the two groups fight back and forth. Things get out of hand, no one is happy, everyone is fighting. When everyone decides it's enough they talk to Leo and Gabby trying to get them to see what they're doing. Can they fix the trouble?
April 29, 2026
I absolutely love this series and I hope it continues on, because I'd love to see how PAWS works out! I really love the artwork in this series, I feel like every panel is drawn with love, and though the feud between Gabby and Leo was a little tiring, it was still an engaging story.
March 21, 2026
All of the PAWS books were AMAZING!!! Favorite book evaaaa!
March 24, 2026
I like how the ways in which the characters disagreed and bullied each other was very specific to Gen Alpha and the techy time kids are growing up in now.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews