How to Look for a Lost Dog by Ann M Martin will be featured on the Radio 2 Book Club on Monday 11 April.
The book was selected with the help of a panel made up of Reading Agency and library staff from across the UK.
This is a children’s book, written by the author behind the bestselling Baby-Sitter’s Club series, but this is a book that can be enjoyed at any age. We have an exclusive extract available for you to read, and some discussion questions, so find out for yourself!
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How to Look for a Lost Dog
11-year-old Rose is autistic and struggles to understand her classmates. But when her father gives her a stray dog, which she names Rain, the dog becomes her best friend, her anchor in a confusing world. So when Rain goes missing during a storm, Rose refuses to stop looking for her…
Selection panel review
Our reading panel of public library staff loved How to Look for a Lost Dog – here are some of their comments:
“Let’s be clear – THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING. This is a story of 11 year old Rose who is autistic and struggles to understand the world around her. She lives with a father who doesn’t understand her and her dog who goes missing. Her only beacon of hope is Uncle Wheldon, who you immediately warm to. It was a fantastic quick read and kept me engrossed from page 1. I actually missed my stop on the bus because I was so engaged with this story.”
“Quite simply I cannot remember when I last enjoyed reading a book as much as this one. If ever a new novel deserved to be read by a wide audience it’s this one. It should feature at the top of any reading group list. The book made me feel many emotions but most of all, sheer joy at being able to share in this wonderful piece of storytelling. To say more would spoil the enjoyment that anyone reading this book will surely have. Thank you very much for introducing me to this wonderful book and author.”
About the author
Ann M. Martin was born on August 12, 1955, in Princeton, New Jersey. Ann adopted her first dog, Sadie, when she was just 4 weeks old; most of the dogs she has written about have been inspired by and based on Sadie.
Ann is the beloved author of the internationally bestselling Baby-Sitters Club series, which has sold over 176 million copies worldwide.
She has penned over thirty critically-acclaimed novels, including the Newbery Honor winning novel, A Corner of the Universe, as well as the novels Belle Teal and Here Today. Her other books include P.S. Longer Letter Later and Snail Mail No More, written with Paula Danziger, and The Doll People and The Meanest Doll in the World, written with Laura Godwin and illustrated by Brian Selznick.
In addition to writing, Ann enjoys sewing, needlework, and crafts, and works with an animal rescue organization in upstate New York, where she lives.
A word from Ann
“When I learned that How To Look For a Lost Dog had been selected for the Radio 2 Book Club, I was incredibly honoured. It was an experience that was both exciting and humbling. Books have been woven into the fabric of my life for as long as I can remember. My parents read aloud to my sister and me when we were young, and we told each other stories. We visited the library in our town at least once a week and I always checked out the maximum number of books allowed. To have progressed from a reader to a writer to an author has been thrilling, and to know that Rose’s story will be shared with a wide audience is even more thrilling. I feel closely connected to Rose, and yet her story wasn’t easy to write. She could be maddening, but I wanted readers not only to understand her but to sympathize with her. Thank you for this opportunity. I’m eagerly awaiting my trip to London.”
Get involved
Tune in to Simon Mayo’s Drivetime show on Monday 11 April to hear a live interview with Ann M Martin talking about her book.
Have you read How to Look for a Lost Dog? You can share your thoughts with us on Twitter, post a review, or add it to your group’s reading list. You can also follow author Ann M Martin on Twitter.
Want to find out more? Take a look at the Radio 2 Book Club Twitter feed or find out more on the Radio 2 Book Club website.
