Now in sixth grade, Julia Gillian copes with her fear of eighth graders, a stubborn third-grade reading buddy as reading-averse as she is and her dog Bigfoot’s last illness. Readers who began the series with Julia Gillian (and the Art of Knowing) (2008) and who sympathized with the nine-year-old who feared finishing a book in which she knew the dog would die will now find themselves in a similar situation. Perhaps, like Julia Gillian (who always uses both her first and last names), her readers will now be older and more able to cope. Although it refers to events of the first two books, this moving story stands on its own. Supporting characters are smoothly introduced. The climax at the veterinarian’s office is gentle but realistic, and Julia Gillian’s realization that everyone has problems is appropriate. Any reader who has lost a pet will recognize the family’s grief and appreciate the support friends, strangers and her surprisingly sympathetic reading buddy provide. Kozjan’s frequent drawings (final art not seen) add a cheerful touch. (Fiction. 9-12)
