There Is No Dog

Gr 7–10—Rosoff offers an intriguing look at what the world would be like if God was actually a horny, hormonal, and self-centered teenage boy named Bob. Whenever Bob falls in love, natural disasters follow, leaving his assistant at his wits' end. Bob's latest love is Lucy, a zoo volunteer hoping for love and falling head over heels for Bob, though she grapples with his confusing random presences and disappearances. Bob's mother has lost his "beloved" pet in a card game, further compounding his emotional eruptions. Rosoff has created much for discussion, whether one believes in God or not, and narrator Steven Boyer competently performs the material. The pacing and delay between tracks is moderately frustrating, but Boyer quickly draws listeners back into the story. He uses appropriately whiny tones to voice the moody teenage boy. While listeners will never be confused as to whose point of view is being conveyed, Boyer most distinctly voices Bob and his mother. While not a first purchase, listeners will likely contemplate the points raised long after they finish the book.—Stephanie A. Squicciarini, Teen Services Librarian, Fairport (NY) Public Library