Junkyard Dogs

by Katherine Higgs-Coulthard

Some people dream of happily ever after, but all 17-year-old Josh Roberts wants is a roof over his head and for his little brother to be safe.

Josh's father has gone missing without a trace. Now Josh and his 9-year-old brother, Twig, are stuck living with Gran in her trailer. Problem is, Gran didn't ask to take care of any kids, and she's threatening to call social services unless Josh can find his dad. After paying off Gran to take in his little brother, Josh risks truancy and getting kicked off his basketball team to take to the streets and hunt for his dad. But when Josh digs too deep, he suddenly finds himself tethered to a criminal scrapping ring that his father was accomplice to. If Josh wants to keep Twig out of the system and return to some sense of normal, he'll have to track his dad down and demand honest answers.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Drama, Family

336 pages, Hardcover

First published February 21, 2023

Reviews

[Steph (starrysteph) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Junkyard Dogs was a heart-wrenching, gritty, suspenseful whirlwind of a story.

We’re following Josh, a 17-year old basketball whiz caught in an impossible situation. His mom died years ago and his dad has disappeared (not for the first time). His harsh grandmother isn’t interested in taking care of kids, and Josh has to start paying rent in order for his little brother Twig to continue living in her trailer. Josh - desperate and starving - is offered an opportunity from an old friend of his dad’s. He’s got to keep himself and Twig safe, stay in school and on the basketball team, and participate in a criminal scrapping ring … all while keeping up the illusion that he’s okay.

As a reader, all you want is for Josh & Twig to stumble into love & safety. And yet Higgs-Coulthard so skillfully brings you into Josh's scared teenage mindset. I could understand his mistrust of all the adults surrounding him (even the ones who truly cared) and his fierceness to protect his little brother.

We watch him make tough decisions. We’re crushed by the weight of starvation and desperation. We feel Josh’s shame and anxious need to disguise all his troubles from teachers and coaches and friends and friends’ parents.

Yes, there’s a suspenseful plot involving disappearances and murders and uncovering the truth about past events. But I was touched more by the day-to-day moments: the opportunistic leaps at unguarded food, the delight of finding a scrap piece of a bicycle in the junkyard, the mist in Josh’s mind when he’s at school and focused on all his very-adult stressors, the cat Twig feeds over himself, the cautious optimism at new friendships, and so on.

It’s chilling and sad, but offers quiet hope.

CW: death (incl. death of a parent), murder, violence, child abuse, toxic relationship, depictions of homelessness, mental illness, fire/fire injury, gun & knife violence, bullying, alcohol, drug use, gaslighting

(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)

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[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart-wrenching and suspenseful, this read lays the harsh struggles of a teen, who just wants to gain a half-stabile life for his younger brother, bare while entering a tough world of violence, thieves, and fight to stay alive.

When seventeen-year-old Josh's father disappears, life's fragile balance tips. His grandmother doesn't want to care for him or his brother and threatens to turn them over to the social services if Josh doesn't figure out how to pay their half of her trailer's rent. Josh has a shot at a basketball scholarship and needs to keep, at least, school running if he ever has hopes of finally changing his and his little brother's life around. But he needs to know where their father went, especially since his mother has already passed away. The search, though, leads him to his father's friend, who doesn't have Josh's best interests in mind. Instead, Josh is lured into a world of thieves...and those who argue disappear.

There are some trigger-warnings for this read: murder, child abuse, foul language, violence, drugs, winks at prostitution, knife/gun threats and a few more. So, sensitive readers will need to know this.

Josh is determined to improve life, although he has no clue how outside of the hopes of pulling off a basketball scholarship. He has a real chance at making it, but life outside of school has dealt him a more than difficult hand. His grandmother's compete lack of care and selfishness breaks the heart, especially with Josh's younger brother caught up in the mess. While, at least, she feeds his younger brother, Josh is left to starve without his father's even little income. And when the Grandmother then demands Josh pay rent despite the father's disappearance, it's hard not to feel for him.

Thanks to the death of his mother not long before, Josh hangs on his father that much more, which also means that he's more concerned with finding him than figuring a way to iron the rest of life out. This psychological end also comes into play as Josh refuses to see openings for help around him and shows mistrust at every turn. The author draws the reader into Josh's head, allowing them to sympathize with his decisions and experience how difficult it is for him to think through everything. Considering how dark the world is that he sinks into, it's more than understandable.

While the tale makes the reader wish Josh and Twig would finally get a break the entire time, the author also builds in a violent world. As those around Josh disappear, it becomes clear that he's stepped into a dangerous area. The idea of trust becomes even more blurred, and not only isn't it obvious how Josh can escape any of it without endangering the little he still has, but the threat to his own life grows.

It's well-woven in a way, which hits the gut and heart. There were a few moments, where I found myself skimming over paragraphs, but all in all, it's a grabbing read which leaves a mark.
I received a DRC through Netgalley and found the read engaging.

[JL Salty · Rating 5 out of 5]

rating: R for profanity, (mostly off-page) violence: some fists flying, frustrated teen boys.
recommend: Older teens (17+) and adult. SO much profanity. Need a wake-up call about what it means to be an unaccompanied homeless or nearly homeless youth, what food insecurity looks like, and how easy it could be to slide into crime? Read this book.

I am really sad that this book is not a possible purchase for my school library. I understand why, it is absolutely packed with all the terrible language. BUT I also know that it's the language that teens speak today (which does not make it ok), but they will not be shocked by it. Ask me sometime about my theory about printing it = condoning it = making it more prevalent. And because I do not condone it, I won't put this book in our library. BUT I will tell people that they can read it from the public library, and I am seriously thinking about how I can volunteer at a place that helps these kids. They are on the cusp. Of the rest of their lives. Of opportunity. Or failure. Or worse. And they need help. Sigh. So here's my recommendation. Put blinders on your eyes (to filter the fBOMBS) and earmuffs on your ears (to filter all the other words) and read this book. You will root for Josh and Twig, and even his dad and Gran. Because life just doesn't seem to give them a break. And then you'll go hug your kids and say a prayer over their lives.

[Alexander Higgs-Coulthard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is absolutely brilliant and took me through most of the emotions. The story arc itself--as well as the character arcs--was highly satisfying. A proper love letter to my hometown and my family making it mean so much more to me.

*Disclaimer: Although my mom is the author, my review is 100% honest.*

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josh's dad has left again and this time he took the dog. Josh and his younger brother, Twig live in their grandma's trailer and she is extremely resentful. She didn't want to raise kids and she certainly doesn't want to raise grandkids now that her good for nothing son has run off again. She plans on calling child services and putting Josh and Twig in the system, but Josh convinces her that he'll move out and give her $200 a month to take care of Twig. Problem is, he has no idea where to get it or where to sleep. He runs into his father's old friend Stan and starts working jobs for him when he's not in school. Soon he is sleeping in an abandoned factory with Stan and a cohort of other young homeless people and wondering when life got complicated. Soon his grades start slipping and he starts letting his basketball team down, will things ever get any better?! The awful reality for some impoverished youth. Gut wrenching and far too real.

[Caelea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the "John Green" moments where I read about a place and know exactly where that is...(which I also enjoyed in Peeps) or a current event in a story is a current event I can remember reading about in the news. Josh's story is a reminder of how many of our students are invisibly living in crisis and how so many are one bad day from their worlds ending...because they are already flipped upside down. This is a good read for teachers. students....and anyone who has an interest in education. (Would probably have to permission slip this if it were a 9/10 class read due to language, but I am going to recommend this for book club.)

[Morgan]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.

[Kim Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Junkyard Dogs was an action packed and insightful telling of so many things - teenage mindset, an experience of temporarily being unhoused, family childhood trauma, and found family. I found myself empathizing with the main character who felt the weight of the world on his shoulders trying to live up to expectations and care for his younger brother. It was easy to root for Josh throughout the book and a couple of scenes (don’t want to spoil it!) were so vividly written they kept me up reading well past my bedtime!

[Staci Vought · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was powerful, gritty, full of vibrant characters, and intense situations. Students will connect to it, as it is easy to jump into and hard to put down. I felt like it slowed down in the middle, but the ending mostly makes up for it. The audiobook was awesome. It does have a lot of language, FYI.

[Alicia]

Reviewing for professional magazine, see review there.

[Reading Rural · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because I was tall and grew up in Indiana, I started playing basketball just about since the time I could walk. I actually just played in alumni game at my old high school and got to be coached by one of the best men I’ve ever known. He was my coach from 3rd grade AAU through high school (except for a couple years in middle school). When we did defensive drills, he’d holler, “What kind of defense do we play?” and the team would respond, “Junkyard Dog!” Which to us meant that we went as hard as we could and never quite, guarding our basket with all the ferocity and tenacity of a junkyard dog.

These were my first thoughts upon receiving Katherine Higgs-Coulthard’s Junkyard Dogs. And then when I opened it to a basketball scene…well, it just felt right.

And Josh and his brother are junkyard dogs, aside from the fact that they began their life living in a house in the junkyard their parents run, they’re also tenacious, resilient, and refuse to let up or give up when things get tough. And things are tough. They’re mom died in a house fire at the junkyard, they end up living in a trailer with their Gran who doesn’t want anything to do with them, and their dad has disappeared. They face all kinds of obstacles, but no matter what, they fight for one another.

I was engrossed and compelled from word one.

I went into this book thinking it was a rural book. Kathleen reached out to me asking if I’d read and review, and I assumed that the setting would have certain features because of that. It seemed to me that it took place in a city setting. Homelessness features prominently in the novel and in Josh’s place, there is an abandoned factory, bussing system, Center where he can get free meals, tent cities, etc., and all of these say “city” to me. But that in itself opens up important conversations about the supports and (lack of) infrastructure rural areas often have to support folks experiencing extreme poverty and homelessness.

There is also one specific time that Josh and crew venture into the farmlands around the city to “harvest” some copper and wire from a new housing subdivision going up which brings up discussions of sub/urban sprawl and the loss of farmland to such housing developments.

So, I don’t think I’d classify Junkyard Dogs as a “rural book” but that isn’t to say that it doesn’t have themes and aspects that would connect to rural readers, especially as connected to experiences of social class.

For example:
My family is no stranger to trailers and trailer parks, so I could connect to Josh and Twig’s experiences at Gran’s
The desire to leave or get out is also palpable and common in rural spaces
Connection to kin and commitment to taking care of one another. Community care and kin care are super prevalent in rural places because rural communities are often isolated from larger metropolitan areas and have historically had to count on each other for survival.
It seemed that quite a few characters in the book grew up together or knew one another in some way—Josh and Twig’s dad, Stan, Josh’s basketball coach, and folks at the Center all seem to know one another and have some history. This would also be relatable to rural readers.

The characters in this book are complex. Josh felt so real to me that it was hard to read what he was going through at times. But if you’ve been around here a while, you know that tough stories, sad stories, are some of my favorites because they showcase the fight in the human spirit. We can take hit after hit and keep comin’.

Importantly, this book highlights issues of poverty, food and housing insecurity, and the difficulty to tell anyone about it that young people face everyday and provides resources to help them make it through.

So, if you’re looking for a good fight song—a book that shows we are strong and can weather a multitude of storms and misfortunes—or know a reader who is, I definitely recommend this book.

And if you don’t want to just take my word for it, listen to Chris Crutcher who called it, “Fascinating, fast-moving, completely compelling…one of those stories readers disappear into.” Which I found to be 100% true.

[Lisa Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josh wants to play basketball. He wants to make good grades and earn a scholarship. He wants to go to college and make a life for himself. So far this sounds pretty typical for many American teens, but Josh is moving through high school with secrets and heavy burdens that he adeptly hides from his friends, coach, and teachers. Josh has no dependable adults in his life whom he can trust. His absent father, his bitter grandmother, his harsh coach, and the mysterious family friend Stan all want something from Josh. Can he deliver? Katherine Higgs-Coulthard creates Josh's world in her book Junkyard Dogs. Note: there is a dog (and a cat!) in this book, but the term refers more to the people and the roles they play in this YA novel.

Poverty doesn't always look like what we imagine it to be. Kat Higgs-Coulthard shows the subtle ways that Josh hides his poverty by nonchalantly declining to order at the fast food restaurant where he & his teammates stop (only to grab a discarded hamburger from the trash when no one is looking) or showing up to food surf the samples at the mall food court. Students may look and act like everything is okay at home, but Junkyard Dogs shows not only the food insecurity that many students face, but also the heavy responsibilities of taking care of younger siblings, finding transportation, and worrying about rent & utilities let alone studying and completing homework assignments. As each chapter unfolds, Josh's world becomes more complicated. As a teacher I kept hoping he would seek out his school counsellor or a trusted teacher and unburden his predicament, but the author does a great job of putting us in Josh's shoes: he is embarrassed by circumstances he cannot control, ashamed of having no money, confused by the decisions his father has made yet adamantly ready to defend him, and desperately trying to stand on his own two feet to prove his worth.
By the midway point I was completely hooked and trying to figure out (just like Josh) who he should trust as the stakes intensify. This book was action-packed with some heart-rending moments. But it is also a story of resilience, of second chances, and of hope. Knowing that it is based on real-life events that happened in South Bend, Indiana should give all readers pause to consider how their community is supporting children and teens in poverty with dignity. This book will be a great addition to my classroom library for 7th and 9th graders:-)

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars, Rounding Up

Josh is 17 YO and lives with his father, grandmother, and 9 YO brother. His mom died when their house burned down a few years before the start of the book, and Josh still carries guilt from it, though readers don't fully understand what happened until the end of the book. To start the book, Josh's father takes off, leaving the boys a note and some cash, which we learn Josh will need because their gran relies on their monthly rent in order to fund her pot smoking- and if she doesn't get it, she warns she will kick them out. Josh ends up deciding to leave to try to find their dad--he has left them before for "jobs", but never like this. He winds up finding his dad's old best friend, who disappeared from their lives several years before, and he ends up joining Stan's "crew", helping pull copper from underground rail-lines in order to make the money for rent. Things spiral, as Josh helps with more and more dangerous jobs, his brother acts out at school, and some of the crew go missing. Josh can't balance it all--school, basketball, taking care of his brother, handling the guilt over losing his mom and now his dad--and the book gains steam as all these pressures converge. Will Josh be able to take care of everyone in his life, including himself?

I am always on the lookout for books with male narrators, and this one was pretty good. There are some questionable choices in plot that gave me pause when I thought about them enough to see the gaps in logic--but I think most would read right over them. The combination of sports, parental + school pressures, & suspense will probably pull readers in and keep them hooked.

[Sally Kruger]

Since Josh's mother died, he and his father and his little brother Twig have lived at Gran's. There's a roof over their heads but not much else. Now Josh's dad is missing. He left a note that doesn't explain anything and some money. It's not enough money for next month's rent and that is going to be a problem.

Twig doesn't remember their mother. Josh tries to make things ok for the kid, but now that their father has bailed, Josh is forced to do things he knows could get him in big trouble. He wants to keep up at school and stay on the basketball team since he knows doing that will be his only ticket to a better life.

In order to get enough money to convince Gran to keep letting Twig stay with her, he has to partner up with his dad's people. Right now that means scrapping copper for cash and anything else they can sell. When one of the guys ends up dead, Josh is worried he may be forced to do more illegal stuff to keep himself and his brother safe.

Author Katherine Higgs-Coulthard tackles tough topics as she tells a story of poverty and homelessness. Real characters and unfortunate situations will grab readers and stay with them even after they finish the last page.

[Allie S-B · Rating 2 out of 5]

To preface, this is not a book I would have picked up on my own. I read it because I received a free copy and felt obligated. It was an interesting read. It is very clearly written to be an educational tool in a high school English class. However, there were some major issues that I couldn't get over. First, the entire plot rests on the disappearance of the kids' dad, and the entire book is supposed to be setting up some "big reason" for why he ran off. But in the end, there was actually no reason and all, and this was never elaborated on. There were also lots of other weird plot choices that took me out of it. The only decent female character is only there to be an object of lust for the main character despite her being in a committed relationship and then suffering from the grief of losing that relationship. The worst part, though, was that the big bad villain was the only character in the whole book with a named mental illness (OCD). His OCD was also written in a way that was extremely stigmatizing. All in all, do not recommend it.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book stands out as one of the most relevant YA novels addressing the real-life challenges of homelessness and food insecurity. It engages readers while shedding light on the harsh realities many students face as they quietly live on the brink of collapse. However, it's important to note that the only mental health issue discussed is OCD, which is presented in a way that reinforces some of the unrealistic stigmas surrounding the condition. Many students grappling with homelessness and poverty (and even those who aren't) face a range of mental health challenges, and it would have been valuable to see that aspect explored more deeply, as it is a crucial part of the student experience. Nonetheless, this book is essential reading for anyone in education and should be considered required reading for high school students.

[Dominique Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gut-wrenching tale full of suspense. You can’t help but root for Josh and Twig the moment you meet them. This book follows a parentified teen who just wants to keep his little brother safe.

The way the characters are described in detail makes you feel like you know each one. While the content is heavy, knowing this lifestyle is a reality for so many teens in America had me on the edge of my seat. As a South Bend native I was able to immerse myself into the tent city of downtown.

These darker themes could open discussions for people of all ages. The complexity of the housing crisis is treated very delicately throughout the texts.

I appreciate the authors care in detailing the ending for each separate character no matter where they ended up.

[Tracie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a reader of YA novels so perhaps the format of "Junkyard Dogs" is perfect for that target audience. I read the book because plot points were based on incidents that happened in my hometown of South Bend, Indiana. The book also featured South Bend landmarks. Beyond that it was of little interest to me except to lead me to research how I can help people locally who are homeless. I skipped at least half of the pages of this book without feeling like I missed anything - same dialogue over and over, same situations over and over.

The one thing I truly appreciated was the author tying up all loose ends about a pet cat and dog. Spoiler alert: They have a happy ending.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent realistic story, boy ends up living on the streets trying to keep his brother safe, has lots of issues with his mostly absent dad who's a thief. I picked it up after meeting the author at a conference and thought it would make a good Reading & Writing Festival book for our 7th and 8th graders. I think it is excellent for that age group, but it does have a LOT of f-bombs which might cause some problems there. Perfectly realistic language for the characters and the topics, though. By the end of the story you are totally rooting for Josh and his younger brother Twig to just finally have a safe home of their own together.

[Patrick Flores-scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much heart in this book, so much love for it's main characters, teenage Josh, and his younger brother, Twig, who end up houseless, and struggling mightily to stay together and to make it on the streets with their missing father's hustler friend, Stan.

The writing is clear. The story is compelling. The ending is hopeful. But the power in this book is the opportunity Higgs-Coulthard gives us to live and love with Josh and Twig, and to truly feel the kinds of struggles that we turn our eyes away from every day. This is an important book.

[Heather Meloche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Junkyard dogs takes us into the gritty and downtrodden world of Josh, a teen doing everything he can to keep his little brother safe. The characters are exceptionally drawn with complicated facets that make them believable, help draw the reader in, and ramp up the emotion. Higgs-Coulthard does a masterful job of creating and building suspense throughout the novel, right up until the satisfying end. This is a great book for young adult readers who like mystery, a bit of romance, and a story that portrays the lows and highs of an underdog as the main character.

[Elaine L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that takes you in unexpected directions and connects you with complex characters. The author is not afraid to tackle difficult, sometimes heart wrenching, topics to create a very realistic story. This would be an excellent book for a book club or discussion group of any age individuals because the characters and their decisions bring up a myriad of questions about right and wrong.

[Maggie Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I like the idea of this book, but it was too long for the amount of action that occurred. It was also a bit predictable and it frustrated me that no one else seemed to see the obvious villain in the story. I wish the whole book had the intensity of the last few chapters. Also, I didn't like the negative stereotypes that this book perpetuated about poverty - namely the people in Gran's trailer park.

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Josh's father has gone missing without a trace. Now Josh and his 9-year-old brother, Twig, are stuck living with Gran in her trailer. Problem is, Gran didn't ask to take care of any kids, and she's threatening to call social services unless Josh can find his dad.

I read this without realizing that it is "young adult." The subject is very good and I applaud the writer, but it was difficult to get past the teen vernacular, and the worst-case scenarios.

[Kristin Lenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up way too late to finish this novel in one big weekend gulp because I had to know if Josh and Twig would be safe. A compelling, heart-wrenching, layered, illuminating, and ultimately hopeful story. This would make a great book club discussion for teens while bringing awareness of homelessness and food insecurity.

[Kelly Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me engaged from start to finish. Josh and Twig's story pulls at your heartstrings. It made me sad to think that poverty and homelessness are too often reality for children.
I had a hard time putting this book down. I liked the mixture of scene setting and dialogue that kept the story moving along. There were some surprises too.
Overall it is a very well written, compelling read.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are very distinct and definite stylistic choices in the writing. It's a great example of post modern writing and reminiscent, for me, of Sapphire's "Push" which uses specific diction/word choice to craft a very specific location and socio-economic/people group.

The story is gripping and the characters are unique.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well told story of 2 boys who have lost their mother, live in poverty with an often cruel grandmother, and a father whom they can't always depend on. It was extra interesting that it is set in my hometown.

[Amal Farrough · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most interesting part of this book for me was that it is set in my hometown of South Bend, so I could picture the setting. It tells a story that is not often told, of people experiencing homelessness, and I was grateful for the way the author told it. The teen drama wasn’t entirely convincing but overall I enjoyed the book.

[Bruce Cashbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book surprised me. Excellent characters, and set in parts of South Bend IN that I know. Terrific story of the people we walk and drive by every day, and turn our heads aside to ignore. Brutal yet heart warming.