About This Book
Reach for this book when your teenager is feeling misunderstood, defensive, or is struggling to overcome a past mistake. JD returns from a mysterious stint upstate to a town that views him as a lost cause. When his mother adopts a battered, aggressive Rottweiler, JD sees a reflection of his own reputation in the dog he names Johnny Rotten. Together, they embark on a journey of mutual rehabilitation that explores what it truly means to be a good person when the world has already labeled you as bad. It is a poignant, gritty, yet accessible story about the redemptive power of the human animal bond. Parents will appreciate how the book models accountability and the slow, difficult process of rebuilding trust. It is particularly effective for teens who feel like they are constantly under surveillance or unfairly judged by authority figures.
