Elf Dog & Owl Head
by M.T. Anderson
Flap Copy Description:
A summer spent sharing the family computer with his annoying sisters, trying to tune out his parents' financial worries, and video-calling with his friends. That's what Clay has to look forward to during that first summer of the sickness all over the world. But one day, in the woods, everything changes.
From the moment he sees the peculiar young dog with the fancy collar, Clay knows there's something special about her. There are other things in the woods, too - beautiful, ancient things, tucked in the invisible folds of the forest, where reality ripples and other worlds are glimpsed. But as Clay and his mysterious dog explore day after day, Clay comes to realize that the woods also hold secrets and traps and things to be scared of. If he's not careful, Clay might just step off the path and never find his way back.
My Thoughts:
This recently released middle grade novel is fanciful, imaginative, and a wonderful example of magical realism. Elf Dog & Owl Head is an extraordinary novel for children. The charcoal etchings really add to M.T. Anderson's enchanting story. I highly recommend this book to readers aged seven to twelve.
I was lucky enough to hear the author speak at a SCBWI Writer's Conference in Los Angeles, CA, years ago. That's where I first heard of him! He shared several illuminating tips for writers. (His excellent nonfiction book, Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad, is one of my all-time favorite books.)
Click here to learn about the award-winning author, M.T. Anderson.
