This fictional chapter book was written by one of the great child authors of her time, but who didn’t live to see the completion of her work.  Eva Ibbotson died at 85 while working on her last book, One Dog and His Boy.  Her writing is easy to follow and pulls the reader along through the chapter book with ease.

The main character Hal, wants a dog more than anything.  Finally, his parent relent.  Or at least appear to.  He’s allowed to select a dog from “Easy Pets” for his birthday, but unwittingly selects one named Fleck that will need to be returned to the pet rental agency after the weekend.  When Hall comes home Monday after school and finds his dog missing, he sets out on an adventure with his friend to retrieve his beloved pet.