Marley: A Dog Like No Other (Movie Tie-In Edition) »

After Philadelphia Inquirer columnist John Grogan wrote a tribute to his beloved pet of twelve years, the overwhelming response of readers prompted him to write the full story of Marley's colorful life. Grogan's heartfelt ode to the canine member of his family has become one of the most talked-about memoirs of the season.

With an appetite for nearly anything he can get his mouth around, including couches and fine jewelry, Marley is always getting into trouble. But to his family, he is a dog like no other. In this adaptation of his #1 New York Times bestselling Marley & Me, John Grogan brings the Labrador retriever's heartwarming antics to life—and shows how one big, rambunctious dog can teach a family what really matters in life.

Children's Literature

Grogan's Marley & Me was an international best-seller; here, Grogan provides an "adaptation" of the original for middle-grade readers. The result is a delightful, accessible ode to "the world's worst dog." Marley eats paper towels, wine corks, and chess pieces. He loves to race after a thrown stick but refuses to bring it back. He is kicked out of obedience school. He pukes and poops amazing volumes, always preferring to deposit his offerings on the fancy rug. He all but destroys the house during thunderstorms. Even Grogan's wife at one point declares, "I want him gone. I want him out of here for good." But Marley reforms enough to be allowed to stay, gets the part of "a big, dumb, loopy dog" in a film, and falls in love with snow after the family moves from Florida to (as one Grogan child calls it) "the land of pencils," a.k.a. Pennsylvania. Finally, heartbreakingly, Marley grows old and infirm, and the Grogan family has to say its wrenching good-byes. While young readers might miss having a child protagonist with whom to identify, Marley is lovable enough to make up for the lack. Grogan's latest version of his memoir should find its way into the hands and hearts of all kids who love, have loved or will love a dog. This paperback tie-in edition to the "major motion picture" includes color photos of "the real dog who inspired the movie"—or, should we say, the real dog who inspired the real book that inspired the movie? Reviewer: Claudia Mills, Ph.D.