Iggy Included

Twelve-year-old Paige Coopersmith and her family have won a house in an essay-writing contest. Excited to leave their cramped apartment and move to a sprawling property in rural Ontario, they’re more than a little surprised to find the house is old and in need of major repairs. They’re even more shocked to discover that Iggy — the old dog who lives there — comes with the house. Apparently it was all in the fine print!

Due to financial stress, and with nowhere else to go, the family stays. Paige, who is scared of the large, unkempt Newfoundland dog, does her best to stay out of her way, while her parents deal with an unusual list of instructions from the previous owner.

But girl and beast soon form a special bond, when Paige, a hesitant reader, practises her reading out loud and discovers that Iggy loves to be read to.

Little does Paige know Iggy is even more special than she realizes. In fact, someone else has their eye on her, and when Iggy goes missing, it’s Paige who must solve the mysteries of this unusual house and find her now beloved dog.

DEBORAH KERBEL is an award-winning author who writes picture books, middle grade, and YA novels. Her recent books include Fred & Marjorie, Whirl, This House Is Home, and When Molly Drew Dogs. Deborah lives and writes in Thornhill, Ontario, with her husband, two teens, and a rescue schnoodle named Freddie.

• OLA Silver Birch Award, FictionNominated 2025
• Diamond Willow Award (Saskatchewan Young Readers' Choice)Nominated 2025