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Where's Burgess

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Where's Burgess
Written by Laurie Elmquist
Illustrated by David Parkins
Orca Book Publishers, 2018. Intermediate, p. 80. 

Although "Where's Burgess?" offers readers a realistic, straightforward story, it has hidden depths. In this emotional tale, a young boy named Reece loses his pet frog Burgess. He first found Burgess when camping with his dad, and the association of his father with the frog is part of what causes such a strong connection to his pet, and what makes it difficult for him to come to terms with potentially never seeing his frog again. 

Side stories weave in and out of the main story, including a new friend for Reece, and the ups and downs of his own family life. Elmquist works all the stories together so that at the end, we see all that Reece has learned, and how these stories connect to help him cope with the changes in his life. Although none of these plots are particularly complex, their simplicity is what makes them so significant. No explosions happen, no dragons appear. "Where's Burgess?" is a realistic portrayal of a kid whose life is changing without his permission, and it will resonate with anybody who has ever dealt with similar problems. 

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