Tree Dog

by Margarita Engle, Julia Davis (Illustrator)

Climbing trees is how Tiana finds peace. Every time she touches the sky she feels strong and free.

After moving from Cuba to Montreal to Florida to California, peace is something Tiana needs now more than ever. But with the summer ahead full of camping in La Sierra Nevada while her biologist parents help conduct a wildlife survey, peace seems like more and more of a distant fantasy. It's not until finding Tree Dog nestled at the top of a towering aspen that she realizes a little bit of chaos might just be worth the trouble. . .

With timely themes about book banning, immigration, and conservation, this is a heartfelt story perfect for reading as a companion to Margarita Engle's critically acclaimed Mountain Dog or as a standalone for anyone looking for a poetic ecoadventure.

Genres: Middle Grade, Fiction, Juvenile, Poetry

224 pages, Hardcover

Published October 6, 2026

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

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I felt attacked
every time book-banning parents
yelled at our sweet school librarian.”
🌳
After moving from Cuba to Montreal, Florida, and finally California, Tiana finds comfort and freedom in climbing trees. When she spends the summer camping in the Sierra Nevada while her biologist parents conduct a wildlife survey, an unexpected encounter with Tree Dog leads her into an adventure involving nature, conservation, and finding a place to belong.
🐕
Margarita Engle has written a informational and touching middle grade novel-in-verse surrounding environmental themes. I love that Tiana’s connection to trees becomes a source of comfort after experiencing so much change in her life. There’s a lot packed into this story: immigration, Dreamers, conservation, belonging, and even book banning, but it is an outdoor adventure at its heart. I especially appreciate books that introduce young readers to environmental issues while also giving them a character and story they can connect with. This title releases October 6!

CW: environmental threats, immigration, censorship, injury

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Godwin Books, and Margarita Engle for the opportunity to read Tree Dog in exchange for an honest review.

Tree Dog is a HiLo novel-in-verse. Written in a poetic style, the story follows Cuban girl Tiana as she constantly moves around, ending up in California. Her parents study fishers--a type of weasel--in the Redwood forest. Here, Tiana meets Tree Dog, a canine of potential Cuban descent, like her, that can climb trees and sing its own songs.

The perspective shifts between Tree Dog and Tiana, offering a unique glimpse at the dog's thoughts and feelings. Tianna's parents are working toward U.S. citizenship, and that means Tiana is enrolled in a youth version different to that of the test adults take for citizenship. She questions some of the requirements, giving the novel a bit of a political element, but an element that is immensely relevant to today's world.

Tree Dog shows the intimate relationship that a human and animal can have together, as well as the connections that bring them together as living beings. The novel also explores a sense of self when it comes to cultural heritage and nationality, and what one chooses to believe for themself.

This novel is a really attainable way to teach younger readers of a middle school audience about nature, science, and naturalization when it comes to immigration and citizenship, something that affects many families in the U.S. and may be a harder to grasp topic, but something that may very well be highly relatable to the target audience of this book.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this companion novel-in-verse to Mountain Dog, a shepherd leaves a message on a tree about Tree Dog. Tiana finds Tree Dog and brings Tree Dog to their tent where her parents and her are staying while working on a wildlife survey. Her parents let Tiana keep Tree Dog after a vet checks the dog over. Tiana reads how sniffer dogs can help save endangered species. She asks her parents could Tree Dog help and a professor who’s helping them says yes. One day while looking for owl pellets they find the same shepherd who left the message on the tree. He’s brought to the hospital. Tiana keeps thinking about naturalization and should she postpone it until next year. Tian finds that the trees heal her confusion. She wonders too if their canine conservation will help to make a difference.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Netgalley

In this novel in verse, Tiana is used to traveling with her parents, who are conservationists. They are teachers, and spend the summer volunteering on various projects. This summer, they have come from Canada to the Sierra Nevada mountains to help count Pacific fishers alongside Dr. Iris Journey. The family has green cards, and are considering if they want to become US citizens. The father's family immigrated from Cuba, and Tiana's mother's father left the US in 1969 to avoid the draft. It's a little lonely not being at home near her friends from gymnastics, but when she finds a dog in a tree, she manages to convince her parents to let her keep the dog at camp. The dog had previously belonged to an older shepherd who had to retire due to health issues; at one point, Tree Dog even finds the man in the forest, since his memory issues caused him to wander off, and he couldn't find his way back. Tiana is glad for the company, and even learns that some dogs can be trained to help find endangered species.

This is a very philosophical, lyrical book, and Tiana ponders many topics of current interest. I would have loved to see more about the grandfather who moved to Canada; the only book about a Vietnam era conscientious objector I have seen is Kurlansky's Battle Fatigue. Since I had a good friend who spent over twenty years in Cananda because he would not serve in the military, it's something I'd like to know more about. Readers who like Engle's Mountain Dog (2013) or Silver People (2014) will want to take a look at this new title. My readers who request dog books usually want more action and adventure in traditional prose, so I will pass on purchase.

[Carlyn Morenus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely novel in verse about Tianna, a girl who finds a dog in a tree! Yes, it's possible, there are breeds of dogs who can climb trees. Tianna is spending the summer with her parents in and near Sequoia National Park, doing scientific research on endangered animals. Her new dog, who had belonged to an old shepherd, is very smart, loving, and for us, provides her viewpoint through some of the poems in the book. The book includes elements of environmental science, citizenship, belonging, and shows how smart and helpful a dog can be. Conservation dogs put in an appearance, helping to search for spotted owls, and Tianna's dog finds more than one lost person. Tianna finds peace when she climbs trees, but also with her dog, with her family, and finds answers to questions she has about other things too. It's a very thoughtful and thought-provoking book, beautifully told.

[Sacha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Tiana and Tree Dog share perspectives in this very short verse novel by Margarita Engle.

This one has some solid ecocritical content as well as other social themes one expects from this prolific writer.

Through the joint perspectives, readers learn more about both characters. I love the idea of Tree Dog having equal footing (pawing?) with Tiana, but I wanted to know more about both of them. This novel is so short, even with the target audience in mind, that I felt a little less invested because I didn't get to know the characters as well as I'd have liked. Perhaps we'll get more time with them in a future read?

There are great themes, and this is definitely an efficient read, but I wanted more connection overall.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Godwin Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Katie Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another beautifully written novel in verse from Engle. The nature elements and emotional journey really shine, especially through Tiana’s connection to climbing and finding her place in the world. I appreciated the themes of immigration, conservation, and even book banning woven throughout. A thoughtful, poetic ecoadventure that pairs well with Mountain Dog but also stands strong on its own.

Summary:
Tiana, who has moved across multiple countries, finds comfort in climbing trees and escaping into nature. While spending the summer in the Sierra Nevada with her scientist parents, she struggles to find peace in yet another new place. But when she discovers a mysterious dog high in a tree, her summer takes an unexpected turn, leading to friendship, healing, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

[Beth Mendelsohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to MacMillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
In this novel in verse, Tiana has moved around with her biologist parents from Canada to Cuba to California studying fishers, a type of weasel. She comes across a dog that can climb trees (yes, there really are breeds that can climb) who lead Tiana to her shepherd who was lost in the forest. Tiana and Tree Dog bond and watch out for each other. Tree Dog turns out to be very valuable in the conservation efforts, finding fishers, owls, and steering Tiana away from potential danger. There are underlying themes as well about immigration (the family is about to become U.S. citizens), racism, and book banning.
I like to recommend novels-in-verse to our reluctant readers as they don’t take as long to read. Because of these heavier themes, I would recommend for readers in grades 5 and up.
#TreeDog #NetGalley

[Hannah Bristol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tree Dog is a lovely story about a young girl and her newfound friendship with a dog.

This book goes back and forth between the points of view of both the girl and the dog, which adds to the depth of each of the characters. The writing is in verse, and I was impressed with how invested I became in the story even though it wasn't written in typical prose.

Tree Dog by Margarita Engle is a book that I look forward to add to my classroom library, and one I will recommend to students who love outdoors, nature, adventure, and of course, dogs.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Children's Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Milton Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully written novel in verse for anyone who loves the outdoors and dogs! The story is compelling and full of love, care, facts, and nature. Engle covers some tough topics with a lot of grace and makes them easy to understand and approace, espcially thinking about all of the kids who will read this book. A great read!

Find it in our catalog when released!

Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely middle grade novel in verse that explores so many themes. The topics of immigration, friendship, wildlife, and the comfort of a dog are all prominent, but I really, really think this book would be especially excellent for readers who have moved around a lot. So many transitions in a young life can be really tough, and I think kids would feel seen in that way while reading this story.

[Jami Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful novel-in-verse