Junkyard Dog

by Monique Polak

Overview

Justin is fascinated with the aged guard dog at the corner store. He names it Smokey and sneaks the dog treats. Smokey belongs to a company that supplies working dogs to local businesses. Justin is thrilled to get a job working for Smokey's company, until he learns about the mistreatment of the animals. When Justin can't shake his suspicion that someone in the company is involved in a rash of thefts, he tries to quit. But Justin knows too much, and his boss won't let him go.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554693771
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	10/01/2009
Series:	Orca Currents Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	655 KB
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Monique Polak is the author of more than thirty books for young people. She is the three-time winner of the Quebec Writers' Federation Prize for Children's and YA Literature for her novels Hate Mail, What World is Left and Room for One More. In addition to teaching at Marianopolis College in Montreal, Monique is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in Maclean's Magazine, the Montreal Gazette and other Postmedia newspapers. She is also a columnist on ICI Radio-Canada's Plus on est de fous, plus on lit! In 2016, Monique was the CBC/Quebec Writers' Federation inaugural writer-in-residence. Monique lives in Montreal.

Read an Excerpt

One of the private-school boys grabs hold of his buddy's arm. "Let's get outta here," he says. "See the fangs on that monster? And the way his ears are sticking up?"

I don't like him calling Smokey a monster. If Smokey's baring his fangs, it's because he's on the alert.

I head for the cash. I feel like Smokey needs me. Like I understand him in a way no one else does.

Editorial Reviews

"Orca Currents continues its line of hard-hitting novels for reluctant readers with this brutal yet rewarding moral quagmire…Polak writes with a nervy confidence, and her specificity…lends an authenticity that lives beyond the book's relatively few pages. A powerful story for anyone who has ever looked into the eyes of a dog and accepted the offer: 'Be good to us, and we'll be good to you.'"

Booklist

"Not a taxing read and students will find the end of the novel comes quite quickly. This novel will be good for students who are interested in reading about topics that are serious however need a book that is a more accessible reading level."

Resource Links

"As ever, Polak's narrative style is succinct and engaging. Such abstract concepts as ethics and empathy are given concrete forms through a story that will particularly appeal to reluctant readers."

Montreal Review of Books (MRB)

"The story is an interesting one, with enough action and engaging characters to easily hook reluctant readers… Can provide some excellent food for thought regarding ethical questions of treatment of animals and whether an individual's need can excuse participation in unethical activities."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"[The] storyline would attract the reluctant or low reader who likes realistic animal stories."

The Washington State Young Adult Review Group (WASHYARG)

"[The] storyline would attract the reluctant or low reader who likes realistic animal stories."

Washington State YA Review

"This is a great read for the 9 to 12 year-old animal lover in your life or the teen who is feeling like he/she does not fit in...This juvenile novel was an engaging read and well-written from Justin’s perspective. I really did see his world through his eyes and level of understanding."

Word of Mouse Book Reviews blog

"The story is an interesting one, with enough action and engaging characters to easily hook reluctant readers… Can provide some excellent food for thought regarding ethical questions of treatment of animals and whether an individual's need can excuse participation in unethical activities."

CM Magazine

"As ever, Polak's narrative style is succinct and engaging. Such abstract concepts as ethics and empathy are given concrete forms through a story that will particularly appeal to reluctant readers."

Montreal Review of Books

"Orca Currents continues its line of hard-hitting novels for reluctant readers with this brutal yet rewarding moral quagmire…Polak writes with a nervy confidence, and her specificity…lends an authenticity that lives beyond the book's relatively few pages. A powerful story for anyone who has ever looked into the eyes of a dog and accepted the offer: 'Be good to us, and we'll be good to you.'"

Booklist