DISCLAIMER: I received a review copy of Digger and Me from the publisher via NetGalley UK in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author Ros Roberts and to the publisher Little Tiger Press for the opportunity to review this title.

WARNING: This review contains spoilers; please read on only if comfortable with this.

Dogs have been one of my favourite animals for as long as I can remember (don’t tell my cat!). At age 14, I was blessed with my first doggy companion in the form of Casper, my family’s golden retriever. Now 12 years old himself, he has been with us through various major life events, including my graduations from high school, sixth form and university, my moves from Leeds to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to Farnham, and the death of my brother, who passed away in August 2023. He has been my Mum’s constant companion ever since I moved out of my parents’ house, and I always miss him terribly, living so far away. As such, when I first caught sight of the cover of Digger and Me, I was immediately drawn in by the cute, retriever-like dog looking inquisitively down at the book’s title on it. With its fluffy tail and red collar, it reminded me strongly of Casper back home – though I perhaps wasn’t prepared for just how much I would connect with and relate to the story itself after reading!

Digger and Me tells the story of 11-year-old James and his trusty canine companion Digger, who navigate through James’ last few months of primary school together. James’ parents have split up, and each now have new partners, which he prominently struggles to come to terms with. Due to their co-parenting arrangement, he frequently travels between and stays at each of their households with Digger, and finds himself regularly clashing with both his father’s new girlfriend Kathy and his mother’s new boyfriend Dave. His school life is equally inconsistent; his class has had three different teachers throughout the year, with the latest – Mr Froggatt – having arrived just as the story begins. Prior to the events of the book, James also experiences a significant loss with the death of his much-loved Uncle Bobby, who passes away from cancer at quite a young age.

All in all, James’ life is packed full of turbulence and change. Throughout this chaos, Digger is a constant presence and comfort for him, and acts as both his closest friend and ally throughout everything he goes through. This close bond means that – when James finds a lump on one of Digger’s legs one evening – what little stability he has in his life gets called into question, and it is a thoroughly terrifying prospect for him that Digger’s life may potentially be in danger. As the events of Digger and Me unfold, we see the impact of this discovery, the heartwarming nature of the friendship between James and Digger, and follow James as he navigates through a particularly challenging and formative period of his life.

I really enjoyed the story of Digger and Me. Though short, it was well-constructed, and pulled at my heartstrings on several occasions. Each chapter represented a day or defined time period, and these progressed in chronological order until James’ final year of primary school was complete. This made it easy for me to connect with James, and feel as if I was right there alongside him on his journey to navigate these difficult times at school and at home. His encounters with difficult family members, school bullies, teachers and close friends resonated with me, and made me realise just how universal many childrens’ experiences are. I loved the presentation of James’ relationship with Digger and how that acted as a safe space for him; I felt a similar connection to Casper when we first got him, and since then my Mum has also built a close relationship with him. After all – pets are family, and they are incredible at offering support and love right when you need it most.

As mentioned above, I felt a deeper connection with the story than perhaps I expected to due to the similarities between my experiences and James’ – at least in terms of our pets. A few years ago, my Mum rang me to let me know that a lump had been found near Casper’s tail, and that he was going to have it surgically removed. I worried anxiously that it would be something sinister, and that due to his age he might not even wake up from the anaesthetic, but thankfully it all turned out to be benign and he was back begging for food under our kitchen counter like nothing had happened. Then, earlier this year, I discovered a lump on my cat’s belly, and made the difficult decision to immediately have it surgically removed as well. I feared – just as James did – that it could be the dreaded C-word, especially due to its placement near her breast. Thankfully, in my cat’s case, it was confirmed to be a cyst, but I spent weeks agonising over what it could be and whether it was a danger. When your pet is sick, it is an emotional, anxiety-inducing period of waiting to find out what is wrong with them, and as such I related heavily to James in this regard.

In general, James as a character is easy to relate to and enjoyable to read about. While he does have moments of acting out in frustration or stubbornness, the reasons for these are easy to identify, and you can understand why he acts out in the face of so much uncertainty. He is written as a well-meaning, studious and respectful child overall, and as such is a good role model for child readers to encounter. His friendship with Tomaz is particularly amazing to see; it shows how two boys can support and motivate one another, and how a solid friendship can help to keep a person grounded. By making James’ best friend a character from another country and culture, Roberts also provides a subtle but effective example of acceptance and tolerance in children. Tomaz speaking his native language with his mother or their provision of foreign snacks is never presented as strange or unwelcome; it just happens, and I really loved that.

The other named schoolchildren in James’ class are equally well-characterised. Philip, for instance, is the typical school rebel and bully, while India is an exciteable, enthusiastic girl who loves to engage academically, despite having experienced her own moments of loss and tragedy. As the story unfolds – and often with the help of new teacher Mr Froggatt – each of them undergoes some kind of meaningful character development, and this is impressive considering how short the book is. Philip in particular goes from being completely disconnected and rebellious to demonstrating moments of compassion and empathy, such as returning James’ stolen bicycle helmet to him and sketching a portrait for Mr Froggatt as a goodbye gift at the end of the year. This, I think, is particularly significant, as it demonstrates a person’s capacity for change even when it seems like they may be stuck in their ways.

The final characters I’d like to highlight are James’ parents, Dave, and – most of all – Mr Froggatt. It is difficult when two people go through a separation or break-up, and I appreciated that, in Digger and Me, there were equal moments of success and hardship shown. While the two parents have amicably agreed to co-parent, there are still difficult times to navigate and frustrating discussions that need to be had, and I think in this book, there was an incredibly realistic depiction of what that can be like for all involved. Regarding Dave, in the end, his character was proven to be good and caring; his selfless dedication to funding Digger’s treatments through picking up a second job is a lesson to never judge a person before getting to know them.

Finally, I adored the depiction of Mr Froggatt and his positive, creative approach to teaching. He is an example of how gentle approaches with children can be incredibly effective and transformative. By giving the children the opportunity to be open and vulnerable in the form of writing poetry, they were given agency to communicate in new ways – not only with their teacher but with each other. The incident with Miss Brown while Mr Froggatt was sick served to highlight how boundaries and autonomy are just as important for children as adults, and I felt the same discomfort reading about the incident as I imagine the children would have felt going through it. The childrens’ creation of poetry felt like a truly powerful narrative device as a result.

Roberts’ writing throughout Digger and Me felt engaging and effortless. I didn’t expect to finish the book in one sitting when I started it – but I did! It drew me in, held my attention, and a few hours later, it was all over. The creative presentation of James’ written poems on the page was a nice touch, and I liked that they were often mixed in with ongoing events as a means to describe or drive them. The last poem about Digger felt like a great way to round off the book, and gave a real sense of closure. This said, I did feel that there were some questions left unanswered – perhaps purposefully. Did James’ father and Kathy work things out? Did Digger live a long and happy life, and avoid any recurrences of his cancer? Did James’ mother ever notice that he unjammed the fence board, and if she did, did she leave it as he wanted it, in memory of Uncle Bobby? Unless there is a sequel – which I don’t predict – I suppose we will never know, though we can remain optimistic, and hope for the best. My only small gripe was with the formatting of dialogue; it felt a little inconsistent, as some pieces were on standalone lines while others were embedded in text. This made it a little difficult to read at points, but it also may just be due to how the .PDF I received was formatted.

In summary, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Digger and Me, and would highly recommend it for its target audience of children aged 8-12. Confident readers of a slightly younger age may also be able to enjoy it, as well as adults like myself. It is a heartwarming story of a boy and his dog, as well as a story about life’s challenges and how to navigate them. If you are an animal lover, or simply enjoy down-to-earth, contemporary stories, then Digger and Me is for you.

A story that will definitely make you sniffle in many places. A young boy and his dog, best friends and confidants. He's not sure how to get along with his Mom and Dad, but as long as he has Digger.......then he finds a lump on Digger's leg and you better have tissues.

Exciting book to read. I got this one to read to my son. He absolutely loved it. The plot as fantastic. It was very well written

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful middle grade following a young boy and his love for his dog. This boy lives through many things many of us did when we were young and it's very well represented!

Solid middle of the road book! Would recommend for a nice, easy read :)

I enjoyed this story about a boy and his relationship with his dog, his parents and his parents’ new partners. Lots of likeable characters - I particularly liked Mr Froggart. Sad in places and funny in others. I would’ve liked another chapter or two, but enjoyed it all the same. I will definitely look out for more by this author and look forward to reading this one with my class at school.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the eARC of this book.

James life is far from perfect since his mum & dad split up & he has to divide his time between them. It would be far worse though if he didn’t have Digger, his dog. When he gets a new teacher at school, Mr Foggart, he starts to look at what is important to him through the poetry books Mr Foggart encourages them to write. He realises that “home is where your dog is” but has to grapple with the fact that he could lose Digger when he discovers a lump on his leg. As they struggle to cope with Digger’s treatment James comes to realise that he has a lot to learn about the people around him. Families come in all shapes & sizes but it is the care & support that they give you that is important.

Digger and Me is a touching story all about one boy and the love he has for his beloved dog, Digger. This is a story that I knew, even before going into it, was going to pull on my heartstrings. My hunch was right, and I did find myself becoming rather emotional throughout my time reading it.

The story itself is fast paced and easy to follow and I found myself absorbed into this beautiful story. This book touches on the issue of divorce, an issue that many children have been in the middle of. We see James as he struggles to adjust to this big change in his life. Digger, his dog is the only thing that is bringing him solace in this confusing time. When he discovers that Digger has a lump on his leg, you can feel the several emotions James is feeling at the thought of potentially loosing his best friend. The relationship between a pet and their owner is one of pure love, and we see how much James dotes on Digger and how much he really does care for him. It’s heartwarming to read about, and does show you how having a pet is a joy, and a support to many.

Digger and Me was a moving read full of heart and soul. This story will most certainly resonate with many children and adults alike, especially if you have that special bond with a pet. The way the story is told with sensitivity and love definitely makes it one to look out for.

For middle grade children this is book to help them process divorce, James is really struggling with all the changes and the only thing that helps is Digger his beloved dog. One day he finds a lump on Digger's leg and terrified it will mean that Digger has cancer and will die like his uncle Billy, his worry often comes out as grumpiness. the book is well written, with engaging characters. The new teacher Mr Froggat was particularly good encouraging the children to write poems which not only helps James but also his classmate who's baby sister died. A good story told well.

With thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Who can resist a book where a dog heavily features? Certainly not me! It’s true that they’re often haunted by tragedy and I was worried about that at certain points but as a middle-grade novel, I felt sure that this one would end on a wonderfully heartwarming note.

Since his parents split up, James spends his time going between both his mum and dad’s houses. One thing is constant though -his beloved dog Digger, who goes wherever James goes. But then James finds a lump on Digger’s leg and life suddenly feels even harder.

James’ parents don’t do a very good job of hiding their dramas from him and I found this really frustrating. James’ dad’s girlfriend Kathy is one of those women who is extremely house proud and disapproving of the mess and chaos that comes with kids and dogs. Of course, James’ mum delights at any sign that Kathy is struggling with having James and Digger in her life. In turn, James’ dad manages to change Digger’s details at the vet so that he is the primary contact for him. There is a very clear conflict going on and this is without a doubt a source of James’ constant apathy to anything that doesn’t have to do with Digger.

James’ new teacher Mr Froggatt is definitely my favourite character in the book. He clearly loves teaching and is passionate about encouraging creativity in all of his students. He sets poetry tasks for the class every week and these really help James explore his emotions and express them. Sometimes it feels like Mr Froggatt’s lessons are James’ reprieve from everything that is going on at home and he couldn’t have had a better teacher for this stressful period in his life.

James’ poems are always tinged with sadness and it’s not hard to see why. There were points in the book where I was worried about something incredibly heartbreaking happening, especially during the anxious waits for Digger’s test results. I was fully prepared to be bawling my eyes out by the end!

Digger And Me is an emotional story about true friendship, family and channelling your feelings in a healthy way. It’s also about learning to see people in a different way and finding your own place in the world. Most of all, it’s about the unique love between one boy and his wonderful, loyal, goofy dog.

James has been through a lot of changes. His parents split up, his Dad moved out of the family home, and his favourite uncle died of cancer. Now, both of his parents have new live-in partners, while James struggles to find a sense of belonging anywhere, except with Digger, his dog. Digger is James' best friend and the only constant presence since his life has been in a state of flux. When James discovers a lump on Digger's leg, it looks like more changes are coming, as even Digger might not be there for him anymore.

Fortunately, a new teacher called Mr Froggatt makes James' circumstances a bit more bearable. Mr Froggatt assigns creative writing exercises to help himself and the class grow better acquainted. The assignments also help Mr Froggat's students to get to know themselves better. James finds solace in putting words on paper; his writing helps him to make sense of his feelings and of the world around him too.

This is an extremely tender and heartfelt story that is alternately heart-breaking and hilarious. James is a brilliant protagonist with whom readers will easily empathise, especially where his frustrations with his parents' new partners are concerned. James is coping with a lot, but his experiences and problems are quite common, and ones to which many children will relate.

Narrated in the first person by James, Ros Roberts has given him such an authentic voice that it's hard to believe he's not a real person. Thanks to Digger and the outlet his writing provides, James manages to adjust even when the people he trusts the most let him down. Digger is another wonderful character and, even though he doesn't say anything, his personality bounces off every page. It's so easy to imagine Digger wagging his tail with affection and enthusiasm, and his relationship with James is lovely. Digger and Me is a moving story about friendship, loyalty and coping with change, that will resonate with young readers everywhere.

Digger and Me is the debut read from Ros Roberts for middle-grade children and is inspired by her own experience of losing her ‘beautiful Bernese mountain dog’.

Eleven-year-old James has a lot going on in his life. Everything is changing and it is very much not for the best. His parents are separated, there are new partners to navigate and if he’s completely honest he doesn’t particularly like either of them. At school, the class are having a new teacher for the third time this year just weeks before the end of term and with high school looming.

The one constant in his life is his loveable dog Digger. But when James finds a lump on Digger’s leg his world is turned upside down and he will need all members of his family, new and old, to help put things right…

Digger and Me is a heart-warming tale about the special relationship between child and pet. The book has much in common with the brilliant 'I, Cosmo' by Carlie Sorosiak and this is a very good thing. Having a pet is one of life’s absolute joys but when that pet becomes unwell it is devastating and this is exactly the situation that James finds himself in.

James’ life is a mixture of highs and lows. Change is never easy and James is experiencing plenty of it as new rules are introduced to his mum’s house by her partner Dave and dad’s partner Jackie has little time for children and their pets. The special moments with his mum and dad are becoming ever more fleeting and are often quickly shattered by the voice or appearance of an unwanted partner. No matter what though, James can always find comfort, companionship and a shiny wet nose in his best mate Digger. Digger is his shoulder to cry on, the one to laugh with, the one to share his feelings with. But when the worst happens, James finds himself having to find comfort and understanding elsewhere and finds it in the most surprising of places.

Roberts sensitively explores the difficulties of new family dynamics and you really feel for James as he tries to work through muddled feelings about his mum and dad’s new partners. And whilst the situation that Digger goes through is really tough on everyone in the family, it is also the driver that brings everyone closer together.

The situations James faces at home are filled with emotion and in new teacher Mr. Froggatt he finds inspiration and a means by which he can let his emotions and feelings out. Mr. Froggatt enjoys poetry and James is able to find his voice through the written word as he creates various poems that allow him to share his thoughts that are too hard to express verbally. A brilliant teacher really can make the biggest difference to a child.

At times sad but ultimately heart-warming. Will resonate strongly with all pet owners.

Recommended for +9.

With thanks to Ros Roberts, Little Tiger Group and Stripes Publishing for the advanced reader copy that was received through NetGalley.

James has had to deal with a lot of change: he lost his uncle to cancer, his parents have new partners and he has a new teacher weeks before leaving primary school. So the last thing he needed was for his beloved dog (Digger) to be ill too.

I loved the positive portrayal of school, with Mr Froggatt’s understanding of his new class and his caring approach to all members of James’s class. I was completely absorbed into James’s heart warming tale, the love for his dog and family as well as his eventual acceptance and understanding of his ‘step parents’.

All the feels for Digger, James & Mr.Frogatt! One-sit wonder, James authentically reveals his feelings about his 2 homes & beloved dog. A lesson in love, poetry & 'show, not tell', a reminder that trust finds us, this flowed as easily as my tears! Perfect transition text to high school too, beautifully written!

Home is where your dog is..

A touching story about family, friendship, growing up and of course, a beloved dog! Life hasn’t been easy for 11 year old James, not only his mum and dad are divorced and he disliked both their new partners, but also, his class has yet another new teacher, the third in a year! The only comfort for him is his dog Digger, but then, James’ found a lump on Digger’s leg, which has brought back sad memory of losing his uncle Bobby to cancer. It's heart-breaking for James that Digger is unwell and needed treatments, but the unfortunate event has actually brought everyone closer together.

The characters in the story are all very lovable but my favourite of all is Mr Forggatt, the new teacher. He is funny and eccentric, and a great teacher! I think we would all agree that all teachers should be like him!

This is not your usual exciting action, Si-Fi or fantasy novel but a very heart-warming story, especially the ending.

Thank you NetGalley, Little Tiger Group, Stripes Publishing and Author Ros Roberts for my advance copy of this wonderful book

Okay, so this is a children's book and I am an adult with no children! But there’s something beautiful about remembering what it’s like to be a child again, struggling with long divisions and writing poems for your homework.

Digger and Me is the story of James. His parents are divorced and he isn’t too keen on either of their new partners. His class has another new teacher – the third in less than a year. And his dog Digger is his best friend. But then James finds a lump on Digger’s leg.

As an aspiring writer, I’ve often heard that the best writers use the least amount of words to tell the story that they want to tell. I think good children’s authors often lead the way here. There’s no long-winded, boring descriptions of scenery or characters’ appearances. I never get bored and I’m never tempted to skim-read a paragraph to get to the interesting bits. This is so true of Digger and Me: it's very skilfully written down to the very last word.

I love this book. I love James and his honest descriptions of everything and everyone. I love his eccentric new teacher Mr Froggatt and the little homework tasks he sets the children. And, of course, I love Digger and I actually shed a tear when he got sick.

We are big dog lovers in this house. We loved Digger and Me and still talk about it all of the time. It is fun and real, and really relatable. It’s such a lovely story. We all highly recommend it.