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    The Children's Book Review

    A Home for Goddesses and Dogs, by Leslie Connor | Book Spotlight

    Bianca SchulzeBy Bianca Schulze3 Mins Read General
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    The Children’s Book Review

    A unique masterpiece about loss, love, and the world’s best bad dog, from award winner Leslie Connor, author of the National Book Award finalist The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle.

    A Home for Goddesses and Dogs is an uplifting middle-grade novel about recovery featuring strong female characters, an adorable dog, and the girl who comes to love him.

    Book A Home For Goddesses and DogsA Home for Goddesses and Dogs

    Written by Leslie Connor

    Publisher’s Synopsis: A unique masterpiece about loss, love, and the world’s best bad dog, from award winner Leslie Connor, author of the National Book Award finalist The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle.

    This novel sings about loss and love and finding joy in new friendships and a loving family, along with the world’s best bad dog. An uplifting middle-grade novel about recovery featuring strong female characters, an adorable dog, and the girl who comes to love him.

    It’s a life-altering New Year for thirteen-year-old Lydia when she uproots to a Connecticut farm to live with her aunt following her mother’s death.

    Aunt Brat and her jovial wife, Eileen, and their ancient live-in landlord, Elloroy, are welcoming—and a little quirky. Lydia’s struggle for a sense of belonging in her new family is highlighted when the women adopt a big yellow dog just days after the girl’s arrival.

    Wasn’t one rescue enough?

    Lydia is not a dog person—and this one is trouble! He is mistrustful and slinky. He pees in the house, escapes into the woods, and barks at things unseen. His new owners begin to guess about his unknown past.

    Meanwhile, Lydia doesn’t want to be difficult—and she does not mean to keep secrets—but there are things she’s not telling…

    Like why the box of “paper stuff” she keeps under her bed is so important…

    And why that hole in the wall behind a poster in her room is getting bigger…

    And why something she took from the big yellow dog just might be the key to unraveling his mysterious past—but at what cost?

    Ages 10+ | Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books | February 25, 2020 | ISBN-13: 978-0062796783

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    About the Author

    Leslie Connor is the author of several award-winning books for children, including two ALA Schneider Family Book Award winners, Waiting for Normal and The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle, which was also selected as a National Book Award finalist. Her other books include All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, Crunch, and The Things You Kiss Goodbye. She lives in the Connecticut woods with her family and three rescue dogs. You can visit her online at www.leslieconnor.com.

    Facebook: @harpercollinschildrens | Instagram: @HarperKids and @heyleslieconnor | Twitter @HarperKids and @LeslieConnor29

    What to Read Next:

    1. A Home for Goddesses and Dogs, by Leslie Connor | Dedicated Review
    2. 5 Amazing Novels for Young Dog Lovers
    3. 5 Poignant Middle-Grade Novels That Miraculously Include Laugh-Out-Loud Moments
    4. When a Bookstore Provides a Portal to Adventure and Dreams

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Dogs Katherine Tegen Books Leslie Connor Loss Loss of a Parent Middle Grade Books Pet Adoption
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    Bianca Schulze
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    Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

    39 Comments

    1. Carol Luciano on February 20, 2020 12:56 am

      My youngest grandson loves animals & books. This would be a book he’d enjoy.

      Reply
    2. Anne Perry on February 20, 2020 6:10 am

      I am a goddess and a dog lover!

      Reply
    3. Carl on February 20, 2020 9:33 am

      What a terrific sounding story. I think I know a little bit about the world’s best bad dogs. I have two of them at home. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book.

      Reply
    4. charlotte on February 20, 2020 10:18 am

      I have two adorable grandkids, who are 9 and 11, and they would love this book!

      Reply
    5. Cathy on February 20, 2020 12:21 pm

      I thought I had the best bad dogs!

      Reply
      • Bianca Schulze on February 21, 2020 7:35 pm

        Lol!

        Reply
    6. Amy D on February 20, 2020 1:09 pm

      My older daughter only reads books about dogs. She loves anything dog related. So, I would love to give her this book for her birthday next month.

      Reply
    7. Shari Sawyers on February 20, 2020 3:53 pm

      I just started reading an ARC of this book, and Lydia already has my heart! I teach 3rd grade, and would love to share a copy with my students who love dogs! I love stories about quirky families, especially the families that we make!

      Reply
      • Bianca Schulze on February 21, 2020 7:35 pm

        Isn’t it a wonderful story! Dog lovers and members of quirky families unite!

        Reply
    8. Nancy on February 20, 2020 4:57 pm

      Lovely cover. I love books!

      Reply
    9. Barbara on February 23, 2020 6:25 am

      I like both books and dogs. I would love to win this for my grandchildren that spend a lot of time with me and also love my dogs.

      Reply
    10. Linda gawthrop on February 24, 2020 7:29 am

      She had me at dog….love animal stories.

      Reply
    11. Anne on February 25, 2020 5:29 pm

      What a treasure this book is. My granddaughters love dogs and have a rescue dog named Bogie who is a sweetheart. They are avid readers and this would be their birthday gift as both have March birthdays.

      Reply
    12. apple blossom on February 25, 2020 6:08 pm

      Love dogs and books. thanks

      Reply
    13. B.J. Bernal on February 26, 2020 12:23 am

      I’m a book and dog lover! I’d love to win so I could read to my granddaughter!

      Reply
    14. Kathleen K on February 26, 2020 2:53 pm

      My daughter is a dog lover and book lover and particularly loves books that feature dogs! This one looks great!

      Reply
    15. gloria patterson on February 27, 2020 2:26 pm

      This book would go to my great niece Zadaya. When she was born mommy already had a little dog called prince. He was mommy’s!! When Zay showed up he decided she was his. So this books sounds like something you would love

      Reply
    16. Jennylyn Gross on February 27, 2020 6:03 pm

      dog lover

      Reply
    17. Tracy Preece on February 29, 2020 11:16 am

      I love the description. It sounds inspiring. And dogs are so pure.

      Reply
    18. teresa kunberger on March 3, 2020 4:18 pm

      My daughter is a dog lover and a major book lover!

      Reply
    19. Linda G on March 4, 2020 8:53 am

      My niece would love this book, yes she is a dog lover and recently welcomed a new dog into their home.

      Reply
    20. Shirley Younger on March 4, 2020 12:45 pm

      Love dogs!

      Reply
    21. Victoria Scott on March 6, 2020 11:33 am

      Both! All animals really and pretty much all books too! 🙂

      Reply
    22. Jennifer Tilson on March 6, 2020 8:27 pm

      I’d love to win. I have a 6th grade daughter who loves dogs and books. I think she’d enjoy this one.

      Reply
    23. Lynnette on March 7, 2020 7:53 am

      I am a Leslie Connor fan – she qrites books with depth that kids love to read. And who doesn’t love a book about a bad dog?

      Reply
    24. Cynthia C on March 8, 2020 3:43 pm

      I love dogs, books and kids, especially my nieces who would love this book.

      Reply
    25. susan hartman on March 9, 2020 10:12 pm

      I love dogs and love to share my books.

      Reply
    26. Esperanza Gailliard on March 11, 2020 12:51 pm

      I am a dog lover and a book lover. I would love to win this for my niece.

      Reply
    27. Laurie Nykaza on March 14, 2020 5:28 pm

      We love dogs and have 2 right now. My grandson would love to read this book with me.

      Reply
    28. Stephanie H. on March 15, 2020 6:43 am

      I am both a book lover and a dog lover.

      Reply
    29. Susan P. on March 15, 2020 10:03 pm

      Our family is made up of book lovers and animal lovers, especially rescued dogs.

      Reply
    30. Beth T. on March 15, 2020 11:47 pm

      I’m a book lover and a dog lover. We have five dogs and I’m pretty sure one of them is the world’s best bad dog. Her name is Cora and she is incorrigible.

      Reply
    31. Debra Branigan on March 20, 2020 7:02 am

      I am excited to win this because I am a dog lover and a book lover. Most of all, I am a Leslie Connor fan! I would love to win this for my granddaughter and introduce her to this author.

      Reply
    32. wen budro on March 20, 2020 3:07 pm

      I am both a book lover and a dog lover. This looks like a wonderful read for sure.

      Reply
    33. Laurie Emerson on March 20, 2020 4:15 pm

      Our whole family is both book lovers and dog lovers.

      Reply
    34. Sabine B on March 20, 2020 4:53 pm

      That sounds like a great book, thank you for the review and chance to win it!

      Reply
    35. Susan Smith on March 20, 2020 5:17 pm

      I’m a dog and a book lover. This sounds like cute book.

      Reply
    36. Carl on March 24, 2020 10:38 am

      Thanks very much from me and both of my best bad dogs.

      Reply
      • Bianca Schulze on March 24, 2020 12:48 pm

        Congrats! You are welcome!

        Reply
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