Moon Dog by Jane Elson

Moon Dog is a book which has the honour of what is rarely categorised as being an undiscovered little gem. This book can be identified by all ages as being something which is considered to be relevant not only to the target audience of children, but also ages which are older and have gone through similar events throughout their own childhoods. It is an idea which appeals to most people throughout life, as there are so many people who have had the same fantasy of owning a dog when we were children ourselves.

The main characters are secondary school kids named Marcus and Delilah. They are shown to have many varying differences, but the thing that connects them is their love of dogs and how they both wish for one themselves.

However, the main plotline is based on a Newfoundland dog which Marcus names Moon Dog. Moon Dog herself can be seen to be a little bit of a mystery as she only seems to appear at night with the same men next door which is said to unoccupied. This is truly an informative piece for children, as it deals with some of the heart-breaking effects that there possibly would be to adopting a dog and how to go about doing this. It is a message which deals with a real and ongoing problem which should be understood by all and how to deal with such a problem if ever it arises. Marcus seems like the clever young boy who questions what can be seen to be right and to get the right information before taking big decisions. The book clearly states the message throughout: adopt, don't shop. However, the subject matter can be seen to be very distressing for some, so it would probably be best for a mature child on the age range.

This is truly a book that makes you laugh, smile and cry all at the same time without you noticing that you are doing it. The characters for instance, are so well-rounded and everything they thought, the joy and pain that they both go through, you feel every single ounce of it. No wonder they have both come to love dogs so much as they are a true unconditional friend no matter the age!

Therefore, I believe that this book in particular should be recommended to all children who are questioning or are thinking about asking for a dog themselves. This is so they can see the benefits of adopting but also the possible risks of shopping for one as well. However, it also shows when reading a book like this, anyone should realise, no matter the age, that hope is only round the corner! In this case, I shall give this gem a five star rating.

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