Just A Dog

Michael Gerard Bauer (author)

Omnibus, Scholastic, Australia: Sept 2010; 130pp

ISBN: 9781862918870

Genres: animal stories, realistic fiction

Issues: change, family, love, resilience

Mr Mosely ('mosely white') is not a purebred; but he is loving, loyal, protective and everything that a family needs during the tough times.

Each episodic chapter in this delightful book tells another story about Corey's greatest friend – his dog, Mr Mosely. Some of the stories are funny, some are sad, some are both. In each, Corey gives the reader an idea of why Mr Mosely held such a special place in the heart of each member of his family.

Michael Bauer is an award-winning writer who has a great capacity to capture a character's 'voice' as well as create stories that can be read on several levels. While this series of entertaining stories about Mr Mosely is about a boy's love of his dog, there is a deeper narrative - one that tells of a marriage put under pressure by an economic downturn; of loss of trust in family; of withdrawal, depression and loss of hope. Just A Dog explores the many faces of love and the strange way is can be expressed. But most of all, as Corey tells the reader, it's about loving unconditionally – as Mr Mosely did. It's about understanding that wanting something doesn't make it happen and that the only thing you can do is wait and see – and celebrate the joyful moments when you have them.

Highly recommended.

Warning: dog dies