First published 2023
Marisol Rainey spots the Missing Dog posters around her neighborhood and panics. The lost German shepherd belongs to her neighbor, but Marisol has never met him properly. She and her best friend Jada call him "Daggers" because of his intimidating size and sharp teeth. While the posters reveal his real name is Gregory, Marisol remains convinced he transforms into a dangerous beast when roaming free. She pictures him leaping from bushes to knock her off her bike and attack her. Sleep becomes difficult as visions of Daggers haunt her thoughts. Marisol refuses to ride her bicycle and grows increasingly anxious until the dog returns safely home. She notices that everyone else in the neighborhood seems unconcerned about their safety. Only Marisol worries about the threat. Her fear isolates her, but facing what scares her most might reveal that Gregory is different than she imagined. This story explores how courage grows when we look beyond our assumptions and extend compassion to others.
Genres: family-life, coming-of-age, contemporary, childrens
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: facing-fears, overcoming-prejudice
Setting: Neighborhood
160 pages · Hardcover · Greenwillow Books
Content warnings: anxiety