The Underdogs of Upson Downs

Ages 8 to 12, Grades 3 to 7

A heartwarming and hilarious story about a girl and her dog, and of kindness, friendship, hurdles, tunnels, see-saws, and—most importantly—bringing out the best in yourself and others.

Annie Shearer lives in the country town of Upson Downs with her best friend, an adopted stray dog called Runt. The two share a very special bond.

After years evading capture, Runt is remarkably fast and agile, perfect for herding runaway sheep. But when a greedy local landowner puts her family's home at risk, Annie directs Runt's extraordinary talents toward a different pursuit--winning the Agility Course Grand Championship at the lucrative Krumpets Dog Show in London.

However, there is a curious catch: Runt will only obey Annie's commands if nobody else is watching.

With all eyes on them, Annie and Runt must beat the odds--and the fastest dogs in the world--to save her farm.

Story Locale:Country town in Australia

About the Author

Craig Silvey is an author and screenwriter. His bestselling novel Jasper Jones, was a Printz Honor winner, shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Awards and the Miles Franklin Literary Award, and won the Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year Award. His other books include Rhubarb and Honeybee,which won the Australian Indie Book Award in 2021.

Author Residence: Fremantle, Australia

Author Hometown: Fremantle, Australia