Carlie Sorosiak Books

Cosmo’s best friend is Max and they are inseparable. When Max feels something, Cosmo feels it too. Max sees his family falling apart and fears they may get separated as a result, so together Max and Cosmo hatch a plan to show everyone they need to be together. The only problem is the plan involves them winning a dance competition and Cosmo has never danced. Oh, and also that Cosmo is a dog.

Sensitively written from the unusual perspective of a dog, Sorosiak charts the journey one family takes as their once unified family falls apart, but shows that even when love changes it can still endure.

Perfect for dog lovers, this appealing story is full of heart. Interspersed with flashbacks and observations, Sorosiak paints a picture of Cosmo’s story – how he came to be with the family, his weaknesses and strengths but above all his unquestionable love and devotion to one little boy. The story may help those whose own families are going through a break up or just provide an interesting perspective to start discussions on how other characters in the book may be feeling at different points in the story.

Perhaps most suited to mature readers in upper KS2 or lower KS3, this book offers great scope for discussions on inference, perspective and prediction. All that said, this book will win your heart and have you up reading past your bedtime as you fall in love with Cosmo and root for him to succeed. If you want to convince someone to get a dog, this might just be the book to do it.

Shadow Fox is a surreal and unusual tale from Carlie Sorosiak, who has become known for animal-themed middle-grade stories that explore deeper human themes like grief, mental health or loneliness.

Told through the eyes of a female fox, the story takes the reader on an adventure through place to a mysterious island. Unbeknownst to the fox, she possesses magical powers which the islanders hope to tap into. Set in the  Great Lakes in Minnesota and their islands, there is a strong sense of place in the detail within this story; the harshness of the environment is tangible.

Like the author’s previous stories, the magical animal character at the centre is the star of the show and in this story, the fox teams up with a young girl called Beatrice, whose nan has disappeared. I liked the quirky details of the fox’s personality; their love for their cuddly toy and their obsession with socks as well as the additional surreal details of the fox’s ability to conjure up miniature foxes, bean tins and other random objects.

The dream-like action and twists and turns make this story suitable for mature readers who can handle a more challenging narrative structure and are able to suspend their disbelief and run with the story. The fox embodies the magical power of the wilderness and the need to protect nature. The environmental messages behind the narrative aim to raise awareness regarding the fragility of natural resources.