Chester and Gus

Name: Chester and Gus
Brand: Harper Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: Cammie McGovern
ISBN: 9780063114869

Author: Cammie McGovern

Narrator: Mark Sanderlin

Unabridged: 4 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 09/07/2021

Categories: Children's Fiction, Animal Stories, Children's Social Themes

Synopsis

Critically acclaimed author Cammie McGovern presents a heartwarming and humorous middle grade novel about the remarkable bond that forms between an aspiring service dog and an autistic boy in need of a friend. “Joyful, inspiring, and completely winning, Chester and Gus is unforgettable,” proclaimed Katherine Applegate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Newbery Medal winner The One and Only Ivan.Chester has always wanted to become a service dog. When he fails his certification test, though, it seems like that dream will never come true—until a family adopts him. They want him to be a companion for their ten-year-old son, Gus, who has autism. But Gus acts so differently than anyone Chester has ever met. He never wants to pet Chester, and sometimes he doesn’t even want Chester in the room. Chester’s not sure how to help Gus since this isn’t exactly the job he trained for—but he’s determined to figure it out. Because after all, Gus is now his person.

In the spirit of beloved classics like Because of Winn-Dixie, Shiloh, and Old Yeller, Cammie McGovern’s heartfelt novel—told from Chester’s point of view—explores the extraordinary friendship between a child and a dog with a poignant and modern twist.

About Cammie McGovern

Cammie McGovern is the author of Say What You Will as well as the adult novels Neighborhood Watch, Eye Contact, and The Art of Seeing. Cammie is also one of the founders of Whole Children, a resource center that runs after-school classes and programs for children with special needs. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her husband and three children.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Darla on November 16, 2021

We can just sit near each other and listen to our thoughts. Some of them are mine and some of them are his. That's how it works when you find your person. Gus has a wonderful story to tell. He is trained to be a service dog, but when unable to remain calm during loud noises he is pulled out of traini......more

Goodreads review by Ami on December 24, 2016

From E.C.Polonsky., age 8 This is my favorite book so far. Chester and Gus is about a service dog that goes through training but does not succeed. Then he meets his person and his name is Gus. Gus has autism. Chester and Gus are at first scared of each other but when Chester settles in they start to t......more

Goodreads review by Bekka on January 06, 2017

Thanks to Harper Collins and Edelweiss for early access to this book. EXCELLENT story! Very true to life. The story line is compelling and very hard to put down. I had to read to the end to find out what happened. The characters are so alive and realistic, I became very invested in the outcome of the......more

Goodreads review by Craig on April 08, 2017

Based on an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) of the book.... What would you do if you realized that the one thing, the singular purpose of your life, was to help someone else, one particular person, and it wasn't at all clear how to do that? In this book we meet Chester, a very smart dog who flunked out of......more

Goodreads review by Margaret Boling on March 03, 2020

3/20/2017 ** You know it's a good book when you wake up at three in the morning with the narrator talking in your head and heart. Chester, an unlicensed service dog, completely won me over. He sees so clearly what Gus needs - Gus who is autistic, who's started having seizures, and who has secrets at......more