Let’s Read Good Books

My Thoughts:

May contain spoilers

There is something about Van Eekhout’s books for younger readers that I find irresistible. The protagonists are so relatable, the obstacles they face are so compelling, and there’s always a zing moment, where my emotions threaten to get the best of me. I love his books.

Lopside is a Barkonaut, a highly trained dog who assists astronauts in space. His mission- help the Laika reach a distant planet so humans can start a space colony.

Tragedy strikes when the humans abandon ship, leaving the dogs to fend for themselves. The ship is crippled, stranded in the same solar system as the target planet. Low on food and every other resource needed, the dogs refuse to give up on their mission.

Wow. This was a suspenseful read. The narrator was fantastic. He breathed life into the intrepid little pack of dogs. Their fear and uncertainty was overwhelming at times. And through it all, little Lopside refused to give up, determined to remain a Barkonaut and complete his mission. As the narrator so often said, he was such a good dog. I’ll argue that he was the best dog.

Rating: 5 Stars – Highly Recommended