Governor General's Award finalist Harvey Holds His Own delivers another satisfying story of heart, perseverance, and one incredible little dog, now in a new paperback format.

Harvey, the West Highland Terrier hero of Harvey Comes Home, is back with his beloved Maggie. He is also back at Brayside retirement home, where he and Maggie now volunteer along with their friend Austin. There Maggie is drawn to a new resident, Mrs. Fradette, who tells stories of learning to fix cars as a twelve-year-old during the flood of 1950. Mrs. Fradette, with her bold fashion and love of poker, doesn't fit in among the beige cardigan- wearing, bridge-playing ladies of Brayside, but she doesn't seem to care. Maybe that's why Maggie likes her so much. Since seventh grade began, Maggie hasn't been fitting in well with her friends, either.

Always alert for anything new-and with a nose that never misses a new scent-Harvey follows his instincts on a walk with Austin and discovers an abandoned newborn puppy in a pile of trash. Austin's heart almost breaks over the little puppy's plight, so he takes her to safety. Maggie and the Brayside residents and staff praise Harvey's heroic efforts, wishing that Austin could have his own dog. But the little puppy will need time to recover from her trauma before she can be adopted, and then there's another, even bigger obstacle: Austin's mom, who says no to pets.

As fall edges toward winter, Harvey picks up an unfriendly scent in his backyard, and he will stop at nothing to keep Maggie and the others safe. But sometimes the little Westie is just too brave for his own good.

• 5,000-copy print run
• Pitch to major review media, including Quill & Quire, CM Magazine, The New York Times, The Horn Book Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal
• Targeted marketing to major review centers, influential bloggers, and major library system selectors
• Promotion on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
• E-newsletter promotion
• Classroom reading guide

About the Author
An author and elementary school teacher, Colleen Nelson earned her Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in her hometown of Winnipeg. Her previous novels include the critically acclaimed Harvey Comes Home, Sadia, winner of the 2019 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award, and Blood Brothers, selected as the 2018 McNally Robinson Book of the Year for Young People. Colleen writes daily in between appearances at hockey rinks and soccer fields in support of her two sports-loving sons. A folk artist and award-winning illustrator who trained at the Ontario College of Art and Design, Tara Anderson is known for her lively and humorous illustrations of animals. Her books include the illustrated novels Harvey Comes Home, Harvey Holds His Own, and Sapphire the Great and the Meaning of Life, the holiday picture books Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round and Easter Morning, Easter Sun, and the award-winning Nat the Cat Can Sleep Like That. Tara shares a farmhouse in Tweed, Ontario, with her husband, her young daughter, and several cats.

Reviews

Praise for Harvey Holds His Own

2020 Governor General's Literary Award: Young People's Literature - Text Finalist

2022 OLA Forest of Reading Silver Birch Fiction Award nominee

2020 Northern Lights Book Award: Middle-Grade Historical Fiction Category Winner

2021 High Plains Book Award Finalist

2021 CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens Selection

"With the winning combination of a relatable main character and an adorable dog, this book should find a home with readers seeking a warmhearted tale of growth and connection."-School Library Journal

"Not a common story but eminently believable. Characters...are lovingly developed, resulting in deeply engaging coming-of-age story."-Kirkus Reviews

"Heartwarming...Harvey Holds His Own is a charming novel whose important life lessons are bettered by the love of a good dog."-Foreword Reviews

"With fantastic characters and unique perspectives, Harvey Holds His Own is a middle grade contemporary that will appeal to the preteen audience well. Great for animal lovers and middle schoolers dealing with evolving friendships."-YA Books Central

"Both Harvey Comes Home and Harvey Holds His Own are heartwarming tales that will be much loved by anyone who has ever owned a dog or wanted one....The chapters are also kept short so that even reluctant readers will not find these stories too challenging to read....I highly encourage parents, teachers and librarians to add these two titles to their shelves and hope there will be another story coming soon."-Canadian Children's Book News

"In a gently paced and heartfelt way, Nelson juggles three separate but intersecting story trajectories... Fans of the original and newcomers alike will relish the riveting friendship story contained within the pages of Harvey Holds His Own. Highly Recommended."-CM Magazine

"Harvey is the star: a lovable, brave and resourceful little dog."-Winnipeg Free Press

"Colleen Nelson, with her compassionate heart and love for Westies...gives us a story of a girl, a boy and a dog (or two) that will make readers happy, both entertaining and reassuring them that things can work out well in the end. And while many will be drawn to this middle-grade novel because it is an animal story at its core, there are important messages about courage and perseverance, friendships new and old, and even love."-CanLit for LittleCanadians

"Colleen Nelson's touching and wonderfully layered sequel, Harvey Holds His Own, tells a story of change, connection, and courage....Along with delightful, expertly shaded illustrations by Tara Anderson, Harvey Holds His Own is a heartfelt and wholly enjoyable read that will leave you with the warmest of feelings."-Band of MG Books

"Harvey is a great dog, and his interactions with the residents is very touching. Maggie's friendship with Mrs. Fradette (and Mrs. Fradette's vintage car!) really shine."-Ms. Yingling Reads

"I love how Colleen Nelson tells this story in three different voices....There is such a wonderful cast of characters in this book, especially all of the seniors at Brayside. Colleen Nelson has captured so many different personalities among the residents and has painted seniors in a way to inform young readers about all the knowledge, wisdom and life that can be learned from the older generation....This story will leave the reader feeling all warm and fuzzy inside and secretly hoping for another Harvey tale."-Storytime with Stephanie

"I really enjoyed this book, as we see Maggie grow and venture into new experiences. She shows good character, and we learn a little about Winnipeg history as well."-Canadian Bookworm

"Rating: ...[A] great story! [Harvey Holds His Own] could be read as a stand-alone or as a sequel to Harvey Comes Home."-Jill's Book Blog

Awards
Winner of Northern Lights Book Award: Middle-Grade Historical Fiction Category 2020 (United States). Short-listed for Governor General's Literary Award: Young People's Literature - Text 2020 (Canada) and High Plains Book Awards 2021 (United States) and CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens Selection 2021 (Canada). Nominated for OLA Forest of Reading Silver Birch Fiction Award nominee 2022 (Canada).



Book Information
ISBN 9781772782516
Author Colleen Nelson
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Pajama Press
Publisher Pajama Press
Weight(grams) 270g
Dimensions(mm) 203mm * 140mm * 19mm