Bailey

There is a girl named Kat, who loves dogs. So Kat is delighted when her Aunt Jen offers to have Kat and her friend Maya, who are both in fourth grade, help out at Jen’s animal clinic. Can Kat and Maya handle the responsibility of caring for a dog named Bailey?

Bailey by Susan Hughes follows Kat and Maya as they end up getting into trouble and trying to figure out how to get out of that trouble. The plot moves along very quickly and well. Despite the plot moving quickly, the author allows enough time for the reader to figure out what’s going on before she moves the story forward. Kat and Maya are believable characters, and the reader can laugh along with them on their adventures. The author writes them as strong girls, who are at times impulsive and get into trouble, but who are not helpless.

This book would be good for kids who like dogs, ages seven to eleven. It is mostly written for girls although boys could also enjoy the story.