I knew that this book was going to be wonderful as soon as I opened it and saw #adoptdontshop. I was quite right, Jane Elson has written a marvellous story for children aged 9 to 11 which carries a multitude of themes and rescue animals lies at the heart of the matter. The story deals with Marcus, abandoned by his mother, his father suffering from serious depression as a result of the breakup, being brought up by his grandmother. He is lonely and has no friends at school, then Delilah, whose much loved father was killed in an accident, arrives at the school and the two dog crazy children make friends. The story continues with a dog who appears and disappears in the garden of the unsold house next door to Marcus and the plot thickens. Any child would become involved in this story which deals with themes that are not uncommon and the mystery aspects are brilliant, leading the reader through exciting situations. I love the way that Jane Elson has dealt with all the complex emotions which children have to deal with at young ages and brings in really important messages about caring for fellow creatures whether they have four legs or two. This book is a modern classic perfect for fans of Michael Morpurgo. Very, very highly recommended

This story was such a tear-jerker! I immediately knew I would love it when I saw a dog on the front cover and I wasn’t disappointed. A compelling tale of two friends who gravitate towards one another because of their love of animals. They solve a mystery involving a large dog who lives next door to Marcus. So many moments of happiness and joy and a fair few moments that were completely heart breaking! For me, the plot hit home (I won’t spoil it), but my family went through something similar to Delilah and it is a hard thing to accept. Marcus was a completely loveable goof and I felt so incredibly sorry for him when the other boys kept trying to make him join their gang. Delilah was fierce and feisty and her desire to be thought of as bigger than herself was incredibly important. I fully sobbed at this one, and I loved it so much.

Moon Dog by Jane Elson is a story about two children who are just about as different as they can be. They share a sadness that draws them together and find that they both long to own their own dog. I would recommend this book for children in the Middle Grade fiction age range of 8-12 but used with some sensitivity for children who have experienced similar situations (no spoilers!) in their lives. I was lucky enough to be gifted an e-ARC of the book by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Marcus is a big clumsy boy with an answer for everything, he has no friends at school but is a likeable character who has lost his way. Delilah is a tiny human with a fiery passionate nature. From a mixed race back ground, she fights her own battles and will not be seen as weak despite the recent trauma her family has suffered. The two children's characters are so well crafted and fleshed out with a superb supporting cast that help the reader to fully understand their situation and reasons for their actions without becoming too contrived. I loved Nanna Sparrow - everyone needs a Nanna Sparrow in their lives! In Moon Dog, Jane does not shy away from tackling difficult subjects and writes with great sensitivity and heartfelt truth from her own experiences. The acknowledgements section clearly explains why Jane includes the subject material she does and allows for further exploration and wider reading that may also help children come to terms with their own personal situations and arising emotions. Her writing is hugely engaging, skilfully switching between the two characters with ease allowing empathy to develop with the reader. I was drawn into the book quickly and did not want to put it down until I had completed their journey (which does come to a satisfying end restoring faith in human nature). There are some emotive chapters towards the end so have the tissues to hand just in case. I have never read anything by Jane Elson before and asked for this ARC based on a recommendation from a fellow Twitter reader. I am glad I did and will definitely be looking at her other four titles: A Roomful of Chocolate How to Fly with Broken Wings Swimming to the Moon Will you Catch Me? She is a gifted author and one to have on the shelves of every KS2 bookshelf for many different reasons. Moon Dog was a superb read and was over with far too soon.