Spacedogs' Best Friend YA Sci-Fi
Class Act Books
April 14, 2014
250
Reviewed by: Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Review Team
Jenny Halpen is a sixteen year old living in Redbud, Arizona. She has two days to pick which subjects she wants to take for the new school year, but all she can think about is how she hates school and is bored. When her Uncle Steve arrives relaying that he will not be there next year for Jenny’s graduation and that he wants to give her gift now she is beyond elated.
Her best friend was sent on a space cruise, and that is what she wants. However, it is very expensive and she would have to get it past her mother and father. After some debate, it is agreed she can take the cruise. Not only does her uncle spoil her, but he usually wins her father over.
The one good thing about the cruise is all the fresh food, especially the real meat. We finally managed to put holes in the ozone layer and refrigeration is no longer available, so being on this cruise has been a real treat. Of course, what she never expected was for the cruise to be filled with married couples, so once again she finds herself bored. The only thing exciting is the presence of a real live princess, Princess Amber and her three dogs. If nothing else, this cruise is going to be a real learning experience for her.
The ship has hit an asteroid and all the people on board are ordered to their escape pods, when Jenny gets to hers she finds herself with the princess and the three little dogs. When the princess leaves to retrieve something from her room the pod takes off. There she is with three dogs and no pilot. What happened to the pilot and the other people that should be on board with her? Arriving on the planet Oleanthus, one that is suitable for humans, she tries to get organized. Her biggest fear is having no one to talk to, but that will not be for long because the three little dogs are actually the real Princess Amber, her daughter Princess Chrissy, and Chrissy’s husband,Conan.
These are dogs from Canaris. and are recognized as an intelligent form of animal. They can communicate with mind talk, so now Jenny is not so alone, a good thing since the tracking beacon has shut down. They find food and shelter, and she then begins to see how little she took life seriously. She practically slept through most of her classes; now she needs to depend on them. She needs to find a way to get food, care for the three dogs, and figure out how to heal them if injured. Making matters worse is the fact that Princess Amber is expecting more puppies.
Jenny does a lot of growing up on Oleanthus out of need. She grows to love her three companions. Conan is just the most adorable character, he is very proud of the fact that he is a barkbarian. In spite of how little he is, he tries to act tough. Amber and Chrissy are also great and many times during the story, I found myself laughing out loud. These three dogs, especially Conan, were just the most amusing characters ever. It didn’t take long before I forgot they were actually dogs and not human.
I highly recommend this book it was never boring and it was a story with a great lesson to be learned. I loved it and as an adult I did not find it lacking. How bad can a book be when it is filled with adorable, smart, mind talking dogs, oh and there are others on the planet, but I don’t want to give away who they were. Read this book you won’t be sorry.