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Blue Dog

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From the author of Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, the spellbinding story of a young boy and his dog adventuring through the outback.

When a family tragedy means Mick is sent to the outback to live with his Granpa, it looks as if he has a lonely life ahead of him. The cattle station is a tough place for a child, where nature is brutal and the men must work hard in the heat and dust. However, after a cyclone hits, things change for Mick. Exploring the floodwaters, he finds a lost puppy covered in mud and half-drowned. Mick and his dog immediately become inseparable as they take on the adventures offered by their unusual home, and the business of growing up, together.

In this charming prequel to the much-loved Red Dog, Louis de Bernières tells the moving story of a young boy and his Granpa, and the charismatic and entertaining dog who so many readers hold close to their hearts.

With illustrations by Alan Baker

144 pages, Hardcover

Published August 4, 2016

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About the author

Louis de Bernières

65 books2,007 followers
Louis de Bernières is an English novelist. He is known for his 1994 historical war novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin. In 1993 de Bernières was selected as one of the "20 Best of Young British Novelists", part of a promotion in Granta magazine. Captain Corelli's Mandolin was published in the following year, winning the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book. It was also shortlisted for the 1994 Sunday Express Book of the Year. It has been translated into over 11 languages and is an international best-seller.
On 16 July 2008, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in the Arts by the De Montfort University in Leicester, which he had attended when it was Leicester Polytechnic.
Politically, he identifies himself as Eurosceptic and has voiced his support for the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
Profile Image for Brenda.
4,691 reviews2,908 followers
July 22, 2016
Eleven year old Mick was confused and sad – his father had recently died and his mother couldn’t cope with the grief. Mick was on his way from Sydney to Perth, then on further to his Granpa’s property in the Pilbara where he would stay until his mother was well enough to have him home. But Mick hadn’t been to his Granpa’s desolate and isolated home since he was a two year old…

Slowly Mick grew to love the place – the old half blind thoroughbred, Blind Willy that Taylor Pete taught him how to be friends with; Taylor Pete himself and his tales of his Aboriginal heritage; the book Granpa read to him; and Mick read back – "The Drover’s Cook and Other Verses". He missed his mum and dad terribly, but was happy at the property with Granpa.

When the cyclone hit, it was Mick’s first experience of such a terrifying event – but as he was searching for the chooks after it was all over, he discovered instead a puppy, more dead than alive and half drowned in the flood waters. A deep red rusty colour, he was immediately christened Blue – to Mick’s confusion. From that day forward, Mick and Blue were best mates, having adventures far and wide over the vast, dusty land; and Blue was largely instrumental in the life lessons Mick faced.

Blue Dog is an absolutely delightful novella which is set as a prequel to Red Dog, released in 2001 by Louis de Bernieres. Heart-warming and moving, it’s also light-hearted and fun (love the cat’s name – Lamington!) – the setting of the Australian outback is authentic and real. I thoroughly enjoyed Blue Dog and have no hesitation in recommending it highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital copy to read in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Bianca.
1,214 reviews1,068 followers
September 25, 2016
'Blue Dog' is a sweet coming-of-age story, set in the Western Australian outback.

The story was cute and somewhat familiar. When city boy Mick finds himself on his paternal grandfather's farm, he doesn't really know what to do with himself. He's very sad, as his father recently passed away and his mum is suffering a mental breakdown that makes her unable to care for him.

His grandad is a typical Aussie farmer, hardened by life in the outback. His house is quite isolated and Mick doesn't have much company. He takes to exploring the farm. On his 12th birthday, he received his father's old motorcycle, which Mick and Taylor Pete, the aboriginal resident who was helping around the farm, start taking apart and putting together. That opens up new opportunities for Mick.

Mick gets lots of skills while on the farm. He survives cyclones and storms. After a cyclone, he finds a red kelpie puppy stuck in a tree. The dog will be named Blue. The two are inseparable, as only a boy and a dog can be.

Sorry, I've given away too much.

It's a short novella, worth reading. I was impressed with the author's grasp of the Australian vernacular and with his knowledge of the life in the Australian bush. I had no idea that Louis de Bernieres wrote 'Red Dog' which was made into a great movie.

At the end of this novella, de Bernieres tells us that he was asked to write the novella, based on the script for the movie 'Blue Dog', an unusual reversal of roles.

I've received this novella via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to publishers for the opportunity to read and review it.

Cover 4.5 stars



Profile Image for Ray.
649 reviews142 followers
September 25, 2024
I liked this book.

An eleven year old boy goes to the Outback to live with his grandpa as his mother is unable to look after him. The Outback is a hot and dusty culture shock, but he grows to love it, helped by a stray dog he adopts.

Some gently humorous stories and fantastic characters - grandpa especially.
Profile Image for Michael.
28 reviews32 followers
March 24, 2019
Spring arrived in Prague this week, and I decided to leave Kafka, his diaries and letter writing, at home. Instead I took with me the smallest book from my “books by living authors not yet read” pile, appropriately titled Blue Dog. I strolled past Starbucks in the Old Town Square, picked up a Mocha, then continued on my way down Parizská Avenue, hanging a left at the old Synagogue, leisurely making my way down to the bank of the Vltava. A twenty minute walk in streets, where I could literally feel Kafka, and several of the other Czech authors, walk next to me in times past.

I found a bench overlooking the river with a lawn of grass at my back, and over the next couple of hours, I managed to forget all my personal worries, as I enjoyed the warmth of the sun on my being, and let myself be transported by Louis de Bernières to the Australian outback. Blue Dog is by the author’s own admission a book written for twelve-year-olds, which will probably mainly be read by adults. It is a simple tale of a boy, who, following a family tragedy, is sent to live with his Grandfather on his small homestead deep in the desert.



Some fifteen years ago, de Bernières wrote another small book entitled Red Dog, in which the author created a story based on the local legend and exploits of a beloved “Red Cloud Kelpie” (a breed of rusty-furred dog indigenous to Australia). The book became a bestseller, and a movie, and Blue Dog was written on popular demand, as a prequel to the original story. The original book charmed by centering on the dog itself, with the humans in its life basically being supporting characters; Blue Dog, on the other hand, really is the story of Mick, the young boy, with “Blue” arriving rather late in the book, and becoming the loved companion of the lonely and heartbroken boy.

The joy of this book largely rests on Bernières’ convincing portrait of the way-of-life on this out-of-the-way homestead, and of Mick’s coming-of-age. Mick encounters half-crazy horses, hidden aboriginal caves with magic rocks, cyclones and prairie fires, Perenties and swarms of grasshoppers. Helped by a farmhand, he takes his father’s old motorbike apart, and reassembles it again, to put it in working order. Together with his grandfather, he helps to once more plant a garden of flowers, the way his grandmother used to have it. He wins the respect of a horse, and learns to ride it. He falls in (puppy) love with his school teacher, and fights his best friend in jealousy. The exotic locales aside, there are probably no experiences in this story that any boy, who has experienced a life before computers and internet will not be able to relate to. It is an old-fashioned boy’s tale, told by a seasoned author who has seen something of life and the world. It made me happy to be in that place with this book for as long as it took to read it.

As I closed the book and lit a cigarette, I somehow happened to turn around, and chanced to see a young girl arrive on the lawn behind me with a lovely retriever puppy. For the next ten minutes, the girl enjoyed a game of fetch with her puppy. It would dash back and forth over the lawn with a speed and dexterity that seemed almost unreal in the lazy afternoon, and with its mouth open in something resembling a wide smile, its entire being radiating joy and playfulness. A dog really can be the answer to any girl's or boy’s prayers.

There is more to life than books…
… but not much more

(The Smiths – “Handsome Devil”)
Profile Image for Rebecca.
3,977 reviews3,276 followers
May 30, 2021
(3.5) A sweet coming-of-age novella about a boy moving to the Australian Outback to live with his grandfather in the 1960s and adopting a stray dog - a red cloud kelpie, but named Blue. I didn’t realize that this is a prequel (to Red Dog), and based on a screenplay. It was my third book by de Bernières, and it was interesting to read in the afterword that he sees this one as being suited to 12-year-olds, yet most likely to be read by adults.

Mick’s father is dead and his mother has had a breakdown, so Granpa is the only one around to look after him, though out at the cattle station the boy mostly fends for himself, having adventures with stinging lizards and cyclones and bushfires and cursed caves. All along, Blue and his motorcycle are constant companions. Taylor Pete, a wry Aboriginal man, and Betty Marble, a pretty blonde hired as his teacher, are two amusing secondary characters.

This reminded me of Gerald Durrell’s writing about his childhood, and was pleasant airport and plane reading for me: light and fun, but not fluffy, and offering an armchair traveling opportunity. I especially liked the Australian lingo and the blue and black illustrations at the head and foot of each chapter, with a flipbook-style cartoon of a running dog in the upper right corner of each odd-numbered page.
Profile Image for Jackie Law.
876 reviews
November 17, 2017
Louis de Bernieres’ short novel, Red Dog, was loosely based on the true story of a Kelpie cattle dog that travelled around Western Australia’s Pilbara region in the 1970s. The book was adapted for film and proved popular in the legendary canine’s home country. Although little can be confirmed about Red’s origins, a prequel was commissioned and this film released in 2016. It covers the imagined early days of the Pilbara Wanderer, known during this time as Blue. Louis de Bernieres was approached by the filmmakers about novelising the story. Although initially hostile to the idea, the author changed his mind when he read the script. He writes of Blue Dog:

“Novelists are routinely appalled and dismayed by what scriptwriters and film directors do to their stories. I have therefore been completely shameless about diverging from the script, excellent though it is, because revenge is sweet.”

The story opens with an eleven year old boy, Mick, being flown to the bushland area of Pilbara where he is to live with his paternal grandfather following the death of his father. Mick’s mother has suffered a breakdown and is being cared for back in Sydney where the boy was raised. Mick is eager to explore his new surroundings after his Granpa installs him in his father’s old room. The farm is staffed by a mix of natives and incomers, all men.

The practicalities of living in such a remote region result in Mick being granted freedom to roam and lessons in fixing anything that is damaged or that breaks. Whilst he enjoys adult supervision his activities involve helping out and learning independence. He rebuilds a motorbike which he is then permitted to ride. He learns to recognise and respect the wide variety of local wildlife.

In the wake of a cyclone Mick rescues a puppy from a flooded creek. He calls it Blue and it soon settles with the farm residents. Blue joins Mick on his many games and adventures. The dog is unimpressed when a woman is engaged as Mick’s tutor and keeps the boy inside for lessons.

Boy and dog mature with both discovering an interest in the opposite sex. Granpa meanwhile has worries of his own – rumours of a buyout for the farm and potential health issues.

The story is aimed at twelve year olds and this age group will likely regard the liberty Mick is granted appealing. It is somewhat Boy’s Own in aspect, although Granpa enjoys his rum and occasionally forgets himself in conversations with Mick. This adds to the humour; there is no inappropriate content. Emotions are acknowledged lightly as are the aboriginal culture and its loss at the hands of white settlers.

The denouement asks more of Mick than any of his challenges living in the bush. Blue’s reaction places the tale as the prequel it was intended to be.

As one would expect from an author of this stature, the writing is fluent and engaging. It certainly appealed to this adult reader. There are regular illustrations that add to the sense of place. I was also delighted by the little blue dogs on each top right hand page which move playfully when the book is flicked through at speed.

A story of a boy more than his dog but one that charms without descending into schmaltz. It is good sometimes to read of the positives in human nature.
Profile Image for Karen Mace.
2,166 reviews77 followers
July 30, 2016
Was very lucky to win a copy of this beautiful book from the lovely people at Vintage Books via a Twitter competition.

What an absolute treat this was to read! It is the story of an 11 year old boy who is going through a tough time as his father died, and the grief caused his mother to crack and be put away in a hospital while she recovered. So, Mick is sent to the middle of the outback to live with his Granpa, who he hasn't seen since he's 2.

Life in the middle of nowhere takes some time to adjust too, but soon Mick is living every boys' fantasy of exploring out on his own and being taught they ways of the wild, helped along by the locals and his granpas friends, and the weird and wonderful creatures that he meets along the way.

Found the setting so perfect and beautifully captured, and the way that Mick and his granpa bonded over the simple things in life was so lovely. Mick learns to gain the trust of a mad horse, and then Blue captures his heart when he rescues the puppy from the flood waters after a cyclone hits.

A short, but extremely sweet story that has me itching to get my hands on Red Dog, which this is a prequel to!
Profile Image for Mani.
774 reviews
May 10, 2020
Blue Dog is my first book by Louis de Bernières. It is a story about an 11 year old boy Mick who is sent to live with his grandfather in the remote outback of Western Australia, after his mother suffers a breakdown and admitted to hospital after the death of his father. While living with his grandfather Mick finds a dog and this is what the story revolves around.

Blue Dog is a simple but heart-warming book that is full of descriptions of the outback, which I loved. I also really liked discovering some new Australian Slang.

While I enjoyed most of the writing in this short novel, there were some parts that felt a little rushed, this didn’t really affect my reading but it was noticeable enough to see a change in the flow of the overall story.

At the time of picking this book up I wasn’t actually aware that it was aimed for younger readers, but having read it I don’t really think it matters which age this book is aimed at as I ended up liking it and would happily recommend to anyone looking for a quick but enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Hayley.
1,086 reviews24 followers
November 24, 2023
Bloody loved this. Quirky and feeling typically Australian with the vernacular and characterisations. Hard to believe that this was written by someone who is not Australian. Some may find it overly stereotypical but being married to an Aussie farmer in rural Australia I can tell you that the characters felt very authentic.

I loved Red Dog(only saw the movie) and I loved this prequel Blue Dog (book). It is aimed at twelve year olds like the first book but is enjoyable at any age.
Profile Image for Anya.
252 reviews1 follower
July 10, 2023
This is a quirky beautiful short little book about an 11 year old boy going to stay with his granddad out in the bush in Australia after his dad died. Obviously it also featured a dog called blue. It is so nicely written and definitely made me smile! He says at the end that it’s a book written for 12 year olds which will probably only be read by adults. Totally worth the read.
Profile Image for Grace.
329 reviews1 follower
October 23, 2022
A coming of age story set in 1960s Australia. A quick and interesting read.
199 reviews2 followers
January 20, 2019
A delightful little book - only 133 pages, but full of descriptions, humour and sadness. It is about a young boy who is sent to live with his grandfather in the Australian outback. He finds a dog and the story revolves around his relationship with his dog. You don't need to be a dog lover to be moved by parts of it!
Profile Image for Kate.
967 reviews9 followers
January 29, 2018
I need to start by saying that Red Dog by Louis de Bernières is one of those rare books that I recommend to #ALLTHEPEOPLE (and ‘animal stories’ aren’t really my thing). So from the outset, Blue Dog was a big collar to fill.

I also need to start with the Afterword. Blue Dog came about after the success of the film version of Red Dog, when the producer approached de Bernières with ideas for a prequel. It was suggested that the story be novelised, for dual release with the Blue Dog film. Initially, de Bernières resisted – “I was hostile about it, as I am far too grand and snobbish to turn other people’s stories into novels…” but he liked the script, loves the Pilbara and loves red cloud kelpies, hence Blue Dog.

Blue Dog focuses on Mick, who arrives in the Pilbara to live with his Granpa on a remote cattle station. After a cyclone hits, Mick finds a lost puppy and the pair become inseparable –

“And the dog’s called ‘Blue’.”…
“But he’s red!”
“That’s why he’s called Blue. If you’re short, you’re called Lofty; if you’re black, you’re called Chalkie; if you’re bald, you’re called Curly; if you’re fat, you’re called Slim; if you’re red, you’re called Blue. Everybody knows that son.”


As much as de Bernières may have loved the Blue Dog story, it felt very much aimed at young readers. While the multiple plot lines and constant action contributed to a broader theme (Mick learning to love his home in the Pilbara), it lacked the emotional depth of de Bernières’s other stories. Red Dog, also intended for young readers, managed to strike a deep and powerful chord with adults – Blue missed that mark for me. Nonetheless, it’s a charming a story, chock full of colourful vernacular (with a terrific glossary of ‘Australianisms’ included so that you can sort your bickies from your boondocks) and a satisfying ending.

3/5 A lovely choice for the ten-year-old in your life.

I received my copy of Blue Dog from the publisher, Knopf Australia, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Manuela Rotasperti.
340 reviews12 followers
June 5, 2023
"𝗗𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶 𝘀𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶. 𝗜𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝗶 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘂𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼 𝗶 𝘀𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶. 𝗣𝗼𝗶 𝘀𝗶 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶 𝗮𝘃𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲. 𝗘 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝘀𝗶 𝘀𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗮 𝗶𝗹 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗮, 𝗱𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶 𝘀𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗼 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶, 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵é 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗶 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲. 𝗣𝗲𝗿ò 𝗻𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗶 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗶. È 𝗰𝗼𝘀ì 𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼."

Mick è un ragazzino di 11 anni che vive a Sidney, ma in seguito alla morte del padre e al conseguente stato di shock della madre, si trasferisce dal nonno allevatore, che ha un ranch a Pilbara, nell'ovest dell'Australia. Qui si affeziona alla terra e alle persone che gli sono vicine, trovando anche un cucciolo di cane di cui prendersi cura.

Cane blu trae spunto dal film Red dog di Nelson Woss, appassionato di kelpie rossi, che chiese a Louis de Bernieres di scriverne un prequel. Sappiamo poi che il cane Red Dog è realmente esistito ed ha vissuto negli anni Settanta vagabondando per il Pilbara e guadagnandosi l'affetto di tutta la popolazione, tanto da meritare una statua. Il libro è molto scorrevole e lineare, appartenendo alla narrativa per ragazzi. Vi sono numerose descrizioni del paesaggio che trasportano il lettore in questa immensa distesa di terra rossa, erba marrone ed alberi contorti. Vengono spesso nominati animali e piante tipici della zona, ricorrendo a termini locali e con lievi accenni anche alla mitologia aborigena. Vengono rilevate anche le diverse condizioni tra bianchi e neri, questi ultimi costretti come fantasmi a lavorare da chi si è appropriato della loro terra. Interessanti poi gli episodi che riportano le calamità naturali ed i loro danni, determinati soprattutto dal clima di queste zone, come ad esempio i cicloni e l'invasione delle cavallette. Molto tenero il rapporto tra nonno e nipote e l'affetto di Mick per il cucciolo di cane trovato. Una lettura piacevole che permette di esplorare una terra ostile, ma che rimane nel cuore di chi ci passa...
Profile Image for Clare.
1,204 reviews7 followers
September 28, 2018
A really charming, quirky story. A young boy goes to live on a farming station in the Outback (Australia) after his mother has a nervous breakdown in response to the death of his father. It's clear he misses both of his parents, but he loves his grandpa (who, incidentally does an excellent job of caring for him) and loves the Outback. After a cyclone hits, he finds a little red puppy in the destruction and names him Blue.
I loved the descriptions of the Outback, particularly the cyclone and it's aftermath. Hopefully this is the closest I'll ever get to such a phenomenon! I'm very much a dog person, so anything involving a dog is on to a winner for me (but I've never been a fan of the anthropomorphised type of story since reaching adulthood - although Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh, Watership Down etc were firm favourites as a child).
I've read Red Dog, which is the follow up to this novel, so there was a bittersweet element to this book, as I know how the next one ends.
Top marks for the story and just to de Bernieres' style. I'm a fan.
Profile Image for Pam Tickner.
820 reviews8 followers
August 23, 2017
3 1/2 stars. The author says the book is written for 12 year olds, but will mostly read by adults. It was a heartwarming coming of age story of a young boy who is sent to live with his grandfather after his father dies. The interaction between with the pair was delightful. The freedom and adventures were ones only a grandfather could get away with offering. The introduction of "Blue" as the young "red dog" was nice, but I thought the relationship between the 'people' characters was the strength of this story. Give this book to your preteen boy, it is a worthwhile read.
Profile Image for Dorien.
100 reviews11 followers
January 3, 2018
Een charmant boekje over een jongen die door omstandigheden bij zijn opa in het ruige binnenland van Australië gaat wonen. De auteur zegt zelf in zijn nawoord: "dit boek is geschreven voor kinderen van twaalf jaar en zal waarschijnlijk vooral door volwassenen gelezen worden" en dat is de nagel op de kop.
Profile Image for Sean Harding.
5,352 reviews31 followers
January 3, 2021
I have seen the movie version of Red Dog but have not read the book, this apparently is a prequel, and is full of stereotypical Aussie blokes and scenarios you are almost waiting for stone the flaming crows Ailsa - anyway average read - I wonder if Red Dog itself is a better read?
Profile Image for Nicolas Chinardet.
404 reviews100 followers
December 17, 2018
A prequel to Bernères' Red Dog, Blue Dog is a children/YA book guaranteed to also charm the adults. It's a simple and at times moving story of coming of age in the outback of Western Australia.

There is much Australian slang peppered throughout but that doesn't distract too much. My only real gripe is with the few mentions of "sissies" and what "real men" should or shouldn't do.

Very enjoyable on the whole, though.

The illustrations are lovely.
Profile Image for Kirstin.
673 reviews
March 5, 2023
Enjoyable novella set in the Australian bush with some likeable quirky characters. Yes, language was a bit off at times but didn't spoil my enjoyment.
Profile Image for Crystal.
388 reviews2 followers
December 12, 2024
This was a cute book I think I liked the book better than the movie there is nothing wrong with it it was a nice Australian story just average
Profile Image for Katrien.
107 reviews10 followers
May 30, 2019
Heel fijn en mooi geschreven verhaal over Mick die voor een tijdje bij zijn opa moet wonen. Mocht gerust dubbel zo dik geweest zijn.
7 reviews
July 5, 2024
I read this book before Red Dog, and I thought that it was the sequel to the book. I was starting to get worried that I read the second book first and then the first book second. Turns out that I read Blue Dog first, and if you end up reading these books, I would definitely read Blue Dog first because then Red Dog will make more sense when you read it. I loved these stories, so heartfelt. I ended up with teary eyes and then I started to cry when I finished it on both of them. They are so good!!
Profile Image for Bert.
700 reviews15 followers
December 9, 2016
Every legend has a beginning!

Red Dog the movie and book was insanely successful here down under so it's no surprise that they decided to release a prequel film detailing Red Dog's origins, this book is the novelized version, not so much a novelization as it is an original novel based on the film, Louis De Bernieres even says in the afterword that he deviated from the screenplay as he wanted to create something unique and that's exactly what he's done... Once again major praise needs to be heaped on Mr. De Bernieres, the fact that he can write so convincingly as an Australian really baffles me, it's so effortless and genuine you'd never ever know he wasn't a true blue aussie.

The story is very cute, after his father dies and his mother has a nervous breakdown, Mick is sent to Western Australia to live with his grandfather in the outback, it's here that he meets the legendary Red Dog, aka Blue, as a pup and they become great mates. The character of Mick is definitely the bigger character in this book and Blue is just his sidekick which at first I was a little disappointed with but by the end of the book I found myself really investing in Mick as a character, of course he always had Blue by his side but it's more Mick's story than Blue's.

I read this book in 1 sitting, it took me just over 3 hours to finish it, it flies by so quickly I was a little sad when it finished, by the way it has a completely punch you in the guts-make a sad face-be sad forever kind of ending, don't worry no one dies or anything (obviously because this is a prequel) but the final sentence really gave me all the sad feels.

Something that I really loved about the book was that it was essentially a kids book for adults, Mr. De Bernieres again addresses this in the afterword by saying "this book was written for 12 year olds but will mainly be read by adults" - for some reason this made me happy...

Great for fans of the first Red Dog book and essential for all true blue Australians.
Profile Image for Michelle.
170 reviews
August 9, 2016
This is a beautiful story of an 11 year old boy Mick who after a family tragedy moves from his bustling Sydney life to his Grandpa's property in the laidback red dirt outback of the Pilbara in Western Australia.

The story is told from Mike's young mind as he comes to terms with his grief, living on the land with the wildlife, having adventures with his pet blue dog, the remoteness of being in the outback, the Aborigines and farm hands who become Mike's friends and spending time with his Grandpa.

This is a short, easy to read, heart warming story and the Australian slang makes it very amusing and authentic too (don't worry for non-Aussies there's a glossary of Australian language included!).

I love reading stories set in my home country and the Australian bush and outback was so realistic I could imagine the Pilbara setting perfectly and this really added to the charm of the story.

I recommend this book to all ages who want an easy to read story set in the Australian outback.

Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Benji Colbourne.
2 reviews20 followers
December 11, 2016
A story short but sweet. It was undeniably Australian, and completely captivating. The characters were built nicely, and had a strange feeling of home, even if you are a city kid like me.

It is often that you find kids in a story annoying, however Mick was loveable and you really felt his love for Blue, and his Granpa.

I found some of the writing rushed, and there was times where i felt the climax was gone before it came. But all-in-all, the book made for a great couple of hours worth of reading.

If ever I am bored, I will likely reach for this book to jump into another world for an hour and a bit.

I am very excited for the film at the end of this month, Levi Miller is going to be a great 'Mick.' I am sure.
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Author 59 books96 followers
December 9, 2016
Blue Dog by Louis de Berniers
Based on a screenplay by Daniel Taplitz.

This is a heart warming prequel to Red Dog. Loved Grandpa and his ockerisms and outback wisdom.
Grandpa says to Mark: 'Everyone runs away. It's how we return that means something.'
Taylor Pete, Betty and poor are all so well drawn. Louis de Berniers is a master at writing different cultures. I could have sworn he grew up in the Pilbara.
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