Rotten

Original author: Michael Nothrop

THE LOWDOWN:

A troubled teen. A rescued Rottweiler. An unlikely friendship. Jimmer “JD” Dobbs is back in town after spending the summer “upstate.” No one believes his story about visiting his aunt, and it’s pretty clear that he has something to hide. It’s also pretty clear that his mom made a new friend while he was away—a rescued Rottweiler that JD immediately renames Johnny Rotten (yes, after that guy in the Sex Pistols). Both tough but damaged, JD and Johnny slowly learn to trust each other, but their newfound bond is threatened by a treacherous friend and one snap of Johnny’s powerful jaws. As the secrets JD has tried so hard to keep under wraps start to unravel, he suddenly has something much bigger to worry about: saving his dog.

FIRST IMPRESSION:

The bus heading down from upstate says PETER PAN on the side. It might as well say LOSERS. Everyone on here is some combination of bad adjectives: poor, old, sick, bloated, and worse. I’ve pegged one as homicidal and another as suicidal. Luckily, they’re not sitting next to each other. No one on here is getting the better of things. No one owns a car or can afford a train ticket. I fit right in, a sixteen-year-old being shipped across the state in the middle of the night with absolutely no say in the matter.

—ARC e-galley edition

SNAPSHOT:

Narrated in JD’s conversational first person point of view, this tale of loyalty and redemption is refreshingly poignant. The straightforward plot packs a lot of emotional punch, while still allowing plenty of time to appreciate the small cast of characters and their motivations.

The light humor throughout, necessary for the weighty topic at the center of the action, is especially realistic when JD is with his buddies. The believable portrayal of regular teenagers dealing with everyday situations is among the novel’s major strengths. Even the adults in JD’s world come to life as fully sympathetic—his mother is a standout as that rare creature of YA: a positive and involved parent figure.

A compulsively readable story that can be gobbled up in one long sitting or savored over several. Either way, Jimmer and Johnny Rotten are sure to stick with their audience long after the pages close.

Appropriate for ages 13+. Some mild language, talk of past petty crimes/fights, minors attempting to purchase alcohol, and emotionally difficult situations involving pets.

Deals with second chances, misunderstood bully-type dogs and kids, and the love we all feel for our pets. The parallels between Jimmer and his doggy pal Johnny Rotten are certainly worth further discussion and exploration by readers.

GET IT ON YOUR SHELF:

If you…

– Love stories about “a boy and his dog”

– Have done things in your past that people judge you unfairly over

– Want to spend time with flawed-but-loveable characters

– Need a good book about realistic, relatable male friendships

– Ever had a pet steal its way into your heart

THE ESSENTIALS:

Contemporary YA

Hardcover & Ebook, 256 pages

Published April 1st, 2013 by Scholastic Press (ISBN0545495873)

http://michaelnorthrop.net/?page_id=5877