Finding Lost
by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Intermediate, Middle School    Rocky Pond/Penguin    208 pp.
10/25    9780593530252    $17.99

Middle schooler Cordy and her family are still adjusting to life without her father. Ever since “The Accident,” Cordy hasn’t been able to set foot in the ocean. This is an ever-present challenge, as she and her mother and younger brother live in coastal Oregon. Their home is a drafty old boathouse on the edge of a wealthier family’s summer property, and Mom works long hours at a local restaurant to make ends meet. Grief is the family’s constant companion, so they’re each surprised when healing arrives by way of a small, stinky stray dog. Soon named “Lost,” the pup quickly steals everyone’s heart. When a trip to the humane society reveals that Lost needs expensive dental surgery, Cordy worries they won’t be able to afford it. Luckily, a veterinarian offers to do the surgery free of charge. This act of kindness becomes complicated for Cordy, though, as the veterinarian and her mom show signs of a romantic connection. The story is narrated in the first person, allowing readers to join Cordy on her journey of transformation and healing from the inside out. The protagonist and her family are recipients (and providers) of many small kindnesses throughout the story, highlighting the strength found in community. A fitting tale for animal lovers and those who are resistant to change.

From the November/December 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.