In Reilly’s fantasy novel, dogs face life-and-death challenges in a junkyard in the woods.

This compelling tale will resonate with dog lovers, even those who are older than its middle school target audience. The author’s respect for animals is clearly reflected in his observations of canine behavior, including their body language and their social, playful, and aggressive interactions. The only humans in the narrative are the vile Mr. Fergusen, who runs a dogfighting enterprise in his junkyard garage, and his avid customers. All the other characters are animals, who speak to one another (but not to humans), form communities, and strategize. Exhausted pit bull Ninja is about to enter the ring, goaded by Fergusen and bloodthirsty men who “stink of rotten souls.” Unable to take any more abuse, Ninja decides that she won’t fight. There’s an authentic appeal to readers’ emotions in her decision and in what this “entertainment” entails, and the author doesn’t sugarcoat the dehumanizing reality of dogfighting, or the cruelty of a dog owner “who hates dogs so much that he starves their bellies, tortures their bodies, and conditions their minds toward violence.” Most of the story, though, happens among dogs in the junkyard, and, memorably, in the nearby forest. At one point, Dodge, one of the junkyard’s “free” watchdogs, orders his secret crew of abandoned strays to bring the half-dead Ninja to his home; heaps of detritus (tires, TVs, home appliances, auto parts, empty freight railcars, and more) form tunnels and lairs on the north side, where Dodge and his crew live. On the south side, a rival pack resides, led by another watchdog, Saab, who’s broken the two groups’ uneasy truce. Dodge is hopeful that having a pit bull on their side will even the odds. Multiple conflicts then collide involving Dodge and Saab, Fergusen’s timid house dog, a vengeful wolf, a murderous mastiff, and an enraged grizzly bear. As the book heads toward its adrenaline-charged conclusion, excellent characterization gives the narrative dimension and emotional resonance. The entire story is enhanced by Denver’s expressive, watercolor-style illustrations.

An affecting mix of fantasy, harsh reality, and high-stakes action.