One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson

The final novel from award-winning children’s author Eva Ibbotson is a charming story for middle readers. Hal’s materialistic and emotionally absent parents give him everything money can buy, but they refuse to give him the one thing he really wants – a dog. When they finally hire a dog from the Easy Pets Dog Agency, Hal is overjoyed, but his happiness is short-lived when he discovers the dog was only his for the weekend. Furious with his parents, Hal resolves to do whatever it takes to rescue his pet and never be parted again. What ensues is a thrilling cross-country race by both dogs and humans, to find sanctuary and a true home, with a dastardly private detective giving chase. This is a heart-warming book that young dog lovers will find particularly satisfying.