Digger and Me

This moving, warm-hearted story explores the importance of family, love, friendship and finding a way to communicate emotions and fears.  The narrator, 11-year-old James, has had a lot to deal with; his parents have split up and both have new partners, his Uncle Bobby has died of cancer and he is soon to start a new school.  The constant in James’ life is his beloved dog Digger, his support through challenging times.  So, when James finds a lump on Digger’s leg and his dog faces cancer treatment, James’ world falls apart.

James’ feelings of anger and isolation are powerfully conveyed; however, he does have a network of support, a loving family, a close friend, and an inspirational teacher who encourages James’ class to write poetry thus allowing James to express his feelings in a creative way.  Ros Roberts skilfully portrays the complexity and strength of family relationships and the importance of a pet as James is gradually supported through a period of anxiety and change.  The poems written by James and his classmates are included and contribute greatly to the power of the story, showing the impact that an empathetic, inspirational teacher can have.  Free writing is close to the author’s heart and the book ends with some blank, lined pages to encourage readers to write their own poems.

This poignant, empathetic, and well-observed tale of a boy and his dog should appeal to 8+ fans of family and animal stories.