| Animals |
| People & Places |
| Europe |
| Dogs |
| Family |
| Social Themes |
| Depression & Mental Illness |
| Juvenile Fiction |
Summary
Summary
The Black Dog of Depression has descended over the adults of Dublin. Uncles are losing their businesses, dads won't get out of bed, mothers no longer smile at their children. Siblings Raymond and Gloria have had enough and set out one night with one goal in mind: to stop the Black Dog, whatever it takes. In a chase through the streets and parks and beaches of Dublin, the children run after the Black Dog, and soon dozens, then hundreds, then thousands of kids join in their fight. They discover they have one weapon against the Black Dog. The weapon is a word: "brilliant."
Illustrated throughout by a bright new talent and told through the masterful dialogue for which the acclaimed Roddy Doyle is known, Brilliant is a very special book with a storybook feel.
Author Notes
Roddy Doyle is the author of five previous novels, including a Booker Prize nominee, The Van, and a Booker Prize winning international bestseller Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. He has also written several screenplays, most recently When Brendan Met Trudy. His first children's book, The Giggler Treatment, will be published in September by Scholastic. He lives in Dublin.
(Publisher Provided)
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5-8-The Black Dog of Depression has arrived in Dublin, bringing with him a sense of despair that seems to affect many of the adults in the city. When the Dog's influence reaches their home, causing their uncle to lose his business, Gloria and Raymond (at the insistence of their eccentric grandmother) begin chasing the Dog through the streets. As more and more children join them on the chase, Raymond and Gloria wonder how they are going to defeat an antagonist that they sometimes can't even see. When they discover an unlikely weapon against the beast, they push back against his influence and discover something simply brilliant. The story itself is incredibly charming and the characters delightful. Readers will relate to Gloria and Raymond and their desire to understand and help the adults in their lives. VERDICT Doyle has crafted a clever and accessible novel that will spark conversation about both economic and emotional depression.-Wayne R. Cherry, Jr., First Baptist Academy Library, Houston, TX © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Saint Patrick may have rid Ireland of snakes, but it takes an army of children to chase off a citywide case of the blues. Expanded from a 2011 short story that Doyle (A Greyhound of a Girl) wrote for the organizers of Dublin's St. Patrick's Day parade, the novel borrows its dominant imagery from Winston Churchill's famous description of depression as a "black dog" on his back. When Raymond and Gloria Kelly hear their granny use the phrase to describe a widespread malaise brought on by high unemployment and a shaky economy, they sneak out in search of the mongrel, intent on retrieving the city's stolen funny bone. In pursuit, throngs of other children whose "da," uncle, or brother are also down in the dumps join the hunt. Some readers may find it disingenuous to suggest that the cure for depression is optimism, but Doyle fills the kids' adventure with fun-farting dogs, rats with attitude, and a variety of talking animals that get the best lines in the book. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8-12. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Expanded from a 2011 short story written in honor of Dublin's St. Patrick's Day festivities, this novel is about kids trying to shake off the "Black Dog" of malaise that has gripped their beloved city. Both an homage to Dublin and a jumping-off point for conversations about economic and emotional depression, the illustrated novel is a little short on plot but long on hope and humor. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
The children of Dublin chase down the Black Dog of depression in order to retrieve the city's funny bone. Doyle's affection for Dublin underlies every moment in this fey, extended chase scene. When Gloria and Raymond's beloved uncle comes to live with them "for a while," they struggle to understand what's wrong. It does seem possible, as their granny says, that the Black Dog has stolen Dublin's funny bone. Setting out to find the Dog, they are joined by others: children whose parents, siblings, uncles, and aunts suffer from depression. They recruit a neighbor who has a job as a vampireErnie's skills of gliding and leaping prove useful in their questand are joined by others. At last, thousands of Dublin's children are on the tail of the Black Dog. Though they are defeated at moments by its fanged word "USELESS" spoken to their hearts, they fight back with another word: brilliant. Though the story is perhaps slightly short on plot, the run through the city is nevertheless uplifting and physical: a tribute to doing rather than waiting. There's not a hint of despair, though sadness, economic disruption, and returns from far-off wars are acknowledged. Instead, there's humor and determination. Talking animals support the childrenespecially charming is the zoo's chatty meerkat Kevin. And there is a deep fondness for Dublin and its iconic landmarks. Hopeful and surprisingly exhilarating. (Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
A recession has caused many adults in Dublin to lose their jobs and their houses, but young Raymond and Gloria enjoy having their uncle come to live with them that is, until he is overwhelmed by depression. Overhearing grown-ups' conversations, they piece together that the Black Dog of Depression has stolen Dublin's funny bone. Courageously, they set out one night to find the dog and put things right. Well cadenced and at times amusing, the writing takes an abrupt turn toward magical realism when the kids find the Black Dog, which sometimes turns into a cloud. As other concerned children join the chase through Dublin, they learn that saying brilliant gives them unexpected power. The striking jacket art will draw readers, while black-and-white illustrations (not seen in final form) appear throughout the book. The tone of the text is occasionally reminiscent of novels written about children rather than for them, but once the chase is on, the pace picks up and the fantasy takes flight. In this inventive chapter book, Doyle handles a dark subject with wit and insight.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2015 Booklist
