What Comes Next
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-07-20 06:52:14
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Rob Buyea
- ISBN：0525648054
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
From the beloved author of the MR。 TERUPT series comes this stand-alone middle-grade novel about a girl who is dealing with the tragic loss of her best friend， and the dog that helps her forge new friendships and find happiness once again。
Twelve-year-old Thea and her family are moving to a new town for a fresh start--her parents' bright idea。 To Thea， it feels like running away。 She lost her best friend， Charlie， in a tragic accident， and in the painful aftermath， she has gone mute。 Her two younger sisters， however， are excited about moving， especially after their dad promises that the family will get a rescue puppy。 This doesn't change Thea's mind， though， until Jack-Jack bounds into her life and makes it clear that he is no ordinary dog。
As she bonds with Jack-Jack， and as the dog's mischievous ways steer her toward someone she can confide in， Thea opens up to the possibility of new friendships and forgiveness， and comes to believe in what cannot be fully explained。
Twelve-year-old Thea and her family are moving to a new town for a fresh start--her parents' bright idea。 To Thea， it feels like running away。 She lost her best friend， Charlie， in a tragic accident， and in the painful aftermath， she has gone mute。 Her two younger sisters， however， are excited about moving， especially after their dad promises that the family will get a rescue puppy。 This doesn't change Thea's mind， though， until Jack-Jack bounds into her life and makes it clear that he is no ordinary dog。
As she bonds with Jack-Jack， and as the dog's mischievous ways steer her toward someone she can confide in， Thea opens up to the possibility of new friendships and forgiveness， and comes to believe in what cannot be fully explained。
Reviews
Deanna
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This was a lovely story。
Heide
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I loved this book。 Laughs and cries through the book。 Such a moving book。 Highly recommended。
Donna
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Sadness， humor， hopeful story about family， grief， and dogs。After Thea loses her best friend， she becomes mute。 She and her family move to a new town for a fresh start。 Her younger sisters are excited， but to Thea， it feels as if they are running away。 When their dad offers to get them a rescue puppy， Thea goes with them。 When Jack-Jack enters their lives， things change， for the better。 Jack-Jack seems to know what people need when they need it。 Because of him， Thea starts to open up again。 Shor Sadness， humor， hopeful story about family， grief， and dogs。After Thea loses her best friend， she becomes mute。 She and her family move to a new town for a fresh start。 Her younger sisters are excited， but to Thea， it feels as if they are running away。 When their dad offers to get them a rescue puppy， Thea goes with them。 When Jack-Jack enters their lives， things change， for the better。 Jack-Jack seems to know what people need when they need it。 Because of him， Thea starts to open up again。 Short， quick chapters make this a fast paced story that is hard ot put down。 。。。more
puppup121
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It is a great book about a girl who goes through a lot and how she over comes it
Maggie
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This book was truly amazing just as good as some of his other series。 The fact that this was a true story was even better。 This was an emotional and had AMAZING character development。 It wasn’t just about a dog but a heart broken girl who finds 2 best friends。 wow this is an amazing book。
Michelle Mann
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I read this one with my kids， 9 and 7。 It was their first chapter book with drama。 My oldest had a hard time getting past the initial sadness， but in the end she LOVED the book。 It was a good story with a wrapped up ending。
Alyson
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Buyea's always good for some solid feels--see http://www。eatreadandbemommy。com/2022。。。 for details！ Buyea's always good for some solid feels--see http://www。eatreadandbemommy。com/2022。。。 for details！ 。。。more
Elisabeth Hays
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 While I enjoyed the reality of Thea’s story， there is nothing worse than going through an entire book and having the ending wreck you。 This book seemed to do this when the dog springs into action to save a boy and you think he dies in the process。 Thankfully the dog doesn’t die。 Instead， the dog disappears like a vapor。 Not long after， the family replaces the dog with a puppy。 You lost the first one and now a puppy！ I call foul。 I would still be looking！ And the author wants me to believe that t While I enjoyed the reality of Thea’s story， there is nothing worse than going through an entire book and having the ending wreck you。 This book seemed to do this when the dog springs into action to save a boy and you think he dies in the process。 Thankfully the dog doesn’t die。 Instead， the dog disappears like a vapor。 Not long after， the family replaces the dog with a puppy。 You lost the first one and now a puppy！ I call foul。 I would still be looking！ And the author wants me to believe that the narrator marries Rory！ And that Rory and Thea find that not only did the dog save the boy， Thea， Ms。 Stacy’s brother， but ALSO Charlie’s parents AND is buried next to Charlie and Thea didn’t know it until she is an adult。 Is this dog somehow magical？ Also， what parent would allow Ms。 Stacy to walk into a 7th grade girls bedroom with a man that killed Thea’s best friend and have a healing moment in the girl’s bedroom！ That was weird。 If you are going to share that revelation， maybe the kitchen is a little less intrusive。 I give it a 3 and not a 2 because the beginning and middle convey a reality of what a child might experience after a traumatic loss of a friend。 I enjoyed it until the portions above。 I’m not sure how a middle grade reader would think of it。 I can see some of my students enjoying it and not seeing the same issues that I have with it。 。。。more
Diane White
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A good book about a girl who overcomes tragedy with the help of a dog。
Savannah
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4。5 starsI didn't cry！ *sniffle*Fine！I cried three times reading this book。 Pages 160-the end of the book just destroyed me。 😩 4。5 starsI didn't cry！ *sniffle*Fine！I cried three times reading this book。 Pages 160-the end of the book just destroyed me。 😩 。。。more
Sylvie Gold
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I love the idea that Jack-Jack was a reincarnation of Charlie （which I began to suspect early on， based on the "Forewarning" at the beginning， as well as many other hints throughout the story） and the realization in the "Years Later" epilogue that he had helped his own parents， just as he had helped Thea。 While it was dramatic to have that revelation come to Thea many years later， after Jack-jack's death as a dog， I would like to think that Thea would have kept in touch with Charlie's parents an I love the idea that Jack-Jack was a reincarnation of Charlie （which I began to suspect early on， based on the "Forewarning" at the beginning， as well as many other hints throughout the story） and the realization in the "Years Later" epilogue that he had helped his own parents， just as he had helped Thea。 While it was dramatic to have that revelation come to Thea many years later， after Jack-jack's death as a dog， I would like to think that Thea would have kept in touch with Charlie's parents and stayed a part of their lives throughout the years following Charlie's death， once she had healed sufficiently from it， so she would have known about Jack-Jack's appearance in Charlie's parents' lives much sooner。 I think she would have been comforted by knowing it during Jack-Jack's lifetime too。 。。。more
Audrey
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Short and sweet with a smidge of magic。
Bri the best book nerd
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i loved this book。 It had a great ending！
Patti Sabik
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While I found this quick read to be somewhat saccharine and contrived， I’m sure that the target audience will adore the book。 And honestly， I’m the first one to fall for sweet dog stories and mention that truth is more often stranger than fiction。 All in all， a tale that reaffirms hope triumphs over grief and helps us remember how awesome dogs are。
Naomi Campbell
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This book was fine。 It reminded me of one of those family-friendly movies about a kid and a dog， and their family。 I mean， that's what this was。 It had lots of meaning and lots of ahas， but at the same time it was like， "Of course，" and "exactly，" and it always annoys me when the characters in a story come to a conclusion about someone in a certain way， and that DOES happen in this book， so it of course annoyed me， but other than that I liked it。 It was a good little quick read when I couldn't s This book was fine。 It reminded me of one of those family-friendly movies about a kid and a dog， and their family。 I mean， that's what this was。 It had lots of meaning and lots of ahas， but at the same time it was like， "Of course，" and "exactly，" and it always annoys me when the characters in a story come to a conclusion about someone in a certain way， and that DOES happen in this book， so it of course annoyed me， but other than that I liked it。 It was a good little quick read when I couldn't sleep， and we ARE dog lovers and we do own dogs。 My son thought it was pretty unrealistic how quickly a dog gets trained in this book， and when they had a thing called a crate in this book。 My family just thought that would be dreadful， but what do we know？ We've only had one dog and we're not trainers， but that part was kind of AWFUL and also funny but wow。 I didn't like the way the mom talked to the dad， like he was an idiot or something--very disrespectful--but maybe that was just the way they joke around or flirt。 Who knows？ I liked the point of the book， and all the adventures。 。。。more
Denise Klaus
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Rob Buyea does it again。 I was totally drawn into the characters of this book and am sorry it is a stand alone。 Just like with his other books， when finished， I miss the characters。 I will probably have to read it again。 And I am thinking of the perfect student to give it to on Monday。
Laura Thomas
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Rob Buyea never disappoints！ Wonderful book on healing and forgiveness surrounding a tragedy。
Jennifer Hill
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Thea lost her best friend Charlie and a terrible accident during spring break。 She can't even go back and finish 6th grade， so her parents homeschool her。 Her family decides to move to another town to give her a fresh start and her dad decides to get a new dog。 They go to the rescue to pick out a dog and Thea ends up selecting， a little dog with a lazy eye。。。just like Charlie had。 They name him Jack， or Jack-Jack， or Jackson。 They all call him various versions of the name。 :） Thea has gone mute Thea lost her best friend Charlie and a terrible accident during spring break。 She can't even go back and finish 6th grade， so her parents homeschool her。 Her family decides to move to another town to give her a fresh start and her dad decides to get a new dog。 They go to the rescue to pick out a dog and Thea ends up selecting， a little dog with a lazy eye。。。just like Charlie had。 They name him Jack， or Jack-Jack， or Jackson。 They all call him various versions of the name。 :） Thea has gone mute since the accident， but slowly Jack gets her talking again and then she meets her little sister's teacher Ms。 Stacey， who helps her out， but also introduces her to Rory。 With all their help， she is able to start living again。By the end of the book there are so many ties that I didn't see coming。 I just love that it is a window into grief and how people handle things differently。 The little supernatural touch of the dog is just perfect。 。。。more
Jessica Richie
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Rob Buyea does it again。 Great read！ His writing makes you not want to put down a book。 I felt so many emotions for the main character。
Gina
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Love， Love， Loved this book！！！ What a heart warming story。 I don't know what to say。 I laughed and cried。 What a wonderful story。 I loved the Mr。 Terupt series but I think this stand alone is my favorite。 Kids are lucky to have an author like Buyea。 Kids can not go wrong with one of his books。 Love， Love， Loved this book！！！ What a heart warming story。 I don't know what to say。 I laughed and cried。 What a wonderful story。 I loved the Mr。 Terupt series but I think this stand alone is my favorite。 Kids are lucky to have an author like Buyea。 Kids can not go wrong with one of his books。 。。。more
Jill
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I have loved all of Rob Buyea's novels， but this stand alone novel belongs in every elementary and middle school libraries。 The main character has gone through a traumatic event， and her family tries everything they can to help her。 They move to a new town， and even adopted one special puppy。 I usually don't gravitate to dog books， but this one is an exception。 I would pair this book with "When Friendship Followed Me Home。" Exceptional read and the audiobook was outstanding！ I have loved all of Rob Buyea's novels， but this stand alone novel belongs in every elementary and middle school libraries。 The main character has gone through a traumatic event， and her family tries everything they can to help her。 They move to a new town， and even adopted one special puppy。 I usually don't gravitate to dog books， but this one is an exception。 I would pair this book with "When Friendship Followed Me Home。" Exceptional read and the audiobook was outstanding！ 。。。more
Deborah Duncan
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Full disclosure; I love dogs。 I also love children's dog stories， and this one is so good。 Middle schooler Thea has seen her best friend die in an accident and is now mute。 She closes up， and her family moves to a new town for a new start。 Her younger siblings slide right into their new lives， but Thea is shut down。 Of course， there will be a dog！ Jack Jack brings Thea back to life by just being a dog， assisted by a new friend and her sisters' great teacher。 So， this is a book for middle schoole Full disclosure; I love dogs。 I also love children's dog stories， and this one is so good。 Middle schooler Thea has seen her best friend die in an accident and is now mute。 She closes up， and her family moves to a new town for a new start。 Her younger siblings slide right into their new lives， but Thea is shut down。 Of course， there will be a dog！ Jack Jack brings Thea back to life by just being a dog， assisted by a new friend and her sisters' great teacher。 So， this is a book for middle schoolers who like shorter， easy reads， for dog lovers， younger readers and for teachers。 I wouldn't be able to read it aloud to a class， because I would definitely cry， but there will be a teacher looking for a book just like this。 I especially love how Thea reaches out to her lost friend's parents， even though it's hard。 For thoughtful engrossing school stories， you really can't beat Rob Bulyea。 。。。more
Ingrid
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I enjoyed this book about a dog that helps a traumatized girl overcome her grief， but some of the events in the book were just not believable to me。 The book also wrapped everything up a bit too neatly。
Denni
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How a dog can change the life of a traumatized 12 year old girl。
Paige Soule
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Loved this book and I want that dog！ Good for 3rd-6th， if you read this aloud to your class， read it with a box of tissues！
Susan
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A great dog story！
Jayne Bartrand
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Stand alone read from author of Mr。 Terupt and Perfect Score series。Sweet read that will connect with upper el and middle grade readers - grief， dogs， family， friends Satisfying， surprise ending。 Class read aloud for sure 🐾
Amy
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Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title for review。 All opinions are my own。This was a lovely middle grade novel。 It was quick， but packed a big punch and I really enjoyed it。 I can't wait to recommend it to my kiddos in the fall when we get back to school。 It will be an EXCELLENT option for first chapter Friday reads if anyone does those。Thea and her family move to a new school to try to "start over。" She doesn't want to start over， but she also does Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a DRC of this title for review。 All opinions are my own。This was a lovely middle grade novel。 It was quick， but packed a big punch and I really enjoyed it。 I can't wait to recommend it to my kiddos in the fall when we get back to school。 It will be an EXCELLENT option for first chapter Friday reads if anyone does those。Thea and her family move to a new school to try to "start over。" She doesn't want to start over， but she also doesn't think she can keep going at her old school。 She isn't talking， ever since the accident with her best friend Charlie， and the stares and the whispers are a lot to take。 At her new school， she can blend in， stay unnoticed， and continue to float along。 All that changes though when the family gets a new dog， Jack， who helps them all realize that moving on and moving forward doesn't have to be scary。 And it doesn't have to hurt forever。Highly recommend。 Give to any reader who requests dog books， and all of the kids who like realistic fiction that moves you。 。。。more
Tara Ethridge
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This is a doozy of a novel that had me crying more than once， and I’m not even a big dog person。 Without giving too many spoilers， Thea has suffered an unimaginable tragedy and is in the depths of sadness。 A dog comes into her life and slowly makes changes for her and others as well。 It’s about the love of a dog but also so much more—learnjng to trust again， dealing with death， and teachers who take the time to really help kids。 Our 4th and 5th graders love the Mr。 Terupt series and I’m sure the This is a doozy of a novel that had me crying more than once， and I’m not even a big dog person。 Without giving too many spoilers， Thea has suffered an unimaginable tragedy and is in the depths of sadness。 A dog comes into her life and slowly makes changes for her and others as well。 It’s about the love of a dog but also so much more—learnjng to trust again， dealing with death， and teachers who take the time to really help kids。 Our 4th and 5th graders love the Mr。 Terupt series and I’m sure they will love this， too。 But whoa on the sadness。 。。。more
Jaymie
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[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review。 All opinions are my own。]5 stars = Outstanding！Another winner from Rob Buyea！ I loved this - I loved the characters， the story， and the way all the pieces wove together。 Heart-tugging in all the best ways - bring a few tissues for this one （TW: grief/loss）
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=What Comes Next
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=What Comes Next&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,What Comes Next&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0