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Albert enjoys a cushy life with kind, old Miss Gardner, and with her training he has reached the maximum levels of canine intelligence. But things are not as rosy as they once were in Albert's home. Miss Gardner isn't well, she thinks someone is stealing from her, and Albert sometimes smells an intruder he can never find.

Twelve-year-old Ava Mills lives next door and has a secret crush on the boy who walks Albert for Miss Gardner. Her troubled brother (with a penchant for snakes and firecrackers) causes havoc at Miss Gardner's house, and Ava gets caught in the middle. She wants to protect her brother from their physically abusive father and the police but also protect the old woman and her sweet dog.

When things literally blow up, Albert's world is turned upside down, and he ends up being stranded in a frightening wasteland many miles from his home. Albert will need to toughen up a bit and use his brawn as well as his superior brain if he is to get home safely. And Ava will need to face her own fears-including her fear of confronting her father-if she is to find happy solutions for Albert and her family.

Will Albert succeed? Will Ava? And what will become of poor, old Miss Gardner?

Aside from being a fun read, quite a lot can be learned about dogs from this story, including how they see the world with their special dog vision and other surprising dog capabilities.

Although one of the main characters is a girl, there are two important secondary characters who are boys, and this is an adventure book, not a "girly" book. It is intended for all kids, regardless of gender. The story is written in a kid-friendly but not juvenile, fashion and could be enjoyed by dog-loving teens and adults as well.