By Lauren Bell
Growing up, Sylvia McNicoll was one of my favourite young adult authors. Her newest book, What the Dog Knows, is also written for young adults—especially dog lovers, as the novel is written in tribute to the many dogs she’s loved in her life.
In the summer before high school, Naomi is having the worst summer of her life. This is mostly due to her beloved dog, Diesel, being run over by a car, which she blames herself for. The fact that her parents are splitting up, and that money is tight (leaving her babysitting instead of taking the swimming lessons she signed up for) is not helping the situation. On July 1, at precisely 4:30 p.m., she drowns.
This incident launches her into a Groundhog Day-esque scenario, where instead of reliving the same day over and over again, she’s brought back to June 25, the day Diesel died. However, this time Diesel can talk to her, and her watch is permanently stuck at July 1, 4:30 p.m. With her renewed time, she vows to do better, mostly by ensuring Diesel’s safety, but also doing what she can to save her parent’s marriage.
What the Dog Knows includes the necessary aspects of middle school—the crush, the frenemy, wanting to fit in, and the awkwardness of puberty. Despite these tropes, Naomi’s cynicism makes her seem much older and more mature than the average fourteen-year-old. Fleeting moments where she lets herself experience imagination show how young she is and wants to act. With this in mind, her insistence on learning how to swim means something more than just the lessons: it is her chance to indulge and to put her needs first, rather than those of her family. Hence, the theme of family is very evident in the novel, and Naomi’s “pack” become the underdogs (no pun intended) that you’re rooting for. The development of Naomi’s frenemy, Morgan, to friend, is also worth noting, as it adds to the theme of trust.
As someone older reading What the Dog Knows, I recognize that my experience with it will be different than the intended audience of the novel. For instance, I sympathized with Naomi and felt sorry that someone that young must worry about rent and making ends meet, rather than spending that time being a child. I think if I had read it when I was Naomi’s age, I still would have enjoyed it. I found McNicoll’s description of having separated parents relatable and realistic, and I think I would have appreciated learning from the insight of a family living in a different financial situation than my own. She addresses topics like job insecurity and divorce without getting too heavy. I should also mention that the book does not need the typical dog movie/book warning (meaning there is no sad ending!), so it is absolutely suitable for animal lovers. Because of the perspective one can gain from the lived experiences of Naomi, What the Dog Knows is definitely a novel I would recommend to younger readers, as well as to parents and teachers.
Thank you to Dundurn Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.