Rotten

A gripping tale of a troubled teenager and a rescued Rottweiler, from critically acclaimed author Michael Northrop. J.D. is back in town after spending the summer "upstate." No one believes his cover story about visiting his aunt, and it's pretty clear that he has something to hide. It's also pretty clear that his mom made a new friend while he was away - a rescued Rottweiler that J.D. immediately renames Jonny Rotten (yes, after that guy in the Sex Pistols). Both tough but damaged, J.D. and Jonny Rotten slowly begin to trust each other. But when the Rottweiler bites Miles, one of J.D.'s so-called friends, J.D.'s world turns upside down and the secrets he has tried so hard to keep under wraps start to unravel. A riveting tale of heroism, loyalty, and second chances, this gripping novel will strike a deep, lasting chord with underdogs of all shapes and sizes.

Michael Northrop has written short fiction for WEIRD TALES, the NOTRE DAME REVIEW, and MCSWEENEY'S. His debut novel, GENTLEMEN, earned him a PW Flying Start, and his YA thriller, TRAPPED, was published in 2011 to great acclaim. An editor at SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS for many years, he now writes full-time from his home in New York City. You can visit him online at www.michaelnorthrop.net.