Just Gus
Just Gus
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Shadow Mountain
Just the Series: Best Friends Dog Tales   

Series and Publisher: Best Friends Dog Tales   

Annotation: Return to the world of devoted working dogs and the humans they love in a new book from the best-selling author of Stell... more
Genre: [Animal fiction]
 
Reviews: 2
Catalog Number: #392263
Format: Perma-Bound Edition
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Copyright Date: 2023
Edition Date: 2023 Release Date: 09/03/24
Illustrator: To, Vivienne,
Pages: 200 pages
ISBN: Publisher: 1-639-93323-9 Perma-Bound: 0-8000-6920-X
ISBN 13: Publisher: 978-1-639-93323-5 Perma-Bound: 978-0-8000-6920-9
Dewey: Fic
Dimensions: 22 cm.
Language: English
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews

A working farm dog and an anxious boy become best friends.Gus is a livestock guardian dog who excels at protecting the sheep. A Great Pyrenees (illustrated as a massive, fluffy sweetheart), he's lived outdoors his whole life, unlike the farm's other dogs. He's fond of "boss lady" Esperanza and her daughter, Cloe, and the other canines, including Stella, a service dog who alerts Cloe to seizures (and the protagonist of Stella, 2021). Gus, however, is a working dog at his very core. When a bear attacks, Gus is there-and when he leaps into the fray to protect one of the other dogs, he is gravely injured. The hardworking dog can't bear being indoors as he heals and is comforted only by Diego, Cloe's shy, soft-spoken cousin. Through Gus' lightly anthropomorphized thoughts (he carefully reports all human conversations he hears despite not necessarily understanding everything), Diego's overwhelming anxiety is apparent but is eased through his bond with Gus, and soon the dog realizes he has a new purpose as an emotional support animal for Diego. This is a comforting, quiet tale of a working dog slowly transitioning into a new life. Featuring a lovable animal protagonist, a relatable and persistent child trainer, and dog-training information, it's a compelling read. Gus doesn't report much on dog-irrelevant details like human appearance, though he's very invested in the taste of ice cream, but his reports of conversations cue his human family as being Latine.A gentle portrayal of a canine protagonist adjusting to a new role. (discussion questions) (Fiction. 7-10)

School Library Journal (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Gr 3–7 —In a tale just right for dog lovers, Gus is a Great Pyrennes, bred to protect, but has always longed for his own person. Gus tells his story though he relates all the conversations he overhears and doesn't understand, helping readers to follow events that are beyond his doggy ken. Up until a bear arrived in the neighborhood, Gus was an outdoor dog, protecting sheep and chickens on a farm run by Esperanza and Cloe, her daughter, and their two indoor dog companions. Injured in his efforts to protect the farm, Gus becomes an inside dog and is befriended by their cousin Diego, who is severely shyness. Diego and his father return to their beach house bringing Gus where a persnickety neighbor tries to oust Gus from the neighborhood based on homeowner's association rules. Gus's good nature is tested as is Diego's willingness to speak up for himself. Their bond becomes the basis for a solution that satisfies all and allows each person involved dignity and respect. Peaceful conflict resolution is showcased throughout in thoughtful non-didactic ways. This is short enough to possibly appeal to reluctant readers or to be read by advanced readers in second or third grade. VERDICT As a read-aloud to the canine obsessed in the early grades or just an engaging tale for dog lovers, Hoyle quietly unleashes a barking good tale. Its charm is due to Gus and to a real love of dogs.—Carol A. Edwards

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Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)
Word Count: 49,316
Reading Level: 4.7
Interest Level: 3-6
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 4.7 / points: 7.0 / quiz: 522506 / grade: Middle Grades

Return to the world of devoted working dogs and the humans they love in a new book from the best-selling author of Stella.  

Gus is a livestock guardian dog with one job—protecting his farm from coyotes and foxes. He likes keeping the sheep, the chickens, and his humans safe, and he’s very good at it.

One day, Diego and his dad come to visit the farm, and Gus immediately connects to the small boy. They both like to sit still and enjoy the quiet, and Gus can tell that Diego likes being around a gentle giant of a dog, that it helps relieve the boy’s constant worry.

When Gus detects the scent of a bear in the woods, he rushes to protect his flock, injuring his leg in a fight with the dangerous beast. Wounded, Gus needs to rest and heal away from his sheep, so he doesn’t risk reinjuring his leg. Diego suggests Gus come home with them to the North Carolina coast.

Suddenly, Gus is thrust into a new world of saltwater and sand and neighbors who don’t appreciate the presence of a large guard dog, like the neighbor who reminds Gus of his first owner—the junkyard man with the heavy boots.

Gus realizes Diego might need a friend as much as his sheep need a protector, but if he can’t learn to control his instincts, like barking and patrolling the neighborhood, Gus might lose his chance to stay in his new home. If he can’t protect the farm or his boy, Gus worries he might never find his place in the world.

Just Gus is a tender story of belonging and of two friends who learn they are better together than they were alone.


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