Certainly one I'll be adding to my classroom bookshelf. Moon Dog is a delightful, and heartbreaking, book which KS2 children are sure to love.
Two children - Marcus and Delilah - form an unlikely friendship over their shared love of dogs, despite both dealing with their own issues which the story explores beautifully in a way that I'm sure children who have experienced similar will resonate with.
The plot focusses around Moon Dog - a Newfoundland who only seems to appear at night in the garden of the unoccupied house next door - and Marcus and Delilah's attempts to discover more about her. In the process, they discover something horrifying which they never expected.
This book has a lovely message, both about children finding their way through their own trauma, but also about puppy farms and what a horrible reality they are. I would say that some children even in the age range suggested may find this topic distressing, or indeed if they have experienced either of the traumas the children are going through, so some thought should be given to the specific child in question who will be reading this book - more of an independent reader than a group guided reading book, I would say.
Overall a fantastic middlegrade book which will make you laugh, cry, and utterly adore the characters.

In typical Jane Elson fashion, Moon Dog tackles some sensitive issues in such a fantastic and seamless way, Marcus and Delilah's chapters are distinctively different in a way which further fortifies your relationship with the main characters. The quick pace and adventure entwined with the occasional hard-hitting moments make this a particularly engaging read.

Any lovers of animals (or any of Jane's previous works), will be inevitable fans of this!

A heartwarming story of two misfits, who find happiness in their friendship and shared love of dogs. The book deals with depression, grief, loss, injustice, bullying and kindness. It will make you cheer, jeer and she'd a year as our two heroes navigate a dark and dangerous world

A new book from Jane Elson is always an absolute treat, her writing is so beautiful and thoughtful that I know I'm bound to love it and, 'Moon Dog,' is no exception. Marcus and Delilah are so different they couldn't possibly he have anything in common apart from being outsiders. He towers over his classmates and is locked in a battle with his emotions trying to deal with his mum leaving him and his dad's ongoing depression. While Delilah stands out for being tiny, the object of her classmates' jokes but she refuses to let them bow her down and is fierce and brave. They form an unlikely friendship over their shared love of dogs and their desperate need to have one of their own. When Marcus finds a dog next door who has appeared from nowhere it seems like a dream come true but they soon find themselves caught up in a dangerous world that will test their friendship to the limits.

Once again Jane has created a truly extraordinary book. She isn't afraid to tackle the most difficult and sensitive topics but she does so with a deft touch ensuring an empathetic and honest read. Throughout the story she explores the wealth of emotions Marcus and Delilah are feeling as they both come to terms with the losses in their lives in a compassionate and considered way. She has a talent for creating characters who you can't help but get caught up in their lives and you really care about. Although this story has moments of real sadness that some may find difficult, there is plenty of things to make you smile. I loved the bond between Marcus and Delilah, they each bring something to their friendship and allow each other the chance to explore their dreams and reflect on their experiences. Heart-breaking and heartfelt this is a really special book which I absolutely loved.

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Moon Dog by Jane Elson is a story about two children who are just about as different as they can be. They share a sadness that draws them together and find that they both long to own their own dog. I would recommend this book for children in the Middle Grade fiction age range of 8-12 but used with some sensitivity for children who have experienced similar situations (no spoilers!) in their lives. I was lucky enough to be gifted an e-ARC of the book by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Marcus is a big clumsy boy with an answer for everything, he has no friends at school but is a likeable character who has lost his way. Delilah is a tiny human with a fiery passionate nature. From a mixed race back ground, she fights her own battles and will not be seen as weak despite the recent trauma her family has suffered. The two children's characters are so well crafted and fleshed out with a superb supporting cast that help the reader to fully understand their situation and reasons for their actions without becoming too contrived. I loved Nanna Sparrow - everyone needs a Nanna Sparrow in their lives!

In Moon Dog, Jane does not shy away from tackling difficult subjects and writes with great sensitivity and heartfelt truth from her own experiences. The acknowledgements section clearly explains why Jane includes the subject material she does and allows for further exploration and wider reading that may also help children come to terms with their own personal situations and arising emotions. Her writing is hugely engaging, skilfully switching between the two characters with ease allowing empathy to develop with the reader. I was drawn into the book quickly and did not want to put it down until I had completed their journey (which does come to a satisfying end restoring faith in human nature). There are some emotive chapters towards the end so have the tissues to hand just in case.

I have never read anything by Jane Elson before and asked for this ARC based on a recommendation from a fellow Twitter reader. I am glad I did and will definitely be looking at her other four titles:
A Roomful of Chocolate
How to Fly with Broken Wings
Swimming to the Moon
Will you Catch Me?
She is a gifted author and one to have on the shelves of every KS2 bookshelf for many different reasons. Moon Dog was a superb read and was over with far too soon.

This story was such a tear-jerker!

I immediately knew I would love it when I saw a dog on the front cover and I wasn’t disappointed. A compelling tale of two friends who gravitate towards one another because of their love of animals. They solve a mystery involving a large dog who lives next door to Marcus. So many moments of happiness and joy and a fair few moments that were completely heart breaking! For me, the plot hit home (I won’t spoil it), but my family went through something similar to Delilah and it is a hard thing to accept.

Marcus was a completely loveable goof and I felt so incredibly sorry for him when the other boys kept trying to make him join their gang. Delilah was fierce and feisty and her desire to be thought of as bigger than herself was incredibly important.

I fully sobbed at this one, and I loved it so much.

I loved the cover and description of this children's book, but I'm not sure I'd have opted to read it if I'd known exactly what it was about, as it's very distressing and indeed heartbreaking at times - suffice to say that the dog next door isn't the only dog who needs saving in this book.

That said, it has an important message and it wouldn't be possible to adequately convey that message without going in hard at times. Nevertheless, I think if I'd read it when I was the target age, I'd have been traumatised!

The story follows Marcus and Delilah, who are opposites in some ways - most obviously in that he's incredibly tall and she's extremely tiny - but they have far more in common than divides them. Both are brave, caring and resourceful, both have difficulties at home, and most of all, both adore dogs and long for a dog of their own. When a new dog appears in the garden of the house next door to Marcus - who he names "Moon Dog" and who doesn't appear to be particularly well cared for by the two men who appear to come and go - the children start to uncover some unpleasant truths...

A very readable story with a powerful message.

What an incredibly heart-wrenching story about an unlikely friendship and their mission to save moon dog. As a dog lover, I was hooked from the outset and I was not disappointed. Jane highlights some really important issues that are so vital for children to hear such powerful messages about. I laughed, cried and cheered during this book; I thoroughly enjoyed every page. I am so pleased that I got the pleasure of reading it before release and I will be sharing it with members of my class (Year 6).

Marcus and Delilah appear to be opposites – he is the tallest in the class, she is tiny – but when she moves to the area and joins his class, they find they have a great deal in common. Both have lost a parent and are struggling with their feelings, and both are desperate for a dog. Promised a puppy, Delilah looks for her ideal dog online. One night, unable to sleep, Marcus spots an enormous Newfoundland dog in the garden of the house for sale next door, and begins to befriend it, concerned at the way it is treated by the new occupants of the house. He looks for the dog each night, wondering why both the dog and the “for sale” sign in the garden repeatedly disappear and reappear, and why the men do not appear to stay in house…
First person narration alternates between the individual voices of Marcus and Delilah, slowly revealing their personalities and their developing friendship with all its accompanying frustrations, disagreements and misunderstandings. The mystery of the house next door and Marcus’s attempts to avoid the gang of bullies in the school year above create the suspense and excitement that drives the plot, culminating in an exciting and rewarding dénouement. The characters spring to life from the page so well that it is easy to empathise with them, resulting in genuine emotional engagement with the text which evokes humour, sadness, and even anger.
This is a warm and uplifting novel which highlights serious animal welfare issues through the eyes of its engaging protagonists, whilst celebrating individuality, friendship and family, and the importance of not judging by appearances. A thoroughly enjoyable book with a very satisfying ending.

Once again, I have sought the advice of my grandson, now aged 11, over the suitability of this book. He tells me....’The book is based on a true story, and is about a boy and a girl named Marcus and Delilah who both love dogs. Delilah, whose dad has died, is given a treat by her mum, who buys her dream dog. Unfortunately her mum does not realise she has bought it from puppy farmers. So, sadly, the dog named Chip dies in her lap from a disease. Marcus who is running away from bullies after an argument with one of them hides in a manhole and finds it is full of puppies where they have been hidden by a puppy farmer. Marcus is then trapped by the puppy farmers. Delilah hears Marcus shouting and rescues him and the authorities come and help the puppies. It is a sad but interesting story about the dangers of puppy farming, which is a real problem.‘

That sounds like a good recommendation, especially when he unhesitatingly gave it a 5 star review and described it as a very good book.

This is such a lovely story of Delilah & Marcus who truly are longing to own a dog. It seems like all their wishes have come true when a dog turns up in the house next door. They call him Moon Dog and a strong bond develops. When danger beckons they show their true bravery and a great story ensures. My kids and I loved this story and it’s certainly one that I plan to share with my class in September. We loved it.

Moon Dog is a book which has the honour of what is rarely categorised as being an undiscovered little gem. This book can be identified by all ages as being something which is considered to be relevant not only to the target audience of children, but also ages which are older and have gone through similar events throughout their own childhoods. It is an idea which appeals to most people throughout life, as there are so many people who have had the same fantasy of owning a dog when we were children ourselves.

The main characters are secondary school kids named Marcus and Delilah. They are shown to have many varying differences, but the thing that connects them is their love of dogs and how they both wish for one themselves.

However, the main plotline is based on a Newfoundland dog which Marcus names Moon Dog. Moon Dog herself can be seen to be a little bit of a mystery as she only seems to appear at night with the same men next door which is said to unoccupied. This is truly an informative piece for children, as it deals with some of the heart-breaking effects that there possibly would be to adopting a dog and how to go about doing this. It is a message which deals with a real and ongoing problem which should be understood by all and how to deal with such a problem if ever it arises. Marcus seems like the clever young boy who questions what can be seen to be right and to get the right information before taking big decisions. The book clearly states the message throughout: adopt, don't shop. However, the subject matter can be seen to be very distressing for some, so it would probably be best for a mature child on the age range.

This is truly a book that makes you laugh, smile and cry all at the same time without you noticing that you are doing it. The characters for instance, are so well-rounded and everything they thought, the joy and pain that they both go through, you feel every single ounce of it. No wonder they have both come to love dogs so much as they are a true unconditional friend no matter the age!

Therefore, I believe that this book in particular should be recommended to all children who are questioning or are thinking about asking for a dog themselves. This is so they can see the benefits of adopting but also the possible risks of shopping for one as well. However, it also shows when reading a book like this, anyone should realise, no matter the age, that hope is only round the corner! In this case, I shall give this gem a five star rating.

Moon Dog is a lovely story about two young British pre-teens becoming friends on the basis of their shared adoration of dogs and the scrapes they find themselves in. I would actually recommend this to late elementary or primary school readers, rather than any older on the basis that the writing is slightly younger and this would still be a comfortable reading experience for them. I loved the main characters’ determination to become dog owners, and their obsession with canines in any shape or form was cute but doesn’t detract from the bigger life problems that this book deals with using a light but confident touch, like severely depressed parents and trying to work out how they fit into the bigger society of their school. I recommend this very much, it’s a good read with some complex characters.
Thank you to Hachette Children's Publishers and to Net Galley for the free advance e-book copy of this title.