The Leanin' Dog by K.A. Nuzum

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Dessa Dean's daymares started after her mother died. They are as bad as her nightmares, except that they happen while she is awake. With her mother gone forever and her dad busy hunting to provide for the family, Dessa Dean doesn't really have a friend to confide in, at least not until a dog comes into her life. She readily adopts this dog as her friend, helps her heal from her overwhelming grief, vanquishing her daymares and nightmares. With Christmas just around the corner, this is nothing short of a Christmas miracle.

The Leanin' Dog is a heartfelt tale of an eleven-year-old girl struggling with the death of her mother and the changes that come with it. Though she tries to hide her sorrows from her father at times, this novel shows that you don't have to deal with grief alone.

A good writing style paired up with great characterization creates a pleasurable story. Dessa Dean is well-defined and admirable character, and I liked how the novel was told in her distinctive voice – it really helped build her character. She's innocent, brave, and friendly; and her dog is just as lovable. She frequently and fondly reminisces about her mom, even though it saddens her. She never once tries to suppress her memories of her mother, and her dog certainly provides a great outlet for her emotions. Her growth is very apparent by the conclusion of the story. Clearly, Dessa Dean's character is the strength of this novel.

This was a decent read, but I didn't find myself hooked onto it; I never really did get into the story. It just didn't captivate me. Because of the mother's death, the tone remains slightly morose throughout the story. The ending was unsurprising and conventional, as I had already predicted what would happen.


Note: This was also reviewed for HarperCollins Children's.