A life-affirming story of the extraordinary friendship between a boy and his dog. Perfect for fans of Hannah Gold, Katya Balen and Patrick Ness

A life-affirming story of the extraordinary friendship between a boy and his dog. Perfect for fans of Hannah Gold, Katya Balen and Patrick Ness

THE STORY OF AN EXTRAORDINARY FRIENDSHIP.

‘Incredibly moving, tender and heartfelt’ Hannah Gold

‘A heart-melting book that shows us there’s always hope and love to be found even in the midst of grief’ Nizrana Farook

Ten-year-old Rhys really loves dogs. When he finds a lost black Labrador with big conker eyes and ears like soft velvet, he can’t quite believe his luck. Nobody comes forward to claim Worthington, giving Rhys the perfect opportunity to prove he’s a good owner. But when Rhys moves to London to live with his estranged dad who hates dogs, Rhys decides to keep Worthington secret.

Struggling to connect with his dad in a new city, Rhys takes comfort in Worthington. But he soon discovers that looking after a secret dog is anything but easy, and he knows that before long he’ll have to confront his fears and find a way to tell Dad…

Phenomenally moving and beautifully written, My Dog shows us that accepting the present doesn’t mean forgetting the past – in a story that will live with you for ever.

Details

ISBN13: 9780008658588
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 288
Edition:
Publication Date: 02 Jul 2025
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 19.8(H)x12.9(L)x2.7(W)260
Weight (gm): 260

Author Biography

Olivia Wakeford writes a lot about grief, which really means she writes about love. And dogs: she believes every story should have a dog in it! Olivia has worked in film and television, been a scriptwriter, dog-walker, PA and more, but her favourite job is writing novels for children. Olivia graduated with distinction from the MA in Writing for Children at Bath Spa University, she can ride a unicycle (badly) and is addicted to salt and vinegar crisps. She was born in Wales and now lives in London with her husband and their socially awkward Labrador, Obi. My Dog is her debut novel.

@livvywivvy | @wakefordwrites

Reviews

‘An incredibly moving, tender and heartfelt story. Beautifully and sensitively told, My Dog is a stunning debut novel by a very talented author’ Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear

‘This is a book about a boy and a dog, but it’s about so much more. A heart-melting book that shows us there’s always hope and love to be found even in the midst of grief’ Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole an Elephant

‘A lyrical, magical adventure … At its heart this is not so much a book about grief as a testament to the perennial power of a child’s imagination’ Daily Telegraph

‘A gorgeous, heart-wrenching story of love, loss and healing. This stunning tale of a remarkable boy and his dog will break your heart, then piece it back together again’ Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn

‘This beautifully written debut is both heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure, giving us a sensitive and nuanced portrait of a young boy coping with grief’ LoveReading4Kids, Debut Book of the Month

‘My Dog is a warm and very readable treatment of a difficult subject. Full of tenderness and understanding, it’s perfect for dog lovers and non-dog lovers alike’ Adam Baron, author of Boy Underwater

‘If ever there is a story to encourage empathy in readers, this is it. Beautifully written, with stunning inside illustrations by David Litchfield, this is an ode to pets and their unconditional love, but also to extended family … This would be a good class reader as it could start lots of valuable conversations’ BookTrust

‘An achingly beautiful story of friendship, hope and love. Heartbreaking, tender and joyful, this is a stunning debut from an exciting new voice’ Simon James Green, author of Finn Jones Was Here

‘Deeply moving and the perfect book with which to acquaint children with the concept of grief, Wakeford’s debut centres on dog-mad Rhys, who is forced to keep his beloved pooch a secret from his estranged father’ Waterstones, Best Children’s Books to Look Out For