Answers to Dog - by Pete Hautman

About the Book

"Evan doesn't seem to fit in at school or at home. He goes out of his way to avoid attention. He sits at the back of the bus, keeps his head down in class, and keeps to himself. But when a burr-covered border collie--a survivor with a gut instinct about the Boy--starts following him around and joining him on his runs, Evan's simple duck-and-dodge existence becomes a lot more complicated--a lot more like life"--

Book Synopsis

"True-to-life moments of humor and pathos further ground a story that's sure to win attention from misfits and dog people of all stripes." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Evan doesn't seem to fit in at school or at home. He goes out of his way to avoid attention. He sits at the back of the bus, keeps his head down in class, and keeps to himself. But when a burr-covered border collie--a survivor with a gut instinct about the Boy--starts following him around and joining him on his runs, Evan's simple duck-and-dodge existence becomes a lot more complicated . . . a lot more like life. Evolving from wary companions to steadfast friends, Evan and the dog run fast and far together, thwart an abusive dog breeder and the school bully, and find the courage to stand up for themselves and to open up to those who matter most. Narrated in alternating viewpoints, this relatable contemporary novel with classic coming-of-age themes has all the hope, pathos, and emotional complexity that mark Pete Hautman's books for middle-grade readers--and is a deeply satisfying read for animal lovers.

Review Quotes

Modest yet profound, Answers to Dog resonates like some kind of gentle reminder from the universe that life is worth chasing. A timeless tale of a boy and his dog that reaches deep for the heart.
--G. Neri, a Michael L. Printz Award winner and author of Concrete Cowboy

Once again, Pete Hautman has proven that we readers are mere putty in his hands and that, in fewer than two hundred pages, he can shape us into joy, grief, bemusement, fear, and delight. A Rumpelstiltskin of an author, who takes the straw of everyday life and spins it into storytelling gold.
--Barry Lyga, New York Times best-selling author

Hautman's dialogue is razor-sharp and realistic, simultaneously portraying sadness and optimism, while the short, well-paced chapters keep the pages turning and make this difficult to put down. This quirky slice of rural life--told from time to time, most enjoyably, from the dog's perspective--is quietly full of deep emotion and perfect for any animal-loving middle-grader, especially one who enjoys track and field and a lovable pup to join them on their run.
--Booklist (starred review)

True-to-life moments of humor and pathos further ground a story that's sure to win attention from misfits and dog people of all stripes.
--Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

Evan and Hana's compassion, as well as Samarkand's endless tail-wagging, inspire hope for dog lovers and all readers.
--The Horn Book

A boy-meets-dog story that evokes warmth and nostalgia.
--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Pete Hautman is the author of many books for young adults, including the National Book Award winner Godless, the Klaatu Diskos trilogy, and Eden West. His middle-grade novels include The Rat Queen, Otherwood, winner of an Edgar Award, and Slider, which Booklist lauded for its "crystalline prose, delectable detail, rip-roaring humor, and larger-than-life characters." Pete Hautman divides his time between Wisconsin and Minnesota.