“Harvey Holds His Own” includes elements that would appeal to any middle schooler: dogs, friends, school, and family. Maggie enjoys her volunteer work at the local senior living center and makes many new friends there. In the process, she examines her own ideas about friendship qualities. The residents at the center love Harvey her dog, who visits them frequently. Austin is another key character who helps his grandfather Phillip with his work at the center. The residents of the senior center work together to help Maggie, Austin, and Phillip with solving problems in surprising ways.

The story is told in first person, and switches viewpoints among Austin, Maggie, and Harvey. The settings include Maggie’s school, her home, and the senior living center. The appealing characters interact in intriguing and realistic ways, and suspense builds on several fronts throughout the story.
This book should interest middle school readers, as well as gently presenting themes of aging, friendship, grief, and caring. Readers should keep in mind that things are not always as they seem! Although this book is the second in a series, it can be read as a standalone.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )