FLAWED DOGS: THE NOVEL: The Shocking Raid on Westminster
written and illustrated by Berkeley Breathed
Philomel Books
ISBN: 9780399252181
Ages 8-12
208 pages
Everybody loves an underdog, especially one that triumphs in the end. And Sam, the big-hearted dachshund and star of Pulitzer Prize-winning comic strip creator Berkeley Breathed’s debut novel, FLAWED DOGS, is no exception. He’s loveable (try scratching him behind the ears), impeccably good-looking (check out his glistening coat) and charming almost to a fault. But if you cross him, look out! You’ll never meet a dog with a more entrenched (and unwavering) taste for revenge.
In the beginning, Sam was a dog to be envied: his owner, Heidy, adored him; he had the run of the house and sprawling countryside; and he was on the fast track to win top marks in the country’s most prestigious dog shows. But when Cassius, a jealous poodle jockeying for Heidy’s affection and the “Best in Show” title, frames Sam for a crime he didn’t commit, the once-cushy, now-scorned pooch is forced to go on the run or suffer the deadly consequences.
Over a series of tension-mounting chapters, Sam finds himself in a variety of disastrous situations (hint: evil animal-testing medical research lab, gruesome dog fighting ring, and depressing homeless animal shelter), where he is called upon to win back his freedom. With cunning and grit that only a true underdog can muster, Sam proves his prowess all the way to the Westminster Dog Show where he stages a hilarious coup in a rematch with Cassius, the likes of which canine-lovers have never seen.
Breathed’s vibrant, larger-than-life illustrations are an added bonus throughout the book, and his storytelling is infused with adrenaline. And although the writing is fast and upbeat, there are still moments that will stop to touch your heart, especially if you’re a dog owner. Moments like the aforementioned dog fighting and animal shelters are tinged with real-world drama, and the reader can’t help but feel for these vulnerable pooches.
You loved“Bloom County.” You couldn’t get enough of “Opus.” And Edwurd Fudwupper of EDWURD FUDWUPPER FIBBED BIGfame? He may have been a liar, but he sure was entertaining. Now, do yourself a favor and pick up FLAWED DOGS. Get to know Sam. Then take a trip to your local animal shelter and adopt a Sam of your own. They don’t call them man’s best friend for nothing.
--- Reviewed by Alexis Burling
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