I am not really a dog person, but something about the idea of D-39: A Robodog’s Journey was grabbing. Maybe the androgenous look of the character on the cover or the fact it was a robot dog and as far as I could remember I had never read a book with a robot dog. Maybe because it was free.
But what kept me reading this novel by Irene Latham was two main things: first it was done in a poetic prose manner. But it was not prose poetry. Or at least, not what one thinks of as poetry or a novel in the prose poetry format. These chapters are also on the shorter side so you could read several at once and get the feel of accomplishment, but also, they did not “bunch up” so you lose the meanings as it is a novel in the end.
And the second thing was the story. This dystopian, possible near future novel was intriguing. The concept of a civil war in Klynt’s world is anything but civil. Both sides fight, long, hard, and dirty. And the ruling government is as corrupt as any. The current president is even worse than his father’s rule. But there are small glimmers of hope, and when her world is tossed upside down, Klynt learns about herself, what it means to be a hero, about family, and about hope and courage.
This book is both humorous and serious. The adventures are jammed packed, even when bombs are not falling, and moose are chasing Klynt and her friends. Oh, and the robot dog? It is one very special canine that is at the heart of it all. This is a side story that I wish had been presented differently.
This part of the story, the dogs, has to do with a pandemic illness that infected dogs then humans. If you are a dog person and don’t like doggies to get hurt, you probably shouldn’t read this. (Of course, things will work out okay, it’s just a bit bumpy to get there). This part also leads to the relationship Klynt has with her parents (or lack thereof). And finally has a twist that was so obvious most people will probably miss it. After all, everyone in the book did.
Ages 10 to 14 might be the best audience, but younger could do. But know that there is a war going one, dogs get hurt, humans are killed and there is a plot point that shows what people can do when their grief is overpowering.