Welcome to Dog Beach by Lisa Greenwald (review)

Without her beloved dog, Danish, summer on Seagate won’t be the same for elevenyear-old Remy—and if she wants one thing, it’s for life on her beloved island to never change. Though Seagate holds many bittersweet memories of her deceased pooch, Remy finds plenty of pet substitutes, as she and longtime friends Micayla and Bennett have identified several fellow vacationers whose dogs need looking after. Micayla seems increasingly annoyed and distant, though, while Bennett wants to spend more time with island newbie Calvin, whose unpleasant twin sister, Claire, makes Remy’s skin crawl. As Remy navigates this unwelcome new territory, she learns that change may not be comfortable, but with the right perspective—and the therapeutic power of four-legged friends—it might not be so bad. Remy’s comingof-age dilemma captures the growing pains of the tween years, when friendship dynamics shift, making longtime besties surprisingly difficult to talk to and platonic pals puzzlingly attractive. Despite its accurate observations and on-point insights, this entrée into author Greenwald’s new Seagate series could stand to lighten up, as the plot is labored and Remy’s adherence to the way things have always been veers into tedium. Still, dog devotees and aspiring entrepreneurs will find a friend and mentor in Remy, who adroitly combines her puppy love with a knack for business. She’ll also make a good companion for those self-serious tween readers looking for a little sympathy on the perplexing and often unpleasant road to adolescence.