Far From Burden Dell

Chris Coppel
Brown Barn Books (2005)
ISBN 0974648167
Reviewed by Ian McCurley (age 13) for Reader Views (2/07)

Amy has a wonderful life.  She lives in a rural English cottage near Burden Dell with her man and cook.  She enjoys games of Shoe, and rules over the whole back yard (except cook’s garden).  Then, one day her man leaves in his noisy, smelly vehicle not to be seen for weeks.  When Amy spots two men offering her a beautiful cut of steak, she instantly partakes.  She feels drowsy and falls asleep.  She has been dog-napped!

Amy awakens far from Burden Dell in a harsh and illegal dog prison where dogs are used to smuggle gems.  She escapes with six other dogs before they are shipped to foreign countries, never to be seen again.  Amy, Rodney, Angel, Hans, Pru, Rex and Lester travel through the streets of London.  From Piccadilly Circus to Harrods Food Court, they are dodging cars and evading capture.  They were being chased by the Fat Man and the Boxer, and Skull Face and Squat Lady, who are all smugglers from the kennel. 

In their escape, they meet many friends, such as the Geese of Shelter Island and the Los Gatos de la Noche, or the Cats of the Night.  The Cats of the Night are an underground organization of “cat burglars” who are, totally unexpectedly, cats.  With the help of their new friends, the seven must make their way back to the old kennel and assisted by the strays of London, destroy the kennel and liberate the remaining captives.  Can Amy free the dogs and find her master?

“Far From Burden Dell” is a good read if you like dogs, London or daring adventure stories.  The author succeeds in pointing out that dogs are truly marvelous creatures and that in the face of adversity, they can persevere.  I enjoyed the warm, fuzzy feeling I got when reading this book.  After having been in London recently, I understand how the dogs were stunned by the sheer immensity of the city.  Chris Coppel gave vivid, accurate and entertaining descriptions of London’s monuments from a dog’s viewpoint.  This book changes the way you’ll think about your dog.

This book is for ages 9 and up. 

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