Eleven-year-old Jake intended to keep the key he found—until his dog was snatched in retaliation. No key is worth losing your dog over, not even a key that transports you through time and space. In The Dog Snatcher, Phyllis Wheeler presents a tale of travel between centuries and continents, balancing childhood simplicity and world challenges. Sci-fi elements are well-handled, intriguing yet without technical entanglements. The story naturally and thoughtfully draws the experience of doing what you know is wrong, only to face greater consequences than you expected. The Dog Snatcher is a light and pleasing sci-fi tale with interest and heart.

Best for: Children and middle-grade readers, sci-fi fans.

Discern: Parents who are absent and unaware of their children’s actions.