Chester and Gus

Written by Cammie McGovern

Narrated by Mark Sanderlin

Critically acclaimed author Cammie McGovern presents a heartwarming and humorous middle grade novel about the remarkable bond that forms between an aspiring service dog and an autistic boy in need of a friend. “Joyful, inspiring, and completely winning, Chester and Gus is unforgettable,” proclaimed Katherine Applegate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Newbery Medal winner The One and Only Ivan.

Chester has always wanted to become a service dog. When he fails his certification test, though, it seems like that dream will never come true—until a family adopts him. They want him to be a companion for their ten-year-old son, Gus, who has autism. But Gus acts so differently than anyone Chester has ever met. He never wants to pet Chester, and sometimes he doesn’t even want Chester in the room. Chester’s not sure how to help Gus since this isn’t exactly the job he trained for—but he’s determined to figure it out. Because after all, Gus is now his person.

In the spirit of beloved classics like Because of Winn-Dixie, Shiloh, and Old Yeller, Cammie McGovern’s heartfelt novel—told from Chester’s point of view—explores the extraordinary friendship between a child and a dog with a poignant and modern twist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Sep 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9780063114869

Cammie McGovern

Cammie McGovern is the author of Say What You Will as well as the adult novels Neighborhood Watch, Eye Contact, and The Art of Seeing. Cammie is also one of the founders of Whole Children, a resource center that runs after-school classes and programs for children with special needs. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her husband and three children.

Reviews for Chester and Gus

[Stacy Melton Bennett · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amazing story with heartfelt and emotional actions. Fun to listen to!

[corey Payton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this so much and so did my 7 year old granddaughter! I Highly recommend!

[jennybeast · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Quick read. Dog point of view. Kind cool in that it's one of the first books I've read with a severely autistic and non verbal child in it. Pretty cool.

[judyg54 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a delightful children's story of Chester the wanna-be service dog, and his owner, a ten-year-old boy who has autism, named Gus. The story is written by Chester the dog and I thoroughly loved the way the author wrote this story. I felt like Chester was really thinking the things written about him and came to love the dog and kept cheering him on. At the same time I got to see a little of what goes on inside a child with autism, and was so glad Gus had a friend like Chester. It was a very heartwarming story, even for an adult.