Year of the Dog is a moving and candid book about the importance of family, self-discovery, and cultural and ethnic identity. The main character, Patricia Reilly, is a nine-year-old Chinese-American girl who is looking for her place in the world. In this thoughtful and at the same time humorous novel, Dai Wen (Kelly Loy Gilbert) touches on such important topics as self-discovery, self-determination and interaction with other cultures. Readers will be captivated by Patricia's story of how she grows up, learns to accept her roots, overcome difficulties and understand the world around her. "Year of the Dog" is a wonderful book that will open the hearts of readers of any age and leave an unforgettable impression.