Good Boy
The bond between a boy and his dog is a special one that can last a lifetime. Building that tender relationship, however, takes 
considerable time and effort as demonstrated in Andy Hirsch’s (Science Comics series from First Second) Good Boy, a story of how one high-strung boy and his unpredictable dog learn to connect with each other and nurture a remarkable friendship.
Charlie is a middle grader who, when pressured into stressful situations, switches into panic mode and ends up barfing. This occurs right before a camping trip when he prepares to board the school bus. He stresses over packing only one toothbrush, which then explodes into a flurry of thoughts that sends him back home where he finds refuge under a blanket on the couch. To his surprise, his mom brings home a rescue dog named Ralph. Eager to befriend his new playmate, Charlie approaches Ralph only to be greeted with a ferocious growl. Slowly but surely, Ralph grows to trust Charlie and thus begins a budding relationship between the two. When Ralph unwittingly follows Charlie to school one day, the principal’s assistant suggests that Charlie teach him agility training lessons.
The two launch into a series of rigorous athletic trainings: From leaping through hoops and over hurdles, darting through tunnels, balancing on see-saws, and scaling up and down inclined ramps, Charlie and Ralph develop a bond built from mutual trust, patience, and calculated timing while fostering a social emotional connection that undergirds their relationship. Shaded panels and thought bubbles bombard Charlie during sudden episodes of social anxiety, balanced out by an expressive range of emotions and reactions from Ralph. At the heart of this endearing relationship lies a story of pushing through playful antics and obstacles that test the dynamics and gamut of their friendship.
Most poignant are the interpersonal subtleties that arise and evolve between the two as they navigate on a road paved with numerous obstacles—a partnership cultivated from the virtues of trust, patience, respect, and ultimately deep understanding of each other. A delightfully amusing addition to middle grade graphic novel collections, one that explores the psychology of pet ownership, Good Boy excels in capturing the struggles and mishaps of coping with social anxiety, mastering the art of pet training, building trust, and persevering through all the obstacles along for the ride.
Good Boy
By Andy Hirsch
Macmillan First Second, 2025
ISBN: 9781250291950
Company Age Rating:Â 8-12
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11)
