Dogchild – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Dogchild

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2018

70%

WISE Score

Tarzan in a dumpster-fire future where the dogs have more integrity than the people.

Dogchild

book

2018

70%

WISE Score

Tarzan in a dumpster-fire future where the dogs have more integrity than the people.

Jump to

Where to Read

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Libby

Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)

Screenwise Verdict

Kevin Brooks doesn't do 'happy-go-lucky.' Dogchild is a punch to the gut that replaces the typical dystopian romance with a gritty, dirt-under-the-fingernails story about a boy who finds more humanity in a pack of dogs than in his own species.

It is exceptionally well-written but undeniably dark. If your kid is sensitive to animal peril or prefers their post-apocalypse with a side of hope, skip this. But if they want a book that actually challenges them and feels 'real' despite the setting, this is a heavy-hitter.

Age Fit

This is strictly for the 14+ crowd. It's too grim for middle schoolers, but for older teens who liked 'The Road' or 'Lord of the Flies,' it's a gripping read.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The core bond between the protagonist and his dog pack is deeply moving, but the surrounding world is bleak, cruel, and emotionally heavy. It's the opposite of 'light reading.'

Imaginative

Kevin Brooks is a master of visceral, sensory storytelling. Seeing a post-apocalyptic world through the instincts and 'smell-logic' of a feral boy is a standout creative choice.

Safe

This is a hard-edged YA novel. It contains significant violence, animal death, and 'unsettling' themes that would be a shock for younger readers or sensitive teens.

Enriching

It forces a real confrontation with the concept of 'humanity.' It’s an ethical workout that asks if civilization is just a mask for something much uglier.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

A raw, unsentimental look at survival that avoids the usual YA 'chosen one' clichés.
The dog-pack dynamics are written with incredible sensory detail—you can practically smell the world.
It doesn't talk down to teens; it assumes they can handle complex, dark ethical questions.
The protagonist, Jeet, is a fascinating study in hybrid identity.

⚠

What to Watch For

Brutal violence involving both humans and animals that might be a dealbreaker for some.
A pervasive sense of hopelessness and nihilism common in Kevin Brooks' work.
Specific scenes of physical trauma and the harsh reality of life on the streets.

Conversation Starters

"Why does Jeet feel more 'human' when he's with the dogs than when he's with people?"
"If everything we know as 'society' disappeared, would we act more like the dogs or the people in this book?"
"Can you be a good person while doing bad things to survive?"
"What does the book suggest about the way we treat animals versus the way we treat 'outsider' humans?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Writing about Dogchild? Put this WISE score on your site