The Good, The Bad, and The Beagle

Gr 4–6—Pessimistic Veronica Morgan determines that if another family purchases her favorite dog from the local pet store, it will be a fate "worse than death." Veronica's quiet disposition and social anxiety, which seems to go nearly unnoticed by her psychiatrist parents, separate the protagonist from the rest of her friendly peers. Her parents surprise her by purchasing Cadbury, the dog she has wished for, which consumes the 11-year-old's life for months. Ultimately, circumstances force Veronica to deal with death, friendship, and academic responsibility. This novel centers on a subdued, asocial teen who becomes unhealthily obsessed with her dog, Cadbury. While Burns's visually descriptive writing brings Manhattan and Veronica's inner thoughts to life, the plotting is inconsistent and at times difficult to follow. Themes of Judaism, atheism, and a connection to the natural world float through the text, but are never truly developed or resolved. Burns fails to create an authentic bond between Veronica and Cadbury, which becomes problematic, given the protagonist's extended heartbreak after the animals' death. The girl's depression and months of seclusion seem overdramatic and unrealistic. Ultimately, readers will be left wondering if Veronica has changed or learned anything through her predicaments.—Mary-Brook J. Townsend, The McGillis School, Salt Lake City, UT