Dogboy

VOYA - Arlene Garcia

A baby is abandoned on an arid mountainside, intended as a gift to the Great Father. Discovered by a pregnant dog instead, the baby is nursed by the creature along with her own pups. When a flash flood deposits the unusual family on the outskirts of a poor village, the people fear and reject the child as a beast or cursed human. He is left alone to raise himself, but Boy, as he comes to be called, is a survivor. Despite attacks by an eagle, a bear, and a pack of wild dogs, as well as undergoing ordeals by both water and fire, Boy grows into a young man who could just possibly turn out to be the villagers' most longed-for blessing. Kelleher is a prolific, award-winning Australian author who has written more than thirty-nine books for children, teens, and adults. This novel is a lyrically written bildungsroman, set in an indeterminate place and time. It is short, easily readable, and entertaining but feels more like mythology than fiction or even fantasy. The characters seem like archetypes rather than real people, and the majority have such small roles to play that it is difficult to genuinely care about any of them. That fact and the lack of a definite setting leaves the reader with a feeling of detachment from the story. It is difficult to identify the audience for this particular work, making it recommended for larger collections only.

VOYA - Danielle Cooper

Dogboy is the story of an infant abandoned at birth and reared by a mother dog. At first shunned by his fellow humans, he sets out to prove himself to be as good, if not better, than those who scorned him. Through a long series of trials and lessons, he finally learns that power and social status are not as important as he'd once thought. Although at times the main character seems slightly unreachable, the plot more than makes up for it. Readers cannot help but continue to the very end, silently observing as Boy faces life's lessons and learns from them. Well-written and fast-paced, Dogboy is an excellent choice for avid readers.

School Library Journal

Gr 7-9-Written in the mythic style of simplicity and mystery slightly reminiscent of Ursula LeGuin, Dogboy follows the life of a nonverbal feral child, abandoned by his mother at birth and nurtured by a dog. As an infant he displays supernatural gifts, surviving not only winters outdoors but also attacks by an eagle, a bear, and a wolf pack. Set in an indeterminate country in a time of extended drought where water has become even more precious than gold, the slightly surreal atmosphere adds to the mystery of the boy's past. His youthful naivet and lack of socialization make him an easy mark for charlatans, whom he follows to the city. After great personal suffering, he becomes a water diviner, achieving astounding material success but losing sight of his real values. Themes of fate and destiny, social status, survival, and identity are woven into the story through the author's spare narrative. Original in tone and mood, this story will be enjoyed by a wide audience.-Ann Robinson, Moultonborough Academy Library, NH Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

A dog and her pup raise an abandoned baby boy in this philosophical tale that appears to take place sometime before Christ. Inhabitants of a nearby settlement who worship the Mountain God cannot understand why they're undergoing a long period of drought. Needing a scapegoat, Dogboy, who has tried to become a small part of the community, is made the focus of the villagers' superstitions. Bedazzled by a pair of (false) shamans, Dogboy makes it his goal to become their equal. He, his dog sister and a servant from the settlement named Magda set off. The implication throughout is that the rainstorms that occasionally provide relief are tied to Dogboy's emotions. When he undergoes a long period of believing he's a shaman and everyone else is beneath him, the land experiences an unusual drought. Is Dogboy special? Is he a gift from the mountain? Is he a shaman or a water finder or both? Kelleher keeps up the suspense in this cautionary tale on morality and what is truly important in life, and telling the boy's childhood in a fascinating way. The last half is slightly weaker than the first, because it's a very familiar cautionary story regarding ego and the need for wealth above all other things. However, there's enough here to interest thoughtful readers. (Fiction. YA)