In a family of strong personalities with very strong points of view, Louis is what his mother lovingly calls “the inactivist,” someone who’d rather kick back than stand out. He only hopes he can stay under the radar when he starts high school in the fall, his first experience with public school after years of homeschooling. But when a favor for a neighbor and his stinky canine companion unexpectedly turns into a bustling dog-walking business, Louis finds himself meeting an unprecedented number of new friends—both human and canine. Agatha, a quippy and cagey girl his age always seems to be telling two truths and a lie. Cyrus, a few years his senior, promises he’s going to show Louis how to be a better person, whether Louis wants him to or not. And then there are the dogs: misbehaving border terriers, the four (possible stolen) sausage dogs, the rest of Louis’s charges, and a mysterious white beast who appears at a certain spot at the edge of the woods.
Dogs and human alike all seem to have something they want to teach Louis, including his menacing older brother who keeps turning up everywhere. But is Louis ready to learn the lesson he needs most: how to stop being a lone wolf and be part of a pack?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris Lynch is the award–winning author of several highly acclaimed young adult novels, including Printz Honor Book Freewill, Iceman, Gypsy Davey, and Shadow Boxer—all ALA Best Books for Young Adults—as well as Killing Time in Crystal City, Little Blue Lies, Pieces, Kill Switch, Angry Young Man, and Inexcusable, which was a National Book Award finalist and the recipient of six starred reviews. Chris is the author of middle grade novel Walkin’ the Dog. He holds an MA from the writing program at Emerson College. He teaches in the creative writing MFA program at Lesley University. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.
What are you afraid of? Rats. I don't know how it started, but for as long as I can remember I have found rats deeply unsettling. I would rather encounter an angry dragon in my garden than a calm rat.
Do you have a favorite dog book? The Call of the Wild, by Jack London. From the time I first encountered it as a kid, I think I understood that a lifetime of dealing with people would make me want to go feral.
What's your favorite pet dog story? My German Shepherd, Sheba, bit me in the face one hot, dog day of summer. And it was my fault. I refused to heed the ample leave-me-alone signs she was giving off. There were absolutely no lingering hard feelings on either side, however.
What was your first job? I was a paper boy, delivering The Boston Globe in the days when it had the greatest sports section on Earth.
Are you more of a lone wolf or part of a pack? Lone wolf may be a bit strong, but I am simply not a pack creature by nature.
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