• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Fourteen-year-old Simone is having trouble making friends at her new school when her leadership studies class is paired with kindergarten students to mentor throughout the school year.

To her surprise, Simone enjoys the Kinderbuddy Project, and she develops a special friendship with her Kinderbuddy, Lily. But as the bond between Simone and her Kinderbuddy grows, she realizes that a crisis is looming in Lily's family. Simone calls upon Aaron, the reluctant heartthrob of the class, for help, and they become key witnesses to events neither of them could have predicted.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

Karen Spafford-Fitz grew up in an old limestone farmhouse near Kingston, Ontario where her early training as a writer involved reading thousands of books. In fact, it was impossible to walk across her bedroom without stubbing a toe on Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Trixie Belden, and her father's old Lone Ranger books.

Eager to read more, Karen studied English Language and Literature at Queen's University. She followed that up with a degree in Education and went on to teach elementary and junior high students for eight years. Two daughters and a move across the country later, Karen began creating her own stories for children and teenagers. Dog Walker is her first middle-grade novel.

When Karen is not writing in her Edmonton studio, she is often running with her rambunctious German shepherd, who helps Karen train for her next half marathon. Karen also enjoys speaking to students about the inspiration for her stories, the creative process and the writing life.

Karen Spafford-Fitz's profile page

• Commended, Resource Links, The Year's Best Books
• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

"Teens will identify with Simone’s attempts to make new friends in the unfriendly environment of middle school...Younger readers will enjoy the slight mystery, and the rapid narrative will engage reluctant readers."

Booklist

"A fast-paced book that tackles a hard issue in a surprisingly minimal amount of pages. The dialogue adds to the storyline and helps to make the characters endearing...A great story for reluctant readers."

Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group (SOYAMRG)

"A reluctant reader book that should be in libraries."

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

"Spafford-Fitz weaves the subplots together effortlessly to create a rich reading experience."

VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) Magazine

"Spafford-Fitz successfully builds the mood as she gradually reveals more about Lily's family."

School Library Journal (SLJ)