American Dog: Brave

Dylan’s life is changing. Ever since middle school started, his friend Jaxon hasn’t been the friend Dylan thought he was. With his dad overseas and his mother working, Dylan doesn’t know who to turn to. After a particularly bad hurricane, Dylan stumbles upon a stray dog, starved and scared, and decides to take him home. Dylan names the dog Brave and begs his mom to keep him. Dylan’s mom proposes a plan: either Dylan takes Brave to the pound or spends his after-school hours training him. If Brave isn’t trained in a few days, he’ll go to the pound. Brave suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, and any kind of loud sound sends him into a destructive panic, so Dylan has his work cut out for him. 

Dylan finds himself asking Grace Garcia, a fellow classmate and a rancher’s kid, for help. Growing up on a ranch, Grace has plenty of experience with animals, especially with training dogs. However, Dylan and Jaxon weren’t nice to Grace in the past. The only way she will help Dylan is if he works on her family’s ranch and experiences what it’s like to put in hard work—a far cry from making fun of her and her family as he’s done in the past. Along the way, Dylan learns how much better things can be when he’s honest and has supportive friends who accept him for who he is. Brave has a very long way to go in his recovery, but Dylan and Grace are determined to keep him in a loving home. Dylan is convinced that the storm brought Brave to him for a reason. 

Dylan is a sweet protagonist who’s trying to find his way in the world. He’s young and naïve, but over the course of the story, he finds the strength to stand up to bullies and refuses to give up when all seems lost. His development is well-executed, and he is a protagonist readers can root for. They can especially root for Brave’s recovery and Dylan and Brave’s budding relationship. The story itself is a little two-dimensional. For example, Jaxon’s character development feels thin and hasty instead of careful and thorough. Jaxon is a textbook bully, with obvious issues of his own, but the second Brave and Dylan show him kindness when they don’t have to, he learns the error of ways, which is quite unrealistic. His redemption arc is virtually non-existent.  

While the ending is sweet, the story’s conflict is resolved too quickly and simply for what it is. It doesn’t feel like the characters go through enough to properly reach the ending they receive. Putting this aside, the story is entertaining and will inspire younger readers. In addition, Dylan is a good role model for kids trying to figure out how to cope with change. The setting is well-described and evokes the Wild West. The language is simple and explains Brave’s PTSD in a way that is easy for younger readers to understand. The book might make readers feel brave as it encourages them to care for animals when they’re in need.  

Readers who enjoy loyal animals and inspiring moments of bravery will love the heartwarming recovery of Brave, the true friendship between Grace and Dylan, and the fun Texas setting. This book demonstrates the power of quiet, loyal support that animals provide for human mental health. Dylan is an inspiring character who grows when challenged, learning his own moral principles and the importance of discipline and responsibility as he matures. Brave helps Dylan find his way and Dylan helps Brave heal. Overall, this is a good story with a beautiful message: the best friends are always there when you need them, especially when you take care of them in return. 

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• There is some bullying. Dylan’s friend Jaxon is the main culprit, and Dylan is often either the victim or a bystander. For example, after his first adventure with Jaxon, Dylan describes Jaxon’s behavior: “With his new status, Jaxon had been pushing boundaries lately, as Dylan’s mom would call it—asking Dylan to stay out late, skipping his homework, and thinking up elaborate pranks. Dylan liked having fun, and Jaxon always acted like whatever he had in mind was going to be the most fun thing ever. And if Dylan or one of the other guys hesitated, Jaxon was quick to tease them in front of everyone else.” 

• When Jaxon pressures Dylan to throw water balloons at cars as an after-school activity, the pair cause a car to veer off the road and Brave to run off. “Then it all happened at once. The pickup truck screeched to a sudden stop, its nose pulling hard to the right. Brave flinched at the sound and backed away from the railing, barking like mad, then shot off the bridge and down the street. And Dylan saw the driver of the truck rolling down the window so he could find the source of the object that had just hit his car.” The driver isn’t injured, and Brave is soon found. 

• While out looking for Brave during a storm, Jaxon finds himself in danger. He slips and falls into a flash flood. Brave rescues him, mostly unharmed. “All of a sudden, Brave broke through the surface, paddling and kicking hard and pulling Jaxon by the sleeve. Jaxon took a huge gulp of air and flailed his hands around until he got ahold of the log bridge. He pulled himself up onto it as Brave scrambled up next to him, his claws scratching at the wood.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None 

Language  

• Phrases like “you suck” and “darn it” appear frequently. 

Supernatural  

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• None 

by Kate Schuyler