55. Gus and Glory. Sarah Guillory. 2025. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, mg fiction, mg realistic fiction, dogs, friendship]
First sentence: The summer I was twelve, my mom got lost.
Premise/plot: Gus and Glory is a coming of age middle grade novel. Glory, our heroine, is staying with her grandparents for the summer. Her dad is a truck driver, I believe, and her mother is “lost” and has essentially abandoned her. Glory soon befriends a bloodhound, Gus, who becomes a dear, dear friend. And Gus helps Glory make other friends in the community. Soon Glory finds herself feeling like this temporary home is HOME. But what will she do after the summer is over? Who will she live with? Will her mom ever come back? Will she get to keep Gus forever? Or will he go back to the neighbor?
My thoughts: DOG ON THE COVER, but it isn’t truly sad. Glory is in a tough place for sure. But in so many ways this is a FOUND FAMILY book where a character finds just the right people to help make life better.
© 2025 Becky Laney of Becky’s Book Reviews
