Dingo (edition 2008)

Despite an interesting concept, I had a few problems with this one. First, there were some phrases that no teenager has ever, and I’m including myself the Queen of British and Old-fashioned Slang in this, used. Example: Miguel describes himself as having “a dark cast to my complexion”. I understand that it can be hard to come up with non-cliched, non-offensive ways to describe a character with a different skin tone, but seriously? Also, it felt like the story moved too fast. [May 2010] ( )

Miguel is working in his dad's comic book/record store one afternoon when a girl he doesn't know wonders in. Lainey is beautiful, with a sense of humor, intelligence, an Australian accent, red-gold hair, and a matching dog--excuse me, dingo. The two hit it off immediately, but weird things start to happen--and it all seems to center around the dingo.

I love, love, love Charles de Lint's books. I'm just starting to wish that he would get away from writing young adult books. They're probably a good introduction to this wonderful author for young fantasy fans, but I know de Lint can write stuff that is so much better. There's not really anything technically wrong with this. If I were a 14-year-old girl, I would probably adore it. But I'm not 14 anymore (thank goodness!) and I'm really missing the Charles de Lint characters I fell in love with a long time ago.

If you're a fan of Charles de Lint, go ahead and read this. You might even want to buy it for any young fans of fantasy you know. But please don't start with this one if you're an adult wanting to see what Charles de Lint is all about. Start with Someplace to be Flying or The Onion Girl instead. ( )

This was a YA title, so it was shorter and less complex than most of the other books of de Lint's that I've read. But it was a nice quick read. Just because of the length, I think, the characters mostly felt a bit flat. ( )

Here is a quick read for those of you who like modern fantasy. A true love story about a boy and his Dingo. Loved every page and took the entire book in a single bite. ( )

Miguel falls hard for a new girl in town, but her dog doesn't seem to like him. It turns out that the dog is actually a dingo and the twin of the girl, and both are shape shifters. They are fleeing from the big dingo and need Miguel's help as well as that of his bully nemesis. ( )