Walkin' the Dog - by Chris Lynch

About the Book

A dog walking venture helps thirteen-year-old Louis, who would rather kick back than stand out, learn how to be a friend.

Book Synopsis

"Lynch is back and better, smarter, and funnier than ever." --Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award Winner

A boy learns how to be a friend from man's best friend in this "funny, fetching" (Booklist, starred review) middle grade novel about humans being able to change and dogs changing us from acclaimed author Chris Lynch.

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?

Review Quotes

"VERDICT A marvelous modern family story. Readers who enjoy novels of animals and resilience like L.M. Elliott's Bea and the New Deal Horse will inhale Lynch's latest."--School Library Journal

*"Lynch, master of the "show, don't tell" school of writing, goes to the dogs in a story lit up by examples of kindness, empathy, and people (and pooches!) helping people over rough spots in their lives."--Booklist, STARRED Review "02/01/24"

"Lynch infuses Louis's narration with a breezy, sometimes mature vernacular, crisp wit, and powerful emotions surrounding the intense joy, sorrow, and wisdom that come with canine companionship."--Publishers Weekly "12/04/23"

"Without sugarcoating crises, (Walkin' The Dog) tenderly underscores how love and trust can shepherd lost kids toward hopeful futures."--Kirkus Reviews "01/01/24"

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.