Book Spotlight - Walkin' the Dog by Chris Lynch

About The Book:

Title: WALKIN’ THE DOG

Author: Chris Lynch

Pub. Date: March 12, 2024

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 240

Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/WALKIN-THE-DOG

“Lynch is back and better, smarter, and funnier than ever.” —Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award Winner

A boy learns how to be a friend from man’s best friend in this funny and moving middle grade novel about humans being able to change and dogs changing us from acclaimed author Chris Lynch.

In a family of strong personalities with very strong points of view, Louis is what his mother lovingly calls “the inactivist,” someone who’d rather kick back than stand out. He only hopes he can stay under the radar when he starts high school in the fall, his first experience with public school after years of homeschooling.

But when a favor for a neighbor and his stinky canine companion unexpectedly turns into a bustling dog-walking business, Louis finds himself meeting an unprecedented number of new friends—both human and canine. Agatha, a quippy and cagey girl his age always seems to be telling two truths and a lie. Cyrus, a few years his senior, promises he’s going to show Louis how to be a better person, whether Louis wants him to or not. And then there are the dogs: misbehaving border terriers, the four (possible stolen) sausage dogs, the rest of Louis’s charges, and a mysterious white beast who appears at a certain spot at the edge of the woods.

Dogs and human alike all seem to have something they want to teach Louis, including his menacing older brother who keeps turning up everywhere. But is Louis ready to learn the lesson he needs most: how to stop being a lone wolf and be part of a pack?

 

About Chris Lynch:

Chris Lynch (he/him/his) is the award–winning author of several highly acclaimed young adult novels, including Printz Honor Book Freewill, Iceman, Gypsy Davey, and Shadow Boxer—all ALA Best Books for Young Adults—as well as Killing Time in Crystal City, Little Blue Lies, Pieces, Kill Switch, Angry Young Man, and Inexcusable, which was a National Book Award finalist and the recipient of six starred reviews. Chris is the author of middle grade novel Walkin’ the Dog. He holds an MA from the writing program at Emerson College. He teaches in the creative writing MFA program at Lesley University. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.

Meet Chris! 

Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 7:00pm ET

Porter Square Books (Cambridge, MA)

In conversation with Sara Farizan

 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at 7:00pm ET

Broadside Bookshop (Northampton, MA)

In conversation with Michael Mercurio

 

Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 6:00pm ET

Books of Wonder (New York, NY)

In conversation with Caela Carter, Cathy Carr, and E.L. Shen

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of WALKIN’ THE DOG, US Only.

Ends March 12th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/26/2024	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
2/26/2024	Little Red Reads	Excerpt/IG Post
2/27/2024	@pineshorelittlefreelibrary	IG Post
2/27/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
2/28/2024	Books With a Chance	Review/IG Post
2/28/2024	@darkfantasyreviews	IG Post
2/29/2024	Kountry Girl Bookaholic	Excerpt/IG Post
2/29/2024	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt/IG Post
3/1/2024	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt/IG Post
3/1/2024	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post

Week Two:

3/4/2024	@dharashahauthor	IG Post/TikTok Post
3/4/2024	Avainbookland	IG Review
3/5/2024	@pagesforpaige	IG Review
3/5/2024	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post
3/6/2024	@paws.read.repeat	Review/IG Post
3/6/2024	FUONLYKNEW	Review
3/7/2024	@evergirl200	IG Review
3/7/2024	Callisto’s calling	IG Review
3/8/2024	Two Points of Interest	Review
3/8/2024	The Momma Spot	Review

Book Review - The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber

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Jack and his family come from a long line of wealth and privilege. His entire family has made their own distinctive mark at the Boston School. Jack is struggling to make his own impression at the school since he feels that he is mediocre at everything he does.  He desperately wants to prove to his distinguished father that he has value to the family. Like Weatherby, Jack also has a secret that he knows will ruin everything if revealed.

Both Jack and Weatherby are excited for the annual school trip to the school’s private island. However, when the money for the trip is missing, Jack and Weatherby are heartbroken. The pair gets tapped to an exclusive private secret society to help solve the mystery of the missing money. If they solve the mystery, they get to join and if they don’t, they risk making enemies of many rich and influential people. 

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Cadence was chosen by the queen to be a mage for the palace. As Cadence is one of the most powerful mages in the castle, she is made to do the queen’s bidding, whether or not she wants to.  The queen’s latest request was for Cadence to host a concert to torture the country’s nobility. 

While Cadence doesn’t enjoy using her powers to hurt people, Cadence just accepts that this is her fate. That is, until she is reunited with her childhood friend, Remi. Remi is a noblewoman and has a deep hatred for the current queen. Remi and her family have ties to an underground rebellion. Cadence must decide if she will finally stand up for herself against the queen or continue doing Elene’s bidding.

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