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Spotted Dog #1
The Spotted Dog Last Seen
While tracking clues from a secret code penciled in the margins of mystery novels at a public library, Derek Knowles-Collier discovers a time capsule that may finally put his haunting past to rest.
At QueensviewElementary, grade-six students are required to complete a community service unit as part of their school curriculum. Derek Knowles-Collier was sick when groups were assigned, so he is stuck with what’s leftover: landscape and repair duty at the local cemetery.
Derek is not happy about his assignment. When he was very young, his friend Dennis was killed by a car after running into the road to catch a ball. Ever since, Derek has had recurring nightmares, and he is afraid that spending time in a cemetery will make it even harder for him to sleep through the night.
It’s a relief, therefore, when his group’s lessons on all aspects of cemetery care are so interesting and strange that Derek just doesn’t have time to dwell on his experience with death. And when it rains, the lessons take place in the nearby public library, which takes him out of the cemetery altogether, at least for an afternoon.
One day, a book arrives at the library, an anonymous donation that happens every year. On reading the book, Derek and his group mates find a secret code written on an inside margin. One code leads to the next, with the last code leading the students to a time capsule.
Through a series of discoveries and deductions, Derek and his friends discover who has been sending books to the library every year. They also discover the truth behind Dennis’s long-ago death, which means that Derek is finally able to put his terrifying memories (and his nightmares) to rest.
INCLUDES A SECRET CODE FOR READERS TO DECIPHER!
At QueensviewElementary, grade-six students are required to complete a community service unit as part of their school curriculum. Derek Knowles-Collier was sick when groups were assigned, so he is stuck with what’s leftover: landscape and repair duty at the local cemetery.
Derek is not happy about his assignment. When he was very young, his friend Dennis was killed by a car after running into the road to catch a ball. Ever since, Derek has had recurring nightmares, and he is afraid that spending time in a cemetery will make it even harder for him to sleep through the night.
It’s a relief, therefore, when his group’s lessons on all aspects of cemetery care are so interesting and strange that Derek just doesn’t have time to dwell on his experience with death. And when it rains, the lessons take place in the nearby public library, which takes him out of the cemetery altogether, at least for an afternoon.
One day, a book arrives at the library, an anonymous donation that happens every year. On reading the book, Derek and his group mates find a secret code written on an inside margin. One code leads to the next, with the last code leading the students to a time capsule.
Through a series of discoveries and deductions, Derek and his friends discover who has been sending books to the library every year. They also discover the truth behind Dennis’s long-ago death, which means that Derek is finally able to put his terrifying memories (and his nightmares) to rest.
INCLUDES A SECRET CODE FOR READERS TO DECIPHER!
208 pages, Hardcover
First published July 29, 2013
14 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 4, 2015
A brilliant tale of forgiveness and acceptance wrapped in a mystery and the love of dogs.
Have you ever felt insecure growing up? Avoiding potentially great friendships because of how it make look to others? Then learn how foolish all the worry and avoidance really is?
A delightful read which had me rooting for all the characters and remembering days of self-discovery through elementary school relationships. Both Trevor and Loyola are self conscious about their height but for opposite reasons. Careful not to be seen together for fear of exaggerating their statures and being ridiculed, the two grade six students go their separate ways until fate forces them together.
Both volunteered to help their community, Trevor and Loyola try to continue their secret pact of staying apart though circumstances being them close together and they both kind of like that. Trevor, born to a family of pilots who move often, begins to understand how easy it can be to plant seeds despite efforts to do otherwise.
Jessica teaches us to embrace the moment and look past how comical some friendships can seem. She masterfully expresses the concerns a lot of young kids experience while teaching many lessons in an adorable way - through the love of dogs.
Walking 6 dogs together of all different breeds who loved one another no despite their different characteristics work together to teach us all a thing or two.
Thanks for reading,
Sarah Butland
*gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review
Have you ever felt insecure growing up? Avoiding potentially great friendships because of how it make look to others? Then learn how foolish all the worry and avoidance really is?
A delightful read which had me rooting for all the characters and remembering days of self-discovery through elementary school relationships. Both Trevor and Loyola are self conscious about their height but for opposite reasons. Careful not to be seen together for fear of exaggerating their statures and being ridiculed, the two grade six students go their separate ways until fate forces them together.
Both volunteered to help their community, Trevor and Loyola try to continue their secret pact of staying apart though circumstances being them close together and they both kind of like that. Trevor, born to a family of pilots who move often, begins to understand how easy it can be to plant seeds despite efforts to do otherwise.
Jessica teaches us to embrace the moment and look past how comical some friendships can seem. She masterfully expresses the concerns a lot of young kids experience while teaching many lessons in an adorable way - through the love of dogs.
Walking 6 dogs together of all different breeds who loved one another no despite their different characteristics work together to teach us all a thing or two.
Thanks for reading,
Sarah Butland
*gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review
August 7, 2013
Sixth grader Derek missed school the day assignments for community service were handed out. Along with two classmates who become his friends, he is assigned one of the less savory projects--to repair parts of the local cemetery. Working there stirs up memories of the death of a young friend, Dennis, many years ago and his guilt over his part in that death. As he and Merrilee and Pascal learn about tombstone rubbings and the toll taken by the environment on grave markers, they also stumble upon a mystery that leads from one mystery novel to another. Derek feels a connection to Creelman, the elderly man who is in charge of the student work team, and as the mystery is solved, he understands why. I really enjoyed all the sayings that Derek collected and put on his t-shirt as well as the surprising connection from one event to another. If this book is to be summed up in one sentence it would be this one: We are all more closely linked than we realize.
October 28, 2014
This was a fun read; well-written, with an intriguing mystery to be solved by the main characters. I loved the 'full-circle" connections presented though the main story arc, as well. My only complaint was I found it a bit unrealistic these students were in grade 6 (and doing things like getting to cemetery duty on their own). But it's just a fictional story, so really it's a minor issue. Kids would relate well to the characters, I think, which is why the author likely chose them to be of grade six age. I also must say, I loved loved LOVED the secret code element, and I spent a fair bit of time solving it!!! Very creative feature :-)
September 25, 2013
This book is more than just a who done it mystery. Sure, there is the mysterious code left in the library book that Derek, Merrile, and Pascal try to solve, but for me, the real mystery is the haunting nightmares that Derek experiences due to a tragic accident when he was younger. Why does he still have nightmares? Why does he feel responsible? How do all these characters connect to the tragedy? This was a fulfilling story with plenty of heart and some interesting tidbits on cemeteries.
March 3, 2014
A clever mystery where Derrick is volunteering in the local cemetery for school credits. Haunted by a death in his past, Derrick learns all about gravestones and epitaphs. He and his friends stumble upon a mysterious code found in books at the library and they set off to solve the clues. Creepy factor is good without being frightening and the case resolution is both surprising and moving. Recommended for middle grade readers.
January 19, 2024
Wow! Great story with many plot twists, mysterious clues and and mind-blowing connections as the threads of the story are woven together! Caution: the plot involves the main character's playmate dying in an accident that has Derek experiencing nightmares, in addition to another death. However, the story gracefully leads the reader through Derek's coping and healing process. I was deeply touched by the story and especially enjoyed the characters, most quite memorable. Derek's companions Merrilee and Pascal started as strangers as the trio began their community service project, but ended up as co-conspirators, sleuths, and friends in the end. Highly recommended.
October 31, 2017
A fun and surprisingly touching mystery. It was entertaining to track the clues along with the characters and interesting to learn more about cemeteries; it made them less spooky. There was also some thought-provoking storylines about death and tragedy and how it impacts us. And clever humor to lighten the mood when needed. Well done.
December 13, 2017
A personal tragedy haunts sixth grader, Derek, and causes his nightmares. However, a community
project at the local cemetery is the start of several mysteries and resolution. Kerrin is clever to
include a secret code of eight words on the title page. A reader before me actually ear-marked the
pages! Very engaging.
project at the local cemetery is the start of several mysteries and resolution. Kerrin is clever to
include a secret code of eight words on the title page. A reader before me actually ear-marked the
pages! Very engaging.
August 23, 2017
As a librarian and historian, I loved the school and community focus on respect for the dead and community service as a part of Middle School curriculum. The healing, education and empathy that happens because of this project is life saving for all involved.
May 19, 2019
A cleverly constructed mystery novel for middle schoolers where seemingly unrelated events all come together in the end. The main characters tasked with solving the mystery are sixth graders and they follow the clues to a surprising conclusion.
June 30, 2017
Many talking points in this tender story; upon reflection, I find myself liking it more and more as I think about the characters and their journeys.
July 15, 2017
Tender story about dealing with death from various sides.
August 5, 2018
My favorite part was when they discovered what had actually caused Derek's friend's accident. My least favorite part was when Creelman died.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2024
This book was great. I liked how all the characters linked together in the end. It deals with accidental death and finding ways to cope and understand that loss.
October 27, 2020
I had the pleasure of meeting Jessica Scott Kerrin at 'Read By The Sea' last summer and she signed this book for me. It took a few months over a year to finally pick it up and read it, but I'm glad I finally did. Who doesn't like a mystery, with secret codes, tracking clues, time capsules, and a secret mystery book club? Throw in exploring an old cemetery, and you have a great middle-grade book on your hands. I loved Derek's' T-shirt sayings, and how all the branches of the story came together at the end.
January 7, 2018
6th graders finish their year doing community service
Derek is in a group with 2 other kids doing cemetery clean-up. He soon discovers this assignment will be more than just cleaning up some gravestones and ends up tying to his past in an unexpected way. The characters are likable and Derek grows a lot during his time doing cemetery clean-up.
Derek is in a group with 2 other kids doing cemetery clean-up. He soon discovers this assignment will be more than just cleaning up some gravestones and ends up tying to his past in an unexpected way. The characters are likable and Derek grows a lot during his time doing cemetery clean-up.
May 15, 2014
Derek was home with pink eye the day the students of his class got to choose their community service assignment, which means he got stuck with what was left. And what was left was cemetery duty. Not good for a sixth grader who still has nightmares about the day his friend and neighbor was struck by a car and killed when he was very young. But he goes anyway, and is assigned with Merilee and Pascal, neither seem too bothered by their assignment--in fact Merilee is happy about it. But the lessons, especially the ones at the library across the street on rainy days, are interesting as they learn about the meanings behind gravestone symbols, the materials for headstones, and that each grave marker tells a story. Merilee stumbles upon a mystery handwritten into a donated library book, which leads to more mysteries and eventually she involves Derek and Pascal. In the meantime, Derek feels a connection the Creelman, the leader of the Cemetery Brigade in charge of the maintenance of the cemetery and teaching the students. As the mystery unfolds, that connection is made clear, as well as the connection to everything else.
What a quiet gem of a book. I loved how it treated the subject--it didn't get morbid or depressed, instead it focused on the science and mystery of gravestones and epitaphs. Even though there was real tragedy in Derek's past and most of the book is about moving past that, it's also about the links between the more everyday things in big ways. As the mystery starts to take center stage, you get the feeling that things are connected but it's not until the end that you can see the careful planning the author put in as the connections, while overwhelmingly coincidental, also make a whole lot of sense.
Derek is an interesting character, he's crippled by the tragedy of his past but he yearns to be free of it, which makes him ripe for the "coming of age" story that's also twisted up here.
Far and away my favorite part was learning about the cemeteries in the same way Pascal, Merilee, and Derek do. I never realized how much forethought went in to their design! My only complaint was that sometimes the characters, especially Pascal, came across as much younger than they were.
Overall a solid MG story, and while I will recommend it, it's not for the broader audience. Those that do "get it" will undoubtedly enjoy it.
Recommended, grades 5 and up.
What a quiet gem of a book. I loved how it treated the subject--it didn't get morbid or depressed, instead it focused on the science and mystery of gravestones and epitaphs. Even though there was real tragedy in Derek's past and most of the book is about moving past that, it's also about the links between the more everyday things in big ways. As the mystery starts to take center stage, you get the feeling that things are connected but it's not until the end that you can see the careful planning the author put in as the connections, while overwhelmingly coincidental, also make a whole lot of sense.
Derek is an interesting character, he's crippled by the tragedy of his past but he yearns to be free of it, which makes him ripe for the "coming of age" story that's also twisted up here.
Far and away my favorite part was learning about the cemeteries in the same way Pascal, Merilee, and Derek do. I never realized how much forethought went in to their design! My only complaint was that sometimes the characters, especially Pascal, came across as much younger than they were.
Overall a solid MG story, and while I will recommend it, it's not for the broader audience. Those that do "get it" will undoubtedly enjoy it.
Recommended, grades 5 and up.
October 5, 2013
Derek is out with pink eye on the day that his class is assigned their community service projects. So he gets stuck with Cemetery Duty. He meets every Wednesday either at the library or the cemetery across the street. They meet the Cemetery Brigade, 3 grandfatherly men who appointed themselves in charge of care for the graveyard and therefore in charge of the Cemetery community service project.
But Derek starts having nightmares about his past. Working in a cemetery and encountering gravestones that evoke memories take him back to a dark time in his life. It comes back to him in nightmare flashes: an orange ball, a young boy, Dennis, a car, blood...
To try to keep his mind off of the nightmares and his past, Derek helps a fellow graveyard volunteer with clues in mystery books that are showing up in the public library. Those clues become truly intriguing when they begin to point to the time capsule locker at his school. What could the time capsule locker, locked 7 years ago and not to be opened for another 43, have to do with the clues written in a few mystery books?
The coincidences of this mystery are to "pat" to be believable. However graveyards will always be interesting to young readers.
But Derek starts having nightmares about his past. Working in a cemetery and encountering gravestones that evoke memories take him back to a dark time in his life. It comes back to him in nightmare flashes: an orange ball, a young boy, Dennis, a car, blood...
To try to keep his mind off of the nightmares and his past, Derek helps a fellow graveyard volunteer with clues in mystery books that are showing up in the public library. Those clues become truly intriguing when they begin to point to the time capsule locker at his school. What could the time capsule locker, locked 7 years ago and not to be opened for another 43, have to do with the clues written in a few mystery books?
The coincidences of this mystery are to "pat" to be believable. However graveyards will always be interesting to young readers.
May 11, 2015
Derek and two of his friends Merilee and Pascal are assigned graveyard repair work for their service project. He's not happy about this assignment because he thinks it's gruesome and certainly won't be any fun. He also is afraid of this work because a few years before, he saw is best friend get struck and killed by a car, and he still has nightmares about it.
But Derek finds that the lessons he learns about gravestones and their symbolism are actually interesting. He also makes friends with Creelman, a crusty old man, who, for some reason, really connects with Derek's sense of loss over his friend's death.
Along side of this plot line, Merilee discovers codes in mysteries she's reading. She figures out the the code is a locker combination. But whose locker does the combination unlock? And why would locker combinations be written in library books? Merilee, Derek, and Pascal decide to find out . . . and their search ties together lots of unanswered questions for Derek.
A page-turning mystery in the cozy tradition.
But Derek finds that the lessons he learns about gravestones and their symbolism are actually interesting. He also makes friends with Creelman, a crusty old man, who, for some reason, really connects with Derek's sense of loss over his friend's death.
Along side of this plot line, Merilee discovers codes in mysteries she's reading. She figures out the the code is a locker combination. But whose locker does the combination unlock? And why would locker combinations be written in library books? Merilee, Derek, and Pascal decide to find out . . . and their search ties together lots of unanswered questions for Derek.
A page-turning mystery in the cozy tradition.
October 20, 2013
When Derek was a little boy, he witnessed the death of one his friends. When he is assigned to work at a cemetery as part of the sixth-grade service project, Derek is worried that he will be haunted by memories from the past. Derek soon discovers that there is more to the cemetery than old tombstones. The cemetery director, Creelman, might be a little creepy, but he has a lot of strange and interesting knowledge and Derek, in spite of his misgivings, is learning a lot about cemetery care. On rainy days Derek and his friends, Merilee and Pascal, move their cemetery service duty to the nearby public library. In the library, Merilee discovers a book with a mysterious, handwritten code inside. Together, the children search for clues and follow a trail that may just help Derek find peace.
It was a simple story, and not terribly exciting, but some children will really enjoy it. Good lessons on dealing with death and looking for the sunshine in life.
It was a simple story, and not terribly exciting, but some children will really enjoy it. Good lessons on dealing with death and looking for the sunshine in life.
March 19, 2014
During the 6th grade school year, Derek and his fellow students are required to perform several hours of community service. Because he was absent the day his class signed up Derek gets assigned to the Twillingate Cemetery Brigade, headed up by Mr. Creelman and two other elderly gentlemen. Although Derek is reluctant at first, he and several classmates learn the art and science of caring for the cemetery. In the process Derek and his friends discover a mysterious code hidden in a series of library books and confront some of their own fears and tragedies from the past.
Although the action centers around a cemetery, the book isn’t morbid. Mr. Creelman reminds his assistants that “cemeteries are much more about the living than they are the dead.” One cautionary note – although the cover might appeal to some younger students the book does focus on death, especially the death of one of Derek’s friends from the past.
Although the action centers around a cemetery, the book isn’t morbid. Mr. Creelman reminds his assistants that “cemeteries are much more about the living than they are the dead.” One cautionary note – although the cover might appeal to some younger students the book does focus on death, especially the death of one of Derek’s friends from the past.
December 19, 2013
I love a book with a lot of twists and turns that all ties together neatly at the end, and this one was great! For the last three months of Grade Six (yes, this takes place in Canada), each student does some type of community service each Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately, Derek was out with pink eye when they were picking assignments, and ends up on cemetery duty. This might not be so bad, except for the recurring nightmares of an accident that he witnessed as a young boy. By the end of his three month assignment, he finds that his views on life, his classmates, and the cemetery have changed greatly. Along the way he has solved several mysteries, about a secret code hidden in a library book and about himself. Recommended for grades 5-8.
August 23, 2016
I picked this book to read for a presentation. I am so glad I did. LOVE IT!!! I am a taphophile so it has special appeal for me, but it is a great mystery for Young Readers. The 3 kids are great characters and the mystery they solve is so different from other Young Reader books. It mixes young generations with older generations and I found that very refreshing. I only wish cemetery duty was offered as community service was offered in more schools and it is a great learning tool of history. This book is perfect for fans of mystery novels as well as young readers interested in quirky, different books. The characters are sixth graders but this book would also appeal to fourth and fifth graders. Kudos to Jessica Scott Kerrin for her unique mystery book.
January 10, 2015
"The Spotted Dog Last Seen" felt as though author Jessica Scott Kerrin was trying to incorporate every quirky habit and piece of information that she could into one story. Grade Six student, Derek, participates in community service work at the local cemetery where him and two classmates work to break a secret code that they discover. In the process, Derek finds peace with a childhood tragedy. The story had too many convenient coincidences for my liking, but overall a good mystery novel.
Due to the childhood tragedy, I feel that this novel would be best for readers grade four and up.
Short-listed for the 2015 MYRCA.
Due to the childhood tragedy, I feel that this novel would be best for readers grade four and up.
Short-listed for the 2015 MYRCA.
June 27, 2016
This book was far too Canadian, and not Canadian enough. Too Canadian with the odd expressions like whatnot – used over and over. Not Canadian enough because you didn’t even know that the story happened in Canada and not the US. I also thought it was quirky – why mention Merilee’s plastic bunny and carrot jacket every single time she appears in the story if it isn’t an important part of the action. I did like the story – the relationship between Creelman and Derek, and the way they were all connected, and the healing that came from meeting Creelman and knowing Dennis was his grandson. But it was also too convenient, and it feels like a book that grown-ups will like better than kids will.
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November 3, 2014 This book was amazing! Full of fun mysteries and secret codes. At the beginning of the book I wasn't really "hooked in" but by the end of the book with that giant plot twist I had no reason not to be hooked in! I think it would be fun to solve all of those clues like Pascal, Merrilee and Derek. It would be an awesome adventure at best. I wonder what Derek thoughts were when they started finding the clues in the books. I really loved reading the book and hope to read more of Jessica Scott Kerrin!
January 19, 2015
This book was super good and was very interesting. At some parts I got confused with everything, but than once i continued reading, a lot of it made more sense. This book was about this boy, he came across a carved stone lamb. And he had seen one before, but he was in shock. It was very good! And everything basically stopped. He had no voice, and the birds didn't make a sound. This book was such a good book and I really enjoyed reading it! It was like a mystery about everything. And why it happened. I loved this book!
July 23, 2016
Cautious as to who I will recommend this book to. I liked the writing style, but it deals with the trauma of a 6th grader remembering when his friend was killed when he ran out into the street when they were 5 years old, and how working in a cemetery and learning about the tombstones helps him process the event. Fun characters, touching moments and a mystery is woven throughout the story. Grades 4-5 because of topic.
April 16, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a "regular book" about a boy who has to do volunteer work in the cemetery. He meets other classmates as well as community adults. Over the course of the book, he works through his own grief about a childhood event and also works with his new friends to solve a mystery. Readers who like puzzle-style mystery books that are also realistic will enjoy this one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews