DYLAN'S MILLIONS

In this sixth installment of a middle-grade adventure series, an American cocker spaniel extraordinaire named Dylan Easter Donovan visits Yosemite National Park.

One-and-a-half-year-old Dylan was originally adopted by Casey Donovan’s older brother, who works in South Korea. The challenges of raising a puppy proved too difficult, and he sent Dylan to Casey, who lives in California. The irrepressible dog understands Korean, English, and American Sign Language. He is also the proud recipient of an American Kennel Club Good Citizen certification. But his extra-special talent rests with his superior olfactory ability. In his short life, he has become famous for following his nose, leading to a string of successful search and rescues. Now, he is on the witness stand in the trial of a jewel thief he tracked down and caught. After the canine identifies the thief, Judge Horace Beau calls Casey and the boy’s best friend, Sumo Modragon, both 12 years old, and Dylan into his chambers. It turns out the judge is friends with Cranston Pantswick (aka Cranky Pants), a mega-publisher of children’s books and Casey’s mom’s client. Cranston has asked his friend to tell Dylan and his pals that they have a new assignment. The magnate wishes to introduce his young readers to the wonders of nature, and he wants to send Dylan’s squad to Yosemite for a photo shoot in the great outdoors. Little do they know that Dylan’s skills as well as the squad’s stamina and ingenuity will be put to the test once again. The next day, Dylan; Casey; Sumo; Casey’s mom, Colleen; and Sasha Pantswick (Cranston’s photographer daughter) fly to Groveland, an old California mining town just outside Yosemite. Their first outing finds them panning for gold and searching for a runaway child. But the real challenge begins when they learn that the judge’s brother, Edmund Beau, who runs the local white-water rafting outfit, has been kidnapped.

Troy has created a credible, adorable character in her portrayal of Dylan by combining his realistic canine limitations—he speaks only through arfs, whines, a few grrs, and the occasional pawing of Casey’s leg—with his thoughts (written in italics), which reveal his curiosity, compassion, and childlike vulnerabilities. The lucid prose flows gently, but it is packed with intriguing factoids about Yosemite, its history, and its biodiversity. Supplemental glossaries of ASL phrases and commands and white-water rafting terminology are valuable additions to the book’s information bucket. Dylan’s enthusiastic mental ponderings help young readers sound out complex terms. For example, when he hears about the Ahwahneechee tribe that once populated Yosemite, he thinks “Ah wah nee chee.” There is an abundance of adventures to keep the pages turning—white-water rafting with its attendant mishaps, the search for hidden caves, and a cadre of dangerous bad guys. All of this is interwoven with a healthy supply of tender and humorous respites, including a happenstance visit to an old cemetery with an amusing collection of headstone epitaphs.

An engaging addition to an entertaining series, with positive messaging and a delightful dog.