FINDING DANNY

Only child Bree, 12 years old, feels all but abandoned by her career-driven parents: Her father is a writer who travels a great deal, and her mother is a broadcast journalist hoping to move up to an anchor position. When her mom loses their Border collie, Danny, it seems like the final blow, proof of her mother’s narcissism and lack of interest. While searching for the lost dog, Bree is befriended by quirky, drawling Southerner Rayleen, an animal rescuer who introduces the girl to animal shelters and the plight of “red-lined” pets, due for imminent euthanasia. Thinking of Danny, Bree finds a way to make a big difference. The heartbreaking plight of lost and abandoned animals is real; unfortunately, the characters and dialogue in this superficial effort are flat and predictable, significantly diminishing the impact. An additional subplot follows both Bree’s budding romance with a classmate, Ashton, who shares parent problems, and her friendship issues with two girlfriends, but even the inclusion of these typical tween issues fails to elevate the novel beyond average. (Fiction. 9-12)