Ivy vs. Dogg: With a Cast of Thousands!

by Brian Leung

Fiction. Teenage Ivy Simmons has a longstanding rivalry with Jimmy, "Dogg," Doggins, high school tennis star, and hometown hero. Their sparring comes to a head when the town of Mudlick's annual Jr. Mr. Mayor election is announced and Ivy becomes the first female ever to run. Mudlick's busybody leaders, known as "the committee" do not approve, especially when Ivy reveals that she is pregnant. Displeased with the public debate over what Ivy should do about her unborn child, reclusive matriarch, Abigail Colton, displays a lifelike topiary girl on her front lawn, enchanting all of Mudlick to the point where they fear for the life of this "girl" when Colton also rolls out a topiary of a giant squid. Between this and the election, emotions run high, squeezing Ivy and Dogg from all sides and forcing them to make the most adult decision of their lives.

275 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2018

Reviews

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Brian Leung can certainly write (some of his descriptions of the town or even the lighting of scenes were so lovely!), and did have me laughing out loud a few times, I sometimes felt that the satire went a bit over the top for my taste. The “Committee” is at times an excellent lampoon of controlling suburban groups like the PTA or the homeowners association. Other times, though, it becomes too exaggerated for its own good. They literally mourn a topiary!
Regardless, though, it’s a fun and short read. I found that I actually really liked and connected with Ivy as well. If you enjoyed Election, you may want to pick this one up.

[Laura Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is unlike anything I've read before. This is the literary lovechild of Parks & Rec and Riverdale. The story is told by the judgmental and laughably unreliable town committee that is always eager to share it's questionable advice. It's both funny and thought-provoking and full of characters that I loved to hate.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve read The Virgin Suicides, it’s a very similar storytelling style. Despite the unreliable narrator, the reader glimpses the truth about a town, it’s residents, and two kids caught up in a heated election. I love this book.

[Claire Click · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inventive, unique, and so fun.