A Friend for Mr. Granville

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

It is a good thing that Trevor can’t stay mad at his classmate Kristie
forever. He needs her help to succeed with his scheme to get a dog for
Mr. Granville, a sad old man who reminds Trevor of his recently deceased
grandpa.

Mr. Granville lives in a nearby seniors’ home. He rarely speaks and
never moves from his place by the window. When Trevor’s class visits
the home, he notices Mr. Granville’s delight as he watches a puppy
playing in the yard. Trevor convinces his friends and his teacher that
they should give a dog to Mr. Granville, but even dogs from the animal
shelter cost money. Trevor knows he cannot raise the money by himself,
so he becomes the hub of a wheel of money-raising schemes; but soon
other obstacles besides money demand his quick thinking and persistence.


So much happens in this book, it is hard to believe that the author
packed it into only 62 pages. There are major and minor themes, nearly a
dozen primary and secondary characters, and three major plot twists.
Richardson’s well-written prose keeps the plot moving and the reader
highly motivated to turn the next page. MacLean’s charcoal
illustrations perfectly complement the text. Highly recommended.