CRUSOE AND THE STONE GARDENER

In Brushett’s YA fantasy, Crusoe the dog encounters an ancient evil in a Nova Scotian public park.

In Nova Scotia, a lonely dog named Crusoe encounters some magic in a park called Dartmouth Commons, where he has been living. Crusoe is a mid-20th-century dog; the magic is an ancient evil—referred to by the elves who inhabit the Commons as Thaur Halda—that has been slowly destroying the park and influencing the people in it. One day, Crusoe meets Elena, a young elf. Reading Crusoe’s thoughts, Elena experiences Crusoe’s life leading him to his present circumstances in the Commons. Crusoe’s first home after leaving his mother was with Boy and his family, who lived near the park. Crusoe and Boy were inseparable and spent a lot of time in the Commons until Boy became infected by Thaur Halda. Crusoe then ended up with Tommy, a local criminal, for a while before losing him, too, leaving the dog hesitant to get close to anyone else. Elena and her family manage to gain his trust, and they explain the backstory of the “Shadowed Abomination” to him as they ask him to help protect the volunteer gardener, Leighton “Joe” Dillman, from Thaur Halda’s evil influence as Joe works to restore the Commons. Brushett describes Nova Scotia with lush details invoking all of the senses: “The rigging tinkled a bright, clear melody as she danced on the harbour swell, and her hardware and brightwork gleamed in the morning sun.” While beautiful and well-written, the story may be a bit much for some younger readers; however, the action sequences (especially the climax) are written with exciting, kinetic language that will hold interest. The mythology of the elves and the Commons is compellingly detailed and engaging. Readers will find Crusoe an easy protagonist to root for as he learns about himself and finds his way to a loving family.

A touching adventure with rich mythology and immersive descriptions.