The Vanishing

August 1, 2012
When the world goes to the dogs, one loyal canine tries to find his human family in this dystopian series starter. Max wakes up in a cage without food or water, plagued by nightmares of a spreading darkness. Clever though cowardly Rocky frees Max and reluctantly joins him on a hair-raising adventure, fleeing wolves, crazed communists and the "Corporation" and seeking their owners. Max, Rocky and Gizmo, a later addition to the team, soon fall into typical quest roles as the muscle, the brains and the heart, respectively. Their obstacles are also standard dystopian ones: finding food and transport, fighting off gangs and doggedly seeking remnants from their former lives. Where the humans went and why they abandoned their pets remain unanswered, so as to necessitate a sequel. The choice of a dog as a narrator distinguishes Holt's debut from an increasingly crowded dystopian market but also introduces narrative weaknesses. Max and his companions comprehend electronics, improvise tools and begin rebuilding civilization, yet they also drink toilet water and enjoy a good chew toy. Resolving these incongruences may be easier for younger readers familiar with the Redwall and Warriors series, or the classic Homeward Bound. A post-apocalyptic Animal Farm for young readers. (Fantasy. 10-14)

COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2013
Gr 5-7-When Max, a Labrador Retriever, wakes up alone and starving in the vet's kennel, he knows something bad has happened. He's been left with no people, no food, and no other dogs, or so he thinks. By chance, he happens to meet a scrappy dachshund named Rocky who helps to free Max and defend against the pack of hungry wolves trying to eat all the kibble. So starts the partnership of two canine friends as they set off on a mission to find out what happened to their families in a world that is infinitely more dangerous for pets with no one to take care of them. Along the way, they encounter other dogs, both friends and foes, a house filled with cats, and a sewer crawling with rats. However, it is not until they reach the city that they are able to begin to solve the mystery of the missing humans. While fans of Erin Hunter's "Warriors" and "Seekers" series will gravitate to this interesting story (Little, Brown, 2012), there are many parts of the book where the writing lacks polish, with flat descriptions or repetitive dialogue. Narrator Andrew Bates does his best to liven up the tale, especially with Rocky's dialogue, but a spirited telling can't completely save the lackluster writing.-"Michaela Schied, Indian River Middle School, Philadelphia, NY"

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2012
Grades 5-8 Each year, golden Labrador Max stays at the vet's kennel while his family is away. But one day neither the vet nor Max's family show up to the kennel, and his poodle pal Madame is missing, too. Eventually, Max escapes his cage, only to be attacked by a vicious wolfbut, thankfully, dachshund Rocky, also left behind, saves him. Together the pair set out to find their people, Madame, and answers. Survival means navigating devastated, disconcertingly humanless landscapes to find food and shelter while eluding dangers from wolf packs and subway rats. Their journey leads them to the Corporation, an oppressive dogs-only organization led by the power-mongering Doberman the Chairman, and to escape they must enact a risky plan and recruit other imprisoned dogs. With suspense, action-adventure, and some droll touchesas well as the occasional intense confrontation and some sorrowful, poignant momentsthis dystopian, dog-centric series opener offers a fast-paced read, evoking elements of Animal Farm. Vividly detailed modern-day settings and diverse animal charactersif somewhat breed typedwill engage readers, and plenty of mysteries are left unsolved for the sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2013
Abandoned after an apocalypse, Labrador retriever Max leads dachshund Rocky and Yorkie Gizmo on a quest to find their humans, escaping two despotic canine societies along the way. Though a few humorous lines throw readers a bone, the overly long plot is poorly executed. Spot illustrations introduce each chapter; occasional full-page pictures capture dramatic moments.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

May 1, 2013

Gr 4-7-Left alone at the vet's, Max has had no food or water for two days. All of the other dogs and the people have disappeared. He begins to sink into despair when Rocky, a small dachshund, flies through the room and gives him brief instructions on how to escape the kennel. As the Labrador retriever wearily pinches the latch open using just his teeth, he takes his fill of water and explores his eerily empty environment. Approaching the front entrance, he sees a wolf trying to break in, searching for the small dog that saved him, and their food. Max and Rocky best the wolves, but are later forced to flee. Thus begins their adventure through villages, cities, forests, and waterways in search of their now-missing pack leaders and the missing people. Part Incredible Journey and part Life as We Knew It, this is an interesting blend of genres that allows accessibility to the traditional YA dystopian-future genre. The pacing of the story can be slow at times as it is told in episodic segments characterized by new settings and cultures of dogs. This approach would be appealing to those who may prefer to read in bursts rather than long periods at a time, but keeping track of so many characters and settings could also prove a challenge to some readers. The book is illustrated with a number of images that greatly enhance some chapters. Patient readers ready for thick books will find a lot to enjoy in this cliff-hanging first installment.-Devin Burritt, Wells Public Library, ME

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.