DogStar (A Sirius Mystery) - Softcover

Wood, Beverley; Wood, Chris

3.94

16 ratings by Goodreads

9781551926384: DogStar (A Sirius Mystery)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1551926385 ISBN 13: 9781551926384

Publisher: Raincoast Books, Polestar, 2004

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Juneau, Alaska, 1933. This is where 13-year-old Jeff Beacon gets stranded when his parents take him on a cruise to help him get over the death of his beloved dog, Buddy. The problem: Jeff is a millennium kid, with a laptop computer and hightop sneakers. Why has he been transported to the Alaskan frontier? And how can he find his way home? Jeff must answer these questions quickly — and his only help is the town's bull terrier, Patsy Ann. With Patsy Ann as his guide, Jeff befriends the gruff Captain of the DogStar and an adventurous girl named Rose, and uncovers a dangerous secret. When the Captain, Rose, and Jeff hatch a plan to set things right in Juneau, Jeff must make a surprising choice about going home — and Patsy Ann holds the key.

A time-travel adventure story, DogStar contains plenty of fast-paced action involving counterfeit money, sunken ships, and lost treasure. But its theme is more serious. Returning to the present helps Jeff discover the true treasure — his ability to keep Buddy alive in his heart forever.

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About the Author:

Beverley Wood is a freelance writer, marketing consultant and web page designer. Chris Wood is Vancouver Bureau Chief for Maclean's magazine (Canada's weekly newsmagazine). They live on a boat with their bull terrier, Cato.

Review:

DogStar takes the reader on a trip back into the past of the city of Juneau, Alaska. Thirteen-year-old Jeff Beacon is the main character in this time travel story. Another important character is Patsy Ann, a real bull terrier who is famous enough to have a statue in her image in Juneau.Authors Beverly and Chris Wood are a bit heavy handed with the description in the beginning of their book. The description is less overwhelming once the switch from the 90s to the 30s is made.Jeff does not seem very real. He's grieving so much over the death of his own dog that he's carrying the dog's ashes around in an urn. Jeff also doesn't have much control over what happens to him in the story. Patsy Ann is the one directing Jeff and the Captain, who is also helping the Canadian boy in his troubles.Readers may also be disconcerted in the chapters that follow Patsy Ann. All kinds of information are relayed through these chapters-things she "finds out" in spite of her being deaf.By the end of the book Jeff is able to accept the death of his dog and is rewarded by seeing his dog's spirit accompanying Patsy Ann. -- From Independent Publisher

From the outset let it be said that while the Woods' work is classified as "juvenile fiction" readers of all ages will be drawn into the narrative. More plot twists than a Hardy Boys adventure in cyberspace means '90s kids will stay with the story to the finish. Highly recommended. -- North Shore News, April 17, 1998

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