The author does present a compelling case to accept all breeds of dogs, especially pit bulls, as useful. The many threads that she weaves throughout the book are important and play a part in its completion.
It's not your typical story of boy and dog friendship. Its interworkings of life, family, and choices reflect the dynamics of real life.
The book introduced several deeper issues: dog fighting, obedience, community control of pet ownership, that brought other discussions. ( )

Recommended Ages: Gr. 5-8

Plot Summary: Mackenzie's dad wakes up Mackenzie when he throws a puppy in bed with him. Mackenzie is thrilled and he takes care of Mackenzie very well. He finds food for him, gets the nerve to ask his dad for more food, takes him for walks everyday, and is thrilled to have a companion. Mackenzie finally finds someone to talk to and he spills the beans about his family to the dog and warns Cash not to anger his dad. Unfortunately, it doesn't work, and O'Rourke throws Cash in the trunk of his car and drives off with him, despite Mackenzie's pleas. Upon his return, the dog is gone but Mackenzie doesn't believe the dog was put down. Now the story is told through two perspectives, from Cash and from Mackenzie. In denial about being abandoned, Cash sits around waiting for Mackenzie to save him, but finally realizes Mackenzie isn't coming. He finds his way around, learns the best places to get food, and how to avoid people and cars. Mackenzie knows he's alive but doesn't know where. He starts doing worse in school because of his daydreaming, although he still does a good job of getting his homework done. He tries making posters but they get hung up the day before a big news story about how bad pit bulls are. He tries calling the animal shelter but none of the pit bulls are Cash. Then there is a news story about a dog, and a pit bull, no less, who saved a woman from a burning building. Mackenzie is convinced it is Cash. Another news story a few days later tells of a pit bull who managed to convince a train to stop, just before it hit a car on the tracks with a drunk teen. Will Cash and Mackenzie get reunited?

Setting: Bad part of a city with run down abandoned buildings, near a train track

Characters:
Mackenzie - 11 y/o,
Kid - 19 y/o, Mackenzie's half brother, fought with Dad and just left when he was 16 y/o, promised his brother he would write but he never did
Cash - Mackenzie's pit bull
Darren - punk in neighborhood who wants to make money and impress his friends and uncle
O'Rourke - Mackenzie and Kid's father, grouchy, verbally abusive, and never around
Jane - O'Rourke's girlfriend
Miss Smithers - Mackenzie's teacher from last year, worried about Mackenzie and tells Mr. Hu about his life
Mr. Hu - Mackenzie's current teacher
Mrs. Brody - old woman who lives on the end of the block, has dinner delivered by a meals on wheels place, watches the last train of the night
Girl on train - a girl goes to the city for dialysis and stands in the last car to wave to the old woman
Officer Dean - checks on Mrs. Brody during his nightly rounds

Recurring Themes: dog fighting, politics, ban, family, abandonment,

Controversial Issues:
many damns and dammits
pg 104, pg 111 bitch
Dad drinks
Teens drink and put car on train tracks

Personal Thoughts: This story was told with just enough detail. No extras at all. Every character had a role and it was built up in the right way. I enjoyed this story but am surprised by SLJ's review of it being appropriate for grades 4-6. I think the content is more relevant to 5-8. But I enjoyed it and it was suspenseful.

Genre: realistic fiction, drama, animal fiction

Pacing: fast/medium
Characters: well developed
Frame:
Storyline:

Activity: ( )

Good for discussions. Problems for the lower reading level. ( )

Great dog story! ( )

I was very interested in this story because dog fighting is a topic I feel very strongly about. I would not recommend this for younger children, but for older children because some of the descriptions in the book are a little graphic. I thought this book portrayed a realistic view of the world of dog fighting. I found the story to be very eye opening.