What do you think?
Rate this book
Oh My Dog!
Twelve-year-old Caroline Kline doesn’t believe in miracles. Not after her mom died, and certainly not after her family lost everything in Hurricane Emma. All Caroline wants to do is fit in at school, make some friends, and, above all else, just be normal. But when Caroline takes a job walking Denver, her neighbor’s dog, her plans quickly get turned completely upside down. As it turns out, Denver is no ordinary Not only can he talk—and not like bark-bark but in actual English—but worse than that, Denver tells Caroline that he’s been sent from the heavens with a message just for her. It’s up to Caroline to find a way to bring belief back to the world. From acclaimed children’s author Iva-Marie Palmer comes a hilarious and heartwarming new tale about miracles, faith of all types, and the good that connects us all.
- GenresMiddle GradeAnimalsDogs
256 pages, Hardcover
Published August 13, 2024
2921 people want to read
About the author
Iva-Marie Palmer
11 books272 followersIva-Marie Palmer is the author of the young adult novels Gimme Everything You Got and The End of the World as We Know It. She also wrote the Gabby Garcia's Ultimate Playbook series and Oh My Dog! for middle grade readers, as well as the books Romeo, Juliet and Jim and the Edgar Award-nominated The Jules Verne Prophecy with co-writer Larry Schwarz. Christmas People is her first adult novel.
Before writing professionally, Palmer worked as an award-winning community news reporter in Chicago's South Suburbs and as a web editor for the Walt Disney Company. She also got to know many a Christmas person working at a Hallmark store through high school and college.
Palmer now resides in Burbank, California with her husband and two sons.
Before writing professionally, Palmer worked as an award-winning community news reporter in Chicago's South Suburbs and as a web editor for the Walt Disney Company. She also got to know many a Christmas person working at a Hallmark store through high school and college.
Palmer now resides in Burbank, California with her husband and two sons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 27, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Caroline Kline's life in Rockport, Texas has not been easy. The twelve-year-old lost her mother in a car accident, and Hurricane Emma wiped out not only her home, but her father Hank's florist business. Now, the two have an apartment, and Hank is working at the Fresh and Fine grocery floral department. Money is tight, and for her birthday, she and her dad go on a spree... but only for things she needs, and only at Bargain Styles. Caroline thinks wistfully about what life would be like if her mother were still around and things were just easier. When she is out skateboarding, she meets Stan George and his friendly dog Denver, and before she knows it, her father has talked to Mr. George and she has a job walking Denver twice a day for $20! This money will allow her to get some fashionable jeans, a new skateboard, and just make it easier to hang out with people like Kiki Page. Things go well until Denver starts to actually talk to her... in English. She doesn't believe it at first, and even after Denver makes a small miracle happen, Caroline would rather not talk to him. Caroline's best friend, Yumi, doesn't understand it when Caroline agrees to go to the mall with Kiki, and doesn't go even though she is invited. Caroline finds that Kiki is really nice, and has a good time talking to her other friends, but is worried about what Yumi thinks, especially after one of the friends says something mean about Yumi and Caroline doesn't stick up for her. Caroline and Kiki make a couple of funny TikTok videos with Caroline saying funny things about animals, and they get a lot of likes. Kiki even gives Caroline an old phone so that she can post more videos. When her father finds out, he tells her she has to give the phone back, but Caroline can't bring herself to do this. Denver keeps telling her that she needs to restore people's faith that the world is a good place, and that's why only she can hear him talk. It's a tough situation; Caroline needs other people in her life and wants to confide in Denver, but she is freaked out by the fact that she can understand him. When another hurricane threatens Rockport, Caroline is watching Denver while Mr. George goes to work on the levee. They decide to leave town and pack up the car, but at the last minute, Denver runs away. They both go chasing him... and a tree falls on their car. Hank and Caroline are both injured but okay, but they can't find Denver. When the storm ends, Caroline and Yumi go looking for the dog, and while they don't find him, they find other pets in need. They bring them to the courtyard of the apartment and take care of them. They alert the news, and make a big splash, which is good because Caroline had previously gotten some flack about her TikTok posts. The animals get adopted or returned to their owners, and when Mr. George comes back, Caroline finds out that Denver saved him, too. Caroline might not be able to restore everyone's faith, but she is doing what she can where she is.
Strengths: I've been asking for more positive books, and this certainly is very positive. Palmer deftly steps around the faith/belief idea with Denver being sent "from the heavens" and not from god, which works well enough. The depiction of recovering from a hurricane is a good one, and the inclusion of friend drama makes any middle grade book better. I was so glad that Kiki was actually nice. The issue of social media and getting technology from a friend was handled very well. I loved that Caroline was willing to take care of lost animals after the storm, and that doing so connected her with a lot of new people. This was a fun, lighthearted story.
Weaknesses: Even positive middle grade books still feel a need for a dead mother. I was a little surprised that Caroline didn't want to talk to Denver. If a dog had talked to me at any point in my life, I would have been perfectly happy to chat! Palmer makes Caroline's reaction make sense within the story; my objection is purely personal.
What I really think: This is an excellent book for elementary school libraries, and the positivity is fantastic. I'm not sure if middle school students are going to believe that a dog would talk to them. I think my 6th graders would like this, but my older students probably won't pick it up. This felt a bit like a Patricia MacLachlan book
Caroline Kline's life in Rockport, Texas has not been easy. The twelve-year-old lost her mother in a car accident, and Hurricane Emma wiped out not only her home, but her father Hank's florist business. Now, the two have an apartment, and Hank is working at the Fresh and Fine grocery floral department. Money is tight, and for her birthday, she and her dad go on a spree... but only for things she needs, and only at Bargain Styles. Caroline thinks wistfully about what life would be like if her mother were still around and things were just easier. When she is out skateboarding, she meets Stan George and his friendly dog Denver, and before she knows it, her father has talked to Mr. George and she has a job walking Denver twice a day for $20! This money will allow her to get some fashionable jeans, a new skateboard, and just make it easier to hang out with people like Kiki Page. Things go well until Denver starts to actually talk to her... in English. She doesn't believe it at first, and even after Denver makes a small miracle happen, Caroline would rather not talk to him. Caroline's best friend, Yumi, doesn't understand it when Caroline agrees to go to the mall with Kiki, and doesn't go even though she is invited. Caroline finds that Kiki is really nice, and has a good time talking to her other friends, but is worried about what Yumi thinks, especially after one of the friends says something mean about Yumi and Caroline doesn't stick up for her. Caroline and Kiki make a couple of funny TikTok videos with Caroline saying funny things about animals, and they get a lot of likes. Kiki even gives Caroline an old phone so that she can post more videos. When her father finds out, he tells her she has to give the phone back, but Caroline can't bring herself to do this. Denver keeps telling her that she needs to restore people's faith that the world is a good place, and that's why only she can hear him talk. It's a tough situation; Caroline needs other people in her life and wants to confide in Denver, but she is freaked out by the fact that she can understand him. When another hurricane threatens Rockport, Caroline is watching Denver while Mr. George goes to work on the levee. They decide to leave town and pack up the car, but at the last minute, Denver runs away. They both go chasing him... and a tree falls on their car. Hank and Caroline are both injured but okay, but they can't find Denver. When the storm ends, Caroline and Yumi go looking for the dog, and while they don't find him, they find other pets in need. They bring them to the courtyard of the apartment and take care of them. They alert the news, and make a big splash, which is good because Caroline had previously gotten some flack about her TikTok posts. The animals get adopted or returned to their owners, and when Mr. George comes back, Caroline finds out that Denver saved him, too. Caroline might not be able to restore everyone's faith, but she is doing what she can where she is.
Strengths: I've been asking for more positive books, and this certainly is very positive. Palmer deftly steps around the faith/belief idea with Denver being sent "from the heavens" and not from god, which works well enough. The depiction of recovering from a hurricane is a good one, and the inclusion of friend drama makes any middle grade book better. I was so glad that Kiki was actually nice. The issue of social media and getting technology from a friend was handled very well. I loved that Caroline was willing to take care of lost animals after the storm, and that doing so connected her with a lot of new people. This was a fun, lighthearted story.
Weaknesses: Even positive middle grade books still feel a need for a dead mother. I was a little surprised that Caroline didn't want to talk to Denver. If a dog had talked to me at any point in my life, I would have been perfectly happy to chat! Palmer makes Caroline's reaction make sense within the story; my objection is purely personal.
What I really think: This is an excellent book for elementary school libraries, and the positivity is fantastic. I'm not sure if middle school students are going to believe that a dog would talk to them. I think my 6th graders would like this, but my older students probably won't pick it up. This felt a bit like a Patricia MacLachlan book
Read
August 25, 2025Hey there! This is Charlie P! I’m eleven years old and I read books to raise money for charity. I want to help moms pick out books that their kids will like! Here is another review by me!
This book was so funny but it was also kind of sad. I also couldn’t figure out some parts too. It was a good book though. I finished it pretty quickly, so I read it again and it make more sense the second time. I did think some of it was not too well written. The author skipped some parts or they forgot some parts that were kind of essential to understand.
This book was so funny but it was also kind of sad. I also couldn’t figure out some parts too. It was a good book though. I finished it pretty quickly, so I read it again and it make more sense the second time. I did think some of it was not too well written. The author skipped some parts or they forgot some parts that were kind of essential to understand.
November 25, 2024
It was not as catchy, with a vague plot, not easy to understand.
December 18, 2024
The book was a cute heart warming book. I cried at the end. 100% would recommend for you and your kids to read.
April 15, 2025
2.5 stars
It’s hard for me to believe that a 12-year-old wouldn’t be thrilled when a dog suddenly starts talking to her—I know I would be! There were some action elements involving the hurricanes, but the second one felt like it was written in just to create a dramatic climax, making it feel a bit unrealistic. The story also includes the familiar dead parent trope, which felt a little overused. I listened to the audiobook, but the narrator’s cringey fake Southern twang made it hard to enjoy. I might have liked it better if I had read the print version instead.
It’s hard for me to believe that a 12-year-old wouldn’t be thrilled when a dog suddenly starts talking to her—I know I would be! There were some action elements involving the hurricanes, but the second one felt like it was written in just to create a dramatic climax, making it feel a bit unrealistic. The story also includes the familiar dead parent trope, which felt a little overused. I listened to the audiobook, but the narrator’s cringey fake Southern twang made it hard to enjoy. I might have liked it better if I had read the print version instead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews