The ironic part of this book was that I picked it up to read at the same time as the previous one listed (War is Over) and they BOTH have character's named McTavish. I suppose that doesn't seem that unusual based on where they are centered, but for my own reading, that name doesn't come up too often, and even in this situation, they are at very different ends of the spectrum. Just goes to show you the name does not make the person. Anywho...the McTavish here is a dog and he's GONE WILD, or so the title says, but the wild he goes is in order to get the family back on the same page. It's a creative way to handle things, but it works because they band together and stop their squabbling (eventually) to track him down. Perhaps we all need a McTavish in our lives to make us slow down and appreciate what's right in front of us.


**ARC received for review; opinions are my own ( )

In this second book about McTavish the dog is excited because he is going on a camping trip with his humans. It is summer and Betty Peachey thinks camping is the best place to enjoy summer vacation. McTavish must find a way to make this a happy camping trip before most of the family decides to throw in the towel and head for home. I would recommend this for any collection owning the first title in the series. It is a great chapter book for children just getting into chapter books as well as reluctant readers. It is a fast read and great for anyone who enjoys animal stories. ( )

This is a great read about a dog and his family. The story is about how McTavish ensures that his family has a great time on their camping trip. The story is whimsical and the illustrations nicely compliment the story. This is a nice easy read for children except for the names of the philosophers that sister enjoys reading. ( )

McTavish: rescued dog or rescue dog? This is a cute story about a family who choose to go camping for their summer holidays. Although Pa Peachey's concerns about lions, malaria and the like are ridiculous, I can imagine young readers hooting with laughter at their silliness. When McTavish thinks the family are not enjoying their camping trip he rescues the situation in doggie fashion. This is a nice transition from picture books to illustrated chapter books for 7-9 year olds. ( )

The book contains a strong premise—the wild, yet calculated, antics of a family’s dog bring them together. I liked the main character of McTavish. He is a rescue dog who is sees it as his duty to rescue this family. The other characters worked to create the disorder of the family. The father, Pa Peachey, created humor with his outrageous and irrational fears about what could go wrong during their camping trip. The sister Ava focused her time on reading philosophy. The brother Ollie worried about sleep and going to dances. They are contrasted by the more rational mother, Ma Peachey, and sister Betty. The book works at times, especially with humor as the author details some of the survival items brought by Pa.

I would have given this book more stars, but as a book for young readers, I found the language inconsistent. For example, Ava talks about philosophers without any context, and the word choice would confuse and frustrate young readers: “I think I’ll just stay home,’ Ava said, ‘and begin my study of Immanuel Kant. I know lamentably little about metaphysics,’” or the fact that she “…contemplated the ontological enormity of the universe.”

The other piece that made with withhold stars was what I perceived as a hole in the plot. The climax of the story is framed around McTavish wanting the family to enjoy the mountain. Since some of the family already has been enjoying it, McTavish's purpose and ensuing string of events don't seem as necessary. ( )