The Last Dogs: Dark Waters
Gr 4-8-In this sci-fi/fantasy tale, almost all humans have left for an unknown place. They have abandoned their pets, suspecting that they have a virus that is deadly to people but not animals. In this sequel to The Vanishing (Little, Brown, 2012), three dogs-Max, Gizmo, and Rocky-have become friends and agree to search for their humans rather than remain in the chaos that now exists. As they struggle to find food and safety and avoid dangerous packs of canines and wolves, they slowly start to learn more about the mysterious virus and the laboratory animals that, through experimentation, can now understand human speech. Gizmo is a feisty yet thoughtful Yorkie; Rocky, a Dachshund, provides comic relief as he dreams of kibbles; and Max is a resourceful and brave Lab. The vicious villains, both human and four-legged, are relentless as they pursue the three companions and also threaten other dogs that befriend the trio on their journey. There is a lot happening in this tale and many loose ends are left dangling, perhaps too many for some readers. However, those who are invested in the saga will look forward to the next adventure. The dogs keep the story fun and interesting with their engaging personalities, and this volume can stand on its own.-Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MAα(c) Copyright 2013.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.