The Last Dog on Earth by Daniel Ehrenhaft Date of Publication: 2004 ISBN: 0440419506 Number of Pages: 230

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Low
GENRES: Adventure
THEMES: Family, Friendship, Loyalty, Coming of Age, Responsibility, Isolation

SUMMARY:
Logan hates everyone – his father, his stepfather, the kids at school – except for Jack, a girl dog that he picked out at the animal shelter. Larry doesn't care that she has bitten three people that work at the shelter or that she is ugly or that “he” is a “she.”

Jack is in danger because a disease – Psychotic Outburst Syndrome (POS for short) - is spreading across the county. Dogs suddenly become vicious and are attacking. People are shooting dogs on sight because of reports that the disease is spreading to humans.

His mother and stepfather send Logan away to a 4-week Boot Camp. While gone, Jack is locked up in the basement. However, Jack escapes and runs 40 miles towards Blue Mountain. At the same time, Logan goes AWOL from the camp on Blue Mountain. They find each other and Logan decides the only way to protect Jack is to run away.

Logan steals food from a store, gets picked up by the Sheriff, escapes from jail, and returns to their hiding spot only to find that Jack has been severely attacked and is near death. Logan carries Jack to his Dad's cabin. His dad (Dr. Westerly) is a scientist and a genius. He tests Jack for POS and realizes that the dog has a natural immunity and therefore, her tissue could act as an antidote.

They take the dying Jack to the university and the reader is left to determine the ending on his or her own.

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...

• loves animal stories
• is interested in how diseases are spread, and how antidotes are discovered and replicated
• is in the throes of teenage adolescence – feeling isolated, insecure etc.
• is interested in how animals help humans
• is obsessed with dogs
• has a rebellious streak
• feels that no one understands him or her
• has a step-parent with whom issues exist

WHAT ELSE?
This will be a good book for reluctant readers, as well as dog-obsessed kids. It is really targeted to junior students as far as reading ability goes, but it is fine for weaker intermediate kids as well.

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