SMILEY

An affectionate dog’s positive attitude is challenged by prejudice.

Smiley, an American Staffordshire terrier—a type of pit bull—begins her life at a high-end Boston kennel. The breeder socializes Smiley and her littermates, exposing them to all kinds of people and a variety of objects and experiences, including vacuum cleaners, skateboards, swimming, and even the zoo (which may surprise readers who are aware that zoos generally ban pets who aren’t service animals). Smiley is so happy that she smiles not only “with her butt” but also with her big, goofy mouth. When she’s adopted by the Menino-Rosado family, Smiley uses her highly empathic nature to support Carlito, a small, nervous Puerto Rican tween from an affordable housing development in Boston’s South End. He’s about to enter seventh grade at prestigious Boston Classical Academy, where he has a scholarship. Carlito becomes the crew team’s coxswain, but when he’s too light for the required minimum, Smiley joins him in the boat, serving as an unorthodox yet effective deadweight. When a classmate’s well-intentioned but poorly socialized pit bull exhibits apparently aggressive behavior at a boat race, Carlito’s wealthy classmate’s father labels Smiley a menace, too, and she suffers a crisis of confidence. Ross thoughtfully explores snobbery, socioeconomic inequity, and racial bias in a strongly developed Boston setting. As in Ross’ Nugly (2023), the story serves as a treatise on canine behavior and care interwoven with layered, deliberately paced storytelling.

Insightful and purposeful, with strong appeal for animal lovers.