Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping

By Craig Silvey

Illustrated by Sara Acton

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Craig Silvey is rapidly becoming a household name in Australia. Two of his books Honeybee #25  and Jasper Jones #24 were voted  amongst the  recent Top 100 Books in Radio National’s 2025 countdown. Runt, 2022, was a bestseller in Australia and became a popular film. Now the much awaited sequel, Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping,  is available, just in time for Christmas.

The story takes place six weeks after Runt and Annie Shearer triumphed at the Krumpets Dog Show. Now back in their hometown of Upson Downs everyone expects Runt to win the Tournament of Champions which, it is hoped, will rejuvenate and energize the area. But Runt mysteriously disappears and Annie is devastated, more so when a ransom note with an odd demand is discovered. Can she find Runt in time for the competition. Is he ok? Annie takes desperate measures to ensure the return of her best mate. She is helped by her daredevil brother Max and aided and hindered by an assortment of family and townspeople who all have their own agendas.

Craig has fun filling the story with his trademark quirky characters, giving them an emotional back story and funny, memorable and unusual names. My favourites include Cha Cha Galore, William Twinkestein, and Rupert Broadsheet. Each name as well as being amusing gives a hint as to the person’s occupation, but not necessarily their moral character – that is only revealed at the end.

The convoluted plot has many twists, turns and backflips which often bear little resemblance to reality, but then this is a sentimental fantasy which plays on our emotions as cleverly as Paganini played the violin. The writing and pacing is so enjoyable that sometimes you just stop to enjoy the flow of words on the page. Look out for the terrible puns scattered throughout, e.g.  Hoax and Dagger, Debt Toupee, Casserole is cooked – which are so Australian and so funny. The chapters are short scenes that gradually build tension and suspense, perfect for the film that will no doubt come soon.

The core of this story is a loving family, each member trying in their own way to help Annie get her beloved dog back. Craig covers a wide swathe of themes – mainly family, friendship, truth and honesty, but identity, belonging, selflessness, kindness, community and rural Australia, are also important.  We find out what happened to Runt in a series of carefully calibrated emotional scenes that follow one another to culminate in a final satisfying ending. The whole is pitch perfect for middle grade readers but older readers will enjoy it too. (The publishers recommend it for ages 9 to 99). The cartoon illustrations are delightful throughout and wittily convey the timeless charm of the story.

A book that leaves the reading eager for more adventures for Annie and Runt.

Teaching resource

A & U Children 2025

Craig Silvey

Sara Acton