Review by Booklist Review
Glory St. Romain is a 12-year-old girl with divorced parents who loves puzzles and mysteries. This summer, she is trying to solve the biggest mystery of her life: the case of the missing mother. Glory's father, a long--haul truck driver, claims that her mom is "on vacation," but Glory knows that isn't true. She goes to stay with her maternal grandparents, Nana Pat and Papaw Jack, in Sweet Olive, Louisiana, and it's there that she meets a big bloodhound named Gus. Gus' owner turns out to be her grandparents' neighbor, Mr. Babin, who has become injured and needs to be hospitalized. Glory's grandparents let her take in Gus, whom she begins training to track in order to help her solve mysteries. Meanwhile, she also befriends another girl in town, Rosemary, who further helps Glory feel less alone. In the face of a difficult family life and uncertainty, Glory finds loyal companionship as well as humor through her powerful bond with Gus. While it lacks some of the typical tropes of a detective story, this bittersweet, character-driven story is nonetheless full of heart and resilience.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In a heart-tugging and hopeful novel from Guillory (Nowhere Better Than Here), a rambunctious bloodhound bounding nose-first through life proves to be the glue that bonds a 12-year-old to biological and found families. Aspiring detective Glory St. Romain feels out of sorts when she's sent to stay with her mother's estranged parents, Nana Pat and Papaw Jack, in small, sweltering Sweet Olive, La. With her trucker father on the road, the young mystery fan is determined to make the most of her time by cracking the case of where her mom has gone, which is surely not "on vacation" like Dad says. Glory finds some assistance in sniffing out clues at a neighborhood park when she encounters Gus, a big, wrinkly dog attracted to her peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich. Sweet and slobbery Gus proves a cherished companion who helps lead Glory to new friends, a healing relationship with her steadfast grandparents, and difficult truths about her mother. In a smartly balanced novel that strikes notes tough and tender, Glory's forthright observational narration renders the child's warm connection with Papaw Jack, appreciation of Gus's innate talents and capacity for empathy, and feelings about showing up for loved ones. Protagonists read as white. Ages 8--12. Agent: Alice Sutherland-Hawes, ASH Literary. (May)
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Review by Horn Book Review
One spring day, twelve-year-old Glory St. Romain comes home from school to an empty house and then answers a knock on the door. It's her drop-in dad, a long-distance truck driver divorced from her mother, who announces that Mom is on vacation. Skeptical, Glory surreptitiously checks his phone and discovers a cryptic message from her mom: "Your turn." Her dad sends her to stay with her maternal grandparents, whom Glory hardly knows and who have little joy in their lives. Wandering around their small Louisiana town on her own, she meets, befriends, and eventually cares for Gus, a big, sloppy, drooling bloodhound, with whom she feels an instant connection because both are "trying to fit into a space that didn't belong to" them. With Gus at her side, she finds a new focus and a space of belonging. Guillory's characters are all on similar journeys, sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously, as each changes habits and expectations. Character development here is subtle but genuine, giving readers an opportunity to predict and evaluate everyone's paths to becoming who they want to be and seeing how they want to fit in. As in her Nowhere Better Than Here (rev. 1/23), Guillory presents a heartwarming account of finding hope in an uncertain future. Betty CarterSeptember/October 2025 p.64 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A bond with a spirited bloodhound helps a girl find the meaning of family. Twelve-year-old Glory St. Romain loves a good mystery, and Sweet Olive, Louisiana, offers plenty. She's spending the summer there with her mom's estranged parents, Nana Pat and Papaw Jack, while her long-haul trucker dad is on the road. Glory's chance encounter with Gus, a huge bloodhound with a personality to match, offers her the companionship she craves as she investigates the mystery of her missing mother, who left without a word. Her phone is out of service, and Glory discovers that her mom was fired from her job months ago. Glory and Gus hone their tracking skills, finding friendship and adventure along the way, as Glory dares to remain hopeful. Gus' physically comedic antics and animated personality bring necessary humor that bookends the gravity of Glory's heartrending family situation. Glory's inquisitiveness and keen observational skills reflect the forced maturity that often results from childhood instability. This element, paired with her wholesome longing for connection, makes her a genuine and affecting narrator. The supporting characters and related subplots are artfully crafted, particularly the meticulous detailing of the physical and emotional complications of Papaw Jack's stroke. The uplifting yet bittersweet conclusion provides added authenticity. Main characters present white. A charming and moving novel that's sure to tug at readers' heartstrings.(Fiction. 9-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
