The Misadventures of the Magician's Dog

September 1, 2013
A boy learns magic and comes to terms with his feelings about his absent serviceman father, deployed overseas, with the help of a talking dog. On his 12th birthday Peter Lubinsky asks for a dog --peculiar, given that he doesn't like dogs. He quickly realizes the pooch he chooses has actually selected him, and in the privacy of Peter's bedroom, the dog reveals his ability to speak and the reason for singling Peter out: The hound once belonged to a master magician (not the stage kind; he can actually do magic) who's now evil (a side effect of working magic, which requires strong, often negative emotions) and turned into a rock. Now the dog must teach Peter magic so the boy can make the magician human again. With the hope that he might become powerful enough to bring his father home and abetted by two younger sisters, Peter embarks on a series of implausible, muddled adventures that don't coalesce. There's action and humor here but cliches aplenty, too. The main actors are likable, but characterizations are superficial, and Peter's actions and decisions are obviously plot-driven. Eventually, Peter recognizes that he doesn't need to channel anger to draw out his abilities, as the dog had advised, but that love works its own magic. An interesting but strained debut with some appeal, particularly among undemanding readers. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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September 1, 2013

Gr 4-6-Because he is afraid of dogs, Peter is shocked when he hears himself asking for one for his 12th birthday. Later, after bringing one home from a shelter, he is stunned to learn that his new pet actually talks. The Dog tells Peter that he needs help in releasing his previous owner, a magician, from a terrible spell. The Dog will, in return, teach Peter magic, which could help bring his father home from deployment in the Middle East. As Peter's practice of magic improves and deepens, he realizes that he is a better wizard when he is angry, and he has to confront his feelings about his father's absence. Peter's siblings also become involved with the attempts to free the magician. Peter's relationships are realistic. The resolution to the psychological pain of missing his father rings true and the magical plot presents adventure and an exciting climax. Fantasy fans will enjoy this story, and the fast-moving plot will engage reluctant readers.-Tina Martin, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, IL

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2013
Grades 4-6 When his twelfth birthday rolls around, even Peter is surprised to hear himself asking for a dog. He doesn't even like dogs. After selecting the scruffiest mutt at the shelter, he learns that The Dog actually chose himto become a magician in order to free his former owner (another magician) from a malevolent life. Peter, still dealing with his father's recent deployment overseas, learns his anger can powerfully boost his magic, but at a terrible cost. His only hope is to find another source of strength within himself. The family relationships, particularly among Peter and his two younger sisters, are well drawn, and The Dog is an appealing, original character. Though some sections of the writing seem more studied than organic, Sackett creates sympathetic characters and rousing action scenes. The fantasy, which includes magical elements from flying at night to dinosaur attacks, is grounded by the realistic setting. The eye-catching jacket features the three kids, The Dog, and a T. rex.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2014
Twelve-year-old Peter adopts a talking dog that needs Peter's help: his former master, a magician, has turned himself into a rock. If Peter helps return the magician to his human state, "The Dog" will teach Peter how to conjure his father, who's deployed in the Middle East. This action-packed fantasy lightly explores the impact military parents' service has on their children.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)