Elf Dog & Owl Head

M.T. Anderson

Candlewick, 2023

229 pages

Grades 3-5

Fantasy

Clay is stuck in his house during a pandemic with only his parents, moody older sister, and kooky younger sister for company. Even virtual school is a problem with his sister hogging the family's sole computer. One day a strange dog shows up in the woods and Clay knows they are meant to be together. No one claims the unusual dog and Elphinore (for that's her name) and Clay escape every day into the woods having adventures. It turns out that Elphinore is from the magical Kingdom under the Mountain who escaped during a wyrm chase. When Clay is with Elphinore he can see paths, creatures, and even other towns that aren't visible to the mortal eye. Through his fabulous dog Clay meets Amos, an old fashioned boy with an owl head. The two become fast friends, exploring the woods together and having adventures. Eventually the adventures lead to trouble, both boys are punished, and Clay is stuck in the house. A plan is concocted for midsummer's night when the veil between worlds is thin and an otherworldly party is planned. Clay's sisters get involved and at first all is festive. When Elphinore's folks from Under the Mountain discover their missing hunting dog they want revenge. What follows is an unpredicted disaster that will change everyone's lives forever.

M.T. Anderson can write. I have been following his career since Feed (a book I still think about often) came out in 2004. All of his books are different in style, genre, and intended audience. This book is different than anything else he has put out, yet still offers interesting characters, a creative plot and stays with the reader long after the cover is closed. Set during the initial days of the Covid crisis, the story is less self-indulgent than other books penned by established authors during lockdown. Anderson manages to capture the feelings of children during this time and not projecting adult feelings onto a child character. Readers will relate to Clay's love of his new dog and desire to find a friend. The fantasy element is creative and seamlessly inserted into modern reality. Illustrations, contributed by Junyi Wu, may draw readers into the book and add to the somber mood, but I found them unnecessary. The book reads quickly, is relatively short, and would make a great read aloud for teachers and parents. The story doesn't end perfectly for the family, but I love that and readers will leave with a sense of hope and that all is as it should be. Similar in structure and voice to The Nest by Oppel, this will probably be one of my favorites of the year.