The Underdogs of Upson Downs

Eleven-year-old Annie Shearer’s family farm, located in the desperately parched Australian town of Upson Downs, is at risk of being sold to greedy landowner Earl Robert-Barren in this warm and sincere tale from Silvey (The Amber Amulet). When her canine companion Runt aces a doggie obstacle course at the local fair, Annie realizes that her pet’s hidden talent could be her shepherding family’s ticket out of debt, and her admirable drive to “fix everything” prompts her to enter Runt into competitions to raise money to help alleviate her parents’ financial burdens. There’s just one problem: Runt will only perform when no one but Annie is looking, and only under the near-magical guidance of Annie’s index finger. In a flurry of brief, propulsive chapters, Annie and her daredevil older brother Max devise a clever workaround to Runt’s performance anxiety, rally community support, and land a spot at the prestigious Krumpet’s Dog Show in London, drawing the ire of presumptive champion Fergus Fink. Forgoing nuance for charm, Silvey uses broad strokes to craft slightly cartoonish yet joyful characters who propel this affirming small-town adventure that radiates good humor and a generous spirit. Primary characters cue as white. Ages 8–12. Agent: Lesley Thorne, Aitken Alexander Associates. (Mar.)