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Dog Ears
I've got to tell someone, and you're the best listener there is. Mum is asleep with Jack upstairs, Dad's not here and Gran hasn't arrived yet - and you know what, Gran never listens anyway. Basically, the whole school has gone mad. Anna and her friends can't believe that popstar Pippa Green is coming to their school to judge a singing competition. They're going to be famous! But beneath her happy exterior, Anna is struggling. Her dad is working abroad and all her mum's time is taken up with worrying about ill baby Jack, so Anna is left to keep things together. The only person she can talk to isn't even a person; he's her dog, Sam. With so much to do, Anna is sure she's going to let everyone down. She starts to dream of running away, with best friend Sam at her side. But she'd never do anything crazy like that . . . would she? Anna's spent all her time worrying about everyone else - now they need to worry about Anna.
- GenresChildrensFriendship
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Anne Booth
46 books41 followersAnne Booth always wanted to be a children’s writer, but has also cleared tables in a restaurant, sold books, been a tour guide at a haunted medieval hospital, taught English in Italy, and organized arts and crafts in a nursing home, among other things. Anne Booth lives in Kent, England, with her husband, four children, two hens, and two dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 8, 2015
As I read 'Dog Ears' I became increasingly aware of how Blytonian it felt to me. And not Enid Blyton at her worst, but rather Enid Blyton at her best - stories of children being children and trying to exist in a world that adults had shaped for them. 'Dog Ears' for me, reads like a warm-hearted, true, honest and contemporary Blyton and I think (I hope) that this is a space that Booth will revel in and continue to make her own.
'Dog Ears' is written from the perspective of Anna who spends the book in a conversation with Timmy her golden retriever. He is the only thing that listens to her and, as a result of this, he hears the truth about her world. And the truth is this: Anna is struggling. Her mother's attention is on her new younger brother Jack, her father is away for work, and Anna's gran is being a bit scary and trying to help Anna help the family but really not helping out at all. Anna's getting forgotten in the middle. There's nobody to wash her uniform, nobody to help her with her homework, and nobody to help her get the right ingredients together for food tech. Things, as you may imagine, cannot continue the way they are. Anna's caring for everybody but nobody's caring for Anna.
Booth's writing is very, very genuine. She sort of puts 'Dog Ears' into a space where it's not okay for this sort of thing to be happening but you can see why it does and - maybe more importantly - you can understand the way that people act how they do. I can't think of many other authors that can present the world with this sort of honesty. There's also a very sensitively handled subplot about some of the other children in Anna's class who, it turns out, are experiencing similar issues. What's also worthwhile noting is that there's a very well-handled afternote from Booth in the book and also several links and details to charities which support young carers. 'Dog Ears' is presented very very well and this last section of supportive resources is an excellent touch on both the part of Booth and of Catnip, the publishers.
I like 'Dog Ears'. I like it a lot. I like the genuine nature of it and the way it's never horribly didactic. I like Booth's warmth and love in her writing; the genuine curve of a sentence that just captures children's speech and the funny little asides that, even in a very serious book, are full of humour. I like that this book exists. I like that a lot. There's such a space for books like this and I would like more please, thank you.
'Dog Ears' is written from the perspective of Anna who spends the book in a conversation with Timmy her golden retriever. He is the only thing that listens to her and, as a result of this, he hears the truth about her world. And the truth is this: Anna is struggling. Her mother's attention is on her new younger brother Jack, her father is away for work, and Anna's gran is being a bit scary and trying to help Anna help the family but really not helping out at all. Anna's getting forgotten in the middle. There's nobody to wash her uniform, nobody to help her with her homework, and nobody to help her get the right ingredients together for food tech. Things, as you may imagine, cannot continue the way they are. Anna's caring for everybody but nobody's caring for Anna.
Booth's writing is very, very genuine. She sort of puts 'Dog Ears' into a space where it's not okay for this sort of thing to be happening but you can see why it does and - maybe more importantly - you can understand the way that people act how they do. I can't think of many other authors that can present the world with this sort of honesty. There's also a very sensitively handled subplot about some of the other children in Anna's class who, it turns out, are experiencing similar issues. What's also worthwhile noting is that there's a very well-handled afternote from Booth in the book and also several links and details to charities which support young carers. 'Dog Ears' is presented very very well and this last section of supportive resources is an excellent touch on both the part of Booth and of Catnip, the publishers.
I like 'Dog Ears'. I like it a lot. I like the genuine nature of it and the way it's never horribly didactic. I like Booth's warmth and love in her writing; the genuine curve of a sentence that just captures children's speech and the funny little asides that, even in a very serious book, are full of humour. I like that this book exists. I like that a lot. There's such a space for books like this and I would like more please, thank you.
July 29, 2018
This is such an underrated book and i hate that! I wish everyone would read this book because it's so special and it made me cry! I never cry in books and this just had me teary and so emotional! It was the easiest 5 star read I've ever given. This book is about a girl called Anna who's in year 7 and she has this celebrity coming to her school and so she has to prepare for her band whilst things are extremely hard at home. This book is told in a unique way as well. Anna is speaking to the audience in the way she would speak to her dog. We are Timmy, the dog, in that way and it's just amazing how their relationship is and how the author conveys the emotions and feelings through this novel. It's truly beautiful and really quick to read since it's written in a way that's easy to read and sounds exactly like a year 7 girl would! Honestly, i can't believe how underrated it is. I wish more people would read this book.
I would strongly recommend everyone to read this book since it appeals to all audiences. It's a light hearted book with serious topics being raised.
I would strongly recommend everyone to read this book since it appeals to all audiences. It's a light hearted book with serious topics being raised.
April 10, 2015
Dog ears is a really lovely little middle grade read.
Anna is a really good girl. She's trying really hard at home and school to do her best to help everyone out but is finding it hard to cope. She has the pressures of year 7 to deal with alongside trying to support her mum who is dealing with a sick baby whilst her dad is away. The problem is no one is really noticing that Anna is really not holding it all together all that well.
Throughout this entire book I wanted to go and find Anna to scoop her up and look after her. She's in a really hard place and no one is really paying her all that much attention and she only has her dog to talk to.
I loved the relationship between Anna and her dog and seeing that real bond they had when Anna felt there was no one else to rely on. The story of Lauren, a girl in Anna's class, was also really touching too.
A really lovely read which really highlights what some young people have to deal with at home behind closed doors. Very much worth a read.
Anna is a really good girl. She's trying really hard at home and school to do her best to help everyone out but is finding it hard to cope. She has the pressures of year 7 to deal with alongside trying to support her mum who is dealing with a sick baby whilst her dad is away. The problem is no one is really noticing that Anna is really not holding it all together all that well.
Throughout this entire book I wanted to go and find Anna to scoop her up and look after her. She's in a really hard place and no one is really paying her all that much attention and she only has her dog to talk to.
I loved the relationship between Anna and her dog and seeing that real bond they had when Anna felt there was no one else to rely on. The story of Lauren, a girl in Anna's class, was also really touching too.
A really lovely read which really highlights what some young people have to deal with at home behind closed doors. Very much worth a read.
May 17, 2017
This is written in an almost diary format, with Anna talking to her dog about her life.
The book deals with young carers, Anna's Mum has no time for her or the housework as she's too worried about Anna's baby brother Jack, who was born prematurely. Even with Gran's help things keep getting forgotten, like washing her school uniform or having ingredients for cooking at school.
The story is lightened with a music contest for a TV star at school, and Anna is put in a group with Lauren who has problems of her own.
In fact a lot of the children in the book are carers, or have less than easy home lifes.
Being a disabled parent myself I was looking, in the story, for parents that despite needing help tried very hard to not put extra burden on their child, and provided lots of emotional and educational support, but I didn't find this represented which was disappointing. Parents were presented quite negatively, though not completely so, and the children were frequently neglected rather than just having additional roles of caring.
Lovely characterisation, emotional read that kept me turning the pages, but I would have liked to have seen more positive caring roles represented too.
The book deals with young carers, Anna's Mum has no time for her or the housework as she's too worried about Anna's baby brother Jack, who was born prematurely. Even with Gran's help things keep getting forgotten, like washing her school uniform or having ingredients for cooking at school.
The story is lightened with a music contest for a TV star at school, and Anna is put in a group with Lauren who has problems of her own.
In fact a lot of the children in the book are carers, or have less than easy home lifes.
Being a disabled parent myself I was looking, in the story, for parents that despite needing help tried very hard to not put extra burden on their child, and provided lots of emotional and educational support, but I didn't find this represented which was disappointing. Parents were presented quite negatively, though not completely so, and the children were frequently neglected rather than just having additional roles of caring.
Lovely characterisation, emotional read that kept me turning the pages, but I would have liked to have seen more positive caring roles represented too.
November 4, 2017
I am not a big fan of dogs...so I was a bit hard to start this one but in the end I did like this story a great deal more than I expected. Anne Booth has surely nailed it when it comes down to telling a story that comes with a silver lining and yes, I can understand why so many call their dog their best friend!
April 14, 2025
I loved this book so much and I think it really gave a message that should be shared to young people everywhere which is that you should always have someone to talk to when something is wrong. The situation really portrayed this in a way that helps children understand what is going on. Also, the front cover is really cute. Well done Anne
June 29, 2022
i remember read this on last year's june holiday and it was really worth my time! my first english book that i truly "read" bcs i kept translate any words that i didn't familiar with, not just read it w/o understand any meaning of it
July 9, 2024
When I started the book, I told myself - oh it's a sweet, easy read. But, no, it was not. This story has highlighted such an important part of a child's life, especially who deal with difficult situations at their homes. I wish more people to read this book.
Ps. - It made me cry.
Ps. - It made me cry.
July 3, 2019
Really good book.
July 6, 2016
Books for me are something to fall in love with. However, it usually takes me weeks after my previous book to find a new one just as good. This book was absolutely the best choice. I was only about halfway through when I was researching the other books by this author. When I really want to read more by an author straight away, it is very rare because I normally get bored of the style or there is something wrong with it. I love this book and could write pages and pages of the brilliant qualities of Dog Ears but I don't want to ruin it for anyone because I really want you all to love this book, just as much as I did.
November 15, 2015
I bought this book without knowing it's supposed to be for younger readers. It was more than a cute story about a girl and her dog, I could see myself in Anna because I sometimes talk to my dog the same way. When Timmy went missing I felt so sad and sorry for Anna, because she felt like he was the only one really listening to her problems and this moment, I've got to admit, had me in tears.
May 24, 2015
Well paced book about Annas family life & school. Refreshing to read something that tackles life as a young carer. Written as Anna talks to her dog Timmy, who is her constant support.
January 19, 2016
A lovely story that dog-lovers of all ages will love.
Relatable for children and easy-to-read with a great plot.
Relatable for children and easy-to-read with a great plot.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews