Twelve year old, Julian, ends up in trouble at school again.  Despite his efforts, his dyslexia comes across to his teachers and principal as apathy for school work.  In a deal made with the principal, Julian finds himself volunteering at a local animal shelter instead of detention one day and falls in love with Star, a dog who is deaf.  Much of the story follows the unfolding of a special relationship between a boy and a dog, but also, another unlikely friendship with a peer he connected with while working at the shelter.  Bryan also has dyslexia and happens to be the principal’s son!  While a bit long and dragging through the middle, this is a truly delightful story of friendship and adventure as the boys sneak off with Star – searching for buried treasure in hopes of saving the shelter that is suddenly about to lose their funding. This is my kind of story, with a happy ending where everyone wins!