The Boy Who Spoke Dog

The Boy Who Spoke Dog

by Clay Morgan

When Jack washes up on a mysterious island after a deadlystorm, there's no one to help him, except for the dogs. The sheepdogs on the island have eyes that speak right to Jack's heart, especially one dog—Moxie. But when angry beasts called fangos threaten to destroy the island, Jack and his companions must fight to save it. Once the battle ends, Jack is changed. Will he ever be the same again? Told from Jack's and Moxie's points of view, this adventure reveals how loyalty between boy and dog becomes a means for survival and hope.

Genres: Animals, Adventure, Dogs, Fantasy, Fiction, Survival, Young Adult

166 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Clay Morgan has worked as a teacher, a commentator for National Public Radio, and as a U.S. Forest Service smokejumper. Morgan lives with his wife, Barbara, an astronaut and teacher, and their two sons in McCall, Idaho. He is currently a creative writing professor at Boise State University.

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was another one of Mia's books. She liked it just fine, but I didn't care for it. I kept expecting this shipwrecked boy to do something.....anything worth writing about and then all of a sudden at the end he can speak to the dogs......??????? then the next moment he is rescued and acts like a dog.......he wasn't even on the island with the dogs that long and didn't really interact with them much....it just didn't make any sense.

[Rain Misoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an adorable little book! I enjoyed the simplicity of it!

To read my full review, read here.

[Douglas Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy and his dog are shipwrecked on an island with a herd of sheep and a pack of wild dogs.

[Mark Valentine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I see that many others have approbatively approved this book but I could barely finish it. Its tinny quality gave a frazzed reflection like a broken parlor mirror in an alleyway. Formula, formula, formula.

Designed to appeal to dog lovers or grandparents who buy books for their dog-loving grandchildren's infatuations, it read like a two-dimensional formula-framed story. That is, it is designed for reader's who want to identify with Jack, the castaway boy, and follow his moves as an extension of the reader.

It is a papery-thin book made to excite the reader and improve on his life.

Too bad. I really liked Clay Morgan's novel, Santiago and the Drinking Party. It was the reason why I sought out this book. I will keep on liking his first novel, but it seems Mr. Morgan has taken to writing the formula books for the masses.

[N.T. Embeast · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick, easy read. It reminded me of Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell, so if you're a fan of that story, I would highly recommend this one to you. It's the tale of a young boy who gets shipwrecked on an island with a pack of sheepdogs who act as the second part of the perspective. It's both the tale of a youth and the tale of an animal, and that unique balance makes this one a tale worth reading amongst the gamut of other stories that have the same theme. If you're a fan of animals and animals with intelligent thought, I would definitely recommend this one to you. Personally, I found it a swift, enjoyable read with a good complexity of emotions. Definitely worth a one-time visit at the very least.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

What started out as a really good idea, really fizzled at the end.This could have gone places and been a most excellent book.

When the main character Jake, finally communicates with the dogs on the island and he sees the bigger picture of their survival, he is plucked from the island.

What to me is interesting is the fact dogs and sheep could survive so long on an island after man has left. There were the good dogs, the bad dogs(dogs who kill sheep so they-and everyone can survive) and the sheep.

[Delshawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the cover and how the story is set up. (Spoiler Alert) What I hate about the book is how Jack is stranded on an island inhabited by dogs. He could have just built a raft and sailed away from the island. He had to wait, when he could have cut down some trees and tied those together. He could have taken all of his food into the pot he found. I guess the author was trying to just get it done.
Comment

[Readersaurus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really wanting to like this book but having trouble getting into it. Finished two others while hauling this one with me everywhere I go.

Well, after that slow start it wasn't too bad. But, just as things become interesting -- it ends! I think kids who like Hatchet and other survival stories will pick it up, but they won't be satisfied.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit I thought this would be about a boy who was either raised by dogs or had lived among them long enough to slowly learn the intricacies of dog language to then be able to translate what they said. Turns out, Jack is possessed by the old sheepdog after his death, so the sheepdog's dog thoughts are in his head so he can instantly understand dogs... o... kay...

OTHER than that, it's the Okayest read. Like, shipwrecked boy lands on Dog Island, this is *for the most part* exactly what I would've expected to read! It's just the how of it that has me sort of



(That said, I once mentioned I hadn't read a "Ghost Dog" book, so... maybe this could be it? I mean, if Ghost Cat counts when there's ONE SCENE with a ghost cat...)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down my favorite novel as a child. I was and have always been obsessed with everything dog. What I loved most about this book is unlike most children's books where it is about the boy first, dog second, this book does start out that way but it quickly becomes all about the dogs! I especially enjoy how the author tried to illustrate life from a dog's perspective, it absolutely fascinated me and even inspired me to write similarly whenever we had writing assignments in elementary school, and my teachers even really enjoyed that writing style! The concept is quite confusing at first but you get used to it, and once you get used to it you start getting really absorbed and into it. Being completely stranded on an island without the comforts of society was also such a unique concept to me as a child and made the dangers the boy faces on the island that much more intense! I was quite a deal sad with how it ended, and writing this review reminds me that I need to read the sequel!

[MONTAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was around 10 or 11 in 2005 I went to Florida on vacation and we went to the library. I remember scanning the books on the shelves when I saw a square book with an interesting cover. I checked it out and read it before the trip was over, completely captivated by the story. I was going to the beach, reading a story about a boy stranded on an island, it was perfect. This book then became one of my life long favorites. I am 30 now and want to get back into reading and decided to venture into my childhood favorites first. So of course I had to read this.

There’s just something about the way it’s written that is so beautiful to me. I know I am biased in my rating and review, but I do love it still to this day. I hope there’s another 11 year old out there who finds this book randomly at a time where they need the adventure, because it inspired so much adventure within me at that age.

[Mystery Theater · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a very disappointing book. All the bones are there for a great story but the author chose to make some really strange decisions. We open with the boy who is cowardly and foolish. Is the story progresses we hope to see him grow out of those things but it never happens, even when the book reaches its climax and conclusion. Which is our second complaint, there is no real conclusion. It is just left hanging. The end.

I love dogs. I even know a border collie named moxie. I wanted to love this book. No deal.

[Lazy Bone9 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, this is only a 3-star book, but my nostalgia makes it a 5.

I read this book as a boy. After his hockey game, my dad came home late at night to find me sobbing in my bed. I had finished this book after "going to sleep on time." It is an excellent book for kids, but it might destroy them for a day or two.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting at all. It was a tad strange but I look forward to reading the sequel next. I really enjoyed how it was written form both the perspective of the dog and the boy. It was unique.

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite part was when Jack learned how to speak the language of the dogs so that they understood each other. My least favorite part was when Kelso and Sage died, and also when the crew of the ship came back and got Jack back, but left Moxie on the island.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply written, cute story. :D

[Kashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much. I fell in love with it totally worth while!

[Dhruva · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY good, though he actually spoke dog at the end of the book

[Diana Biggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it, but I know Clay & that may influence my feelings.

[Zoey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever thought that you may have a power that is almost human-less? have you ever been able to look at your own dog and know what they are thinking? Well, what if you were a teenage boy, and you had no idea that your family has this crazy power of seeing sights, feelings, emotions, and even things that only dogs can see. How would you use this power? would you hide it from the rest of the world? This book puts you in a young boys perspective of life with a huge power, he can talk to dogs. Pretty cool huh? Maybe not, would you want to know exactly what your dogs are thinking every second of their life? How would you react if you knew the last things that your dog was thinking after they take the last breath that their lungs will ever consume? this young boy, has to go through years without knowing what his dog will ever say to him, and the night of his death, the boy finally understands. The book did contain many interesting thoughts, and hallucinations. The book did have a unique way of changing point of views, but I personally wouldn't want to read another book with the same way. This book was filled with crazy ways to put some figurative language into context and I did like it. Everything was very clear to see, and nothing was really confusing about the book. I do recommend this book to teenagers who would like a little bit of adventure while reading a book. If you would like yo see how Jack lives with this big mystery in his life, I recommend that you read this amazing book!

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Jack's ship wrecks he finds himself stranded and alone on an island. Or is he alone? When he sets eyes on a Border Collie he's sure there must be people nearby. After much searching Jack admits he must be alone on the island except for a pack of dogs who appear to be guarding a flock of sheep with no human direction. There is also a pack of evil dogs who prove to be a constant threat.

Jack is able to set up a shelter, figure out how to procure food and build a signal fire. Readers never become aware of where Jack learned to do these things as he was an orphan before he joined the ship.

Over time Jack finds he is able to communicate with the dogs in some manner. But how will this affect his life if he is ever rescued from the island? Based on a New Zealand legend, a simple but adventurous story.

[Diana D · Rating 4 out of 5]

As in The Isle of the blue Dolphins, a young person is stranded on an island and must use wits and emotional stamina to survive loneliness and three wild animal packs. This story is told from two different characters' points of view; the once already orphaned Jack, and Moxie, an inquisitive but wild border collie. Will they be able to understand one another and not be killed by the ferocious 'fangos'?
One of the things I like most about reading, is to be able to have an experience of another's feelings and point of view, especially from another culture. The Boy Who Spoke Dog is a good example of this. A quick read.

[Akin Owosina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this book is amazing!
I was a little confused at first when Jack washed up on the island a thought he could all ready talk to dogs but any way it was really fun reading this book because it has a lot of action for example when he gets trapped by a circle of Fango's (or wild dogs) and he has to escape. But i also loved it because half the time it was in a dogs point of view. Also I felt bad when Jack got saved because he was just starting to understand the dogs.
So all in all I think this an amazing book for all dog lovers.

[Mark Holbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a grandparent/volunteer, I read this book aloud to a combined 3rd/4th grade class for 20-30 minutes at each weekly reading. The children were attentive and loved it, always disappointed when I stopped. Their teacher added the book to their "recommended" list that is shared among other teachers of the same age group in the school district. She said her fellow teachers had been looking for a book that was told intermittently from two points of view.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adventure story about a boy who is shipwrecked on an island with only dogs. There are 2 kinds of dogs on the island: sheep and wild. The book goes back and forth between the points of view of the boy, and of one of the sheep dogs. I didn't think I'd like this but the changing points of view kept it moving along quickly and it pulled me in fast. It ended up being pretty good.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally finished it after renewing it about 5 times from the library. It's not very long, but I kept getting distracted by other books I've been reading. This book is short, sweet, and entertaining for a dog person like me. The ending is also a bit open-ended, allowing you to fill it in for yourself. Overall, I loved it.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting premise with a boy shipwrecked on an island that is home to sheep, sheepdogs and dogs that have gone feral. Sometimes it seems a bit slow, but all in all it was interesting to get both the boy's perspective and one of the sheepdog's perspectives. True to life in that the boy doesn't immediately know what to do to survive and is in shock. I'm glad I read it.

[Cadei · Rating 3 out of 5]

exciting book about a boy who learns to think like a dog until he can speak to them. i wish he could have learned to speak to the dogs eirlier in the book. i still really liked it though. my favorite part is at the end because it gets really exciting. its not one of those books that gets really boring at the end. if you like dog books mixed with adventure you should read this book.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well written story of a boy shipwrecked on an island with a group of sheep dogs who have been living alone on the island for many years.

I read this aloud to my 8 year old son and he loved it.

Great story.

[Dotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack is washed up on an island populated by sheep, a group of sheep herding dogs and a group of renegade dogs turned wild, fangos. Jack and Moxie, a sheep dog, bond as a result of survival experiences.