Sydney Porter: Dog Girl

Gr 4-6–Sydney Porter’s dad has returned home from Afghanistan, but he’s not the same person Sydney remembers. Experiencing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Sydney’s dad is closer to Fred, the dog he brought home from war, than to Sydney. On her way to school, Sydney wishes she were a dog so she could reconnect with her father. Through a combination of mysterious happenings, Sydney’s wish is granted and she is turned into a dog. Now, she must find a solution to turn herself back while learning more about her father along the way. Unfortunately, this book takes on more than it can chew, no pun intended. The book would’ve benefitted from focusing on either a girl turning into a dog or a fraught father-daughter relationship, rather than attempting to take on both threads. The portrayal of the father’s PTSD is handled poorly at times. When Sydney’s father hears a loud noise, he experiences a major episode but recovers instantly and brushes it aside. His PTSD fades unrealistically to a minor detail after originally being a pivotal plot component. Sydney’s character development feels uneven, with much of her growth happening at the novel’s conclusion.