A Dog for Life

Starred review from October 2, 2006
As in Matthews's remarkable debut, Fish
, this novel again focuses on the lengths to which a child will go to save a beloved pet. John Hawkins is so close to his older brother, Tom, that the two dream each other's dreams. They also can silently communicate with their beloved dog, Mouse. When Tom contracts a serious (unnamed) illness, their widowed mother tells them that it's not safe to have the dog in the house, and plans to take her to the pound. So the brothers secretly hatch a plan: John and Mouse will travel by train from their northern England town to the southern coast, home to the boys' paternal uncle (whom they've never met) and ask him to keep Mouse until Tom is well. Fans of Matthews's first book will enjoy the humor that the author introduces here, from both boy and dog. John's courage and compassion drive much of the plot: on their journey, he saves a toddler from a near drowning and rescues some ponies from a fatal science experiment. The people he meets in each situation help him and Mouse further toward their destination. Some readers may be troubled by the significance of the dream-sharing, and also of Uncle David's ability to communicate with Mouse. But the bond between the brothers and their dog is as convincing as Tiger's devotion to the title fish in Matthews's first book, and readers will eagerly await the next novel from this talented author. Ages 10-up.

December 11, 2006
Butler's pronunciation is so crisp, clear and perfect that at times, it is a bit distracting. His enthusiastic impression of John Hawkins, the protagonist of Matthews's (Fish
) latest book, suffers a bit from this overarticulation. John, who runs away with his dog, Mouse, in order to save both Mouse and his very ill brother, is a likeable character, and in many ways, Butler is right for the job. Energy-wise his portrayal of John's chipper and sometimes naive personality seems right on the mark. But John's narration is never quite natural. It is a bit stilted, as if being read for the first time. Butler's range with female voices seems limited to the comical, which is appropriate in most cases, except with Mouse. Thankfully, he doesn't give her one of those farcical voices, but listeners do need to keep reminding themselves that Mouse is a she. Despite the imperfect match-up of reader and material, this production remains an engaging listening experience. Ages 10-up.