Turk needs cash, but he's allergic to his own sweat, so getting a job is out of the question.

Then Turk makes an important discovery: Girls love dogs. And Turk's friends will do anything to meet girls. So Turk starts a dog walking business. His friends walk the dogs and Turk collects half the money. In an attempt to impress dog-loving Carly, Turk brags about his business in front of the school tough guy, Chuck. But when Chuck learns the true nature of the business and wants in on the action, Turk risks losing his business and, more important, Carly's respect.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Karen Spafford-Fitz grew up in an old limestone farmhouse near Kingston, Ontario where her early training as a writer involved reading thousands of books. In fact, it was impossible to walk across her bedroom without stubbing a toe on Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Trixie Belden, and her father's old Lone Ranger books.

Eager to read more, Karen studied English Language and Literature at Queen's University. She followed that up with a degree in Education and went on to teach elementary and junior high students for eight years. Two daughters and a move across the country later, Karen began creating her own stories for children and teenagers. Dog Walker is her first middle-grade novel.

When Karen is not writing in her Edmonton studio, she is often running with her rambunctious German shepherd, who helps Karen train for her next half marathon. Karen also enjoys speaking to students about the inspiration for her stories, the creative process and the writing life.

Karen Spafford-Fitz's profile page

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• Commended, Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Our Choice
• Commended, Resource Links, The Year's Best Books

"A quick read with believable characters. Recommended for reluctant readers."

KLIATT

"An amusing and clever book. Excellent."

Resource Links

"While this fast-paced, dialogue-filled romp is a delight for all dog lovers, any reader will enjoy Turk's quick-thinking solution that has him racing to keep the girl and the dog."

Blogcritics.org

"A good choice for any reluctant reader...A fun and interesting story."

The Washington State Young Adult Review Group (WASHYARG)

"A fun read...This book should appeal to both boys and girls. Recommended."

Canadian Book Review Annual

"Easy to present to reluctant readers."

VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) Magazine