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Newford #17
Dingo
High school senior Miguel's life is turned upside down when he meets new girl Lainey, whose family has just moved from Australia. With her tumbled red-gold hair, her instant understanding of who he is, and her unusual dog a real Australian dingo, she's unforgettable. And, as he quickly learns, she is on the run from an ancient bargain made by her ancestors. There's no question that Miguel will do whatever he can to help her, but what price will each of them have to pay? Dingo is quintessential Charles de Lint, set close to his beloved, invented city of Newford a mixture of darkness and hope, humor and mystery, and the friendship within love.
213 pages, Hardcover
First published March 7, 2008
10 people are currently reading
1346 people want to read
About the author
Charles de Lint
446 books3,995 followersCharles de Lint is the much beloved author of more than seventy adult, young adult, and children's books. Renowned as one of the trailblazers of the modern fantasy genre, he is the recipient of the World Fantasy, Aurora, Sunburst, and White Pine awards, among others. Modern Library's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century poll, conducted by Random House and voted on by readers, put eight of de Lint's books among the top 100.
De Lint is a poet, folklorist, artist, songwriter and performer. He has written critical essays, music reviews, opinion columns and entries to encyclopedias, and he's been the main book reviewer for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction since 1987. De Lint served as Writer-in-residence for two public libraries in Ottawa and has taught creative writing workshops for adults and children in Canada and the United States. He's been a judge for several prominent awards, including the Nebula, World Fantasy, Theodore Sturgeon and Bram Stoker.
Born in the Netherlands in 1951, de Lint immigrated to Canada with his family as an infant. The family moved often during de Lint's childhood because of his father's job with an international surveying company, but by the time Charles was twelve—having lived in Western Canada, Turkey and Lebanon—they had settled in Lucerne, Quebec, not far from where he now resides in Ottawa, Ontario.
In 1980, de Lint married the love of his life, MaryAnn Harris, who works closely with him as his first editor, business manager and creative partner. They share their love and home with a cheery little dog named Johnny Cash.
Charles de Lint is best described as a romantic: a believer in compassion, hope and human potential. His skilled portrayal of character and settings has earned him a loyal readership and glowing praise from peers, reviewers and readers.
Charles de Lint writes like a magician. He draws out the strange inside our own world, weaving stories that feel more real than we are when we read them. He is, simply put, the best.
—Holly Black (bestselling author)
Charles de Lint is the modern master of urban fantasy. Folktale, myth, fairy tale, dreams, urban legend—all of it adds up to pure magic in de Lint's vivid, original world. No one does it better.
—Alice Hoffman (bestselling author)
To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
—Quill & Quire
His Newford books, which make up most of de Lint's body of work between 1993 and 2009, confirmed his reputation for bringing a vivid setting and repertory cast of characters to life on the page. Though not a consecutive series, the twenty-five standalone books set in (or connected to) Newford give readers a feeling of visiting a favourite city and seeing old friends.
More recently, his young adult Wildlings trilogy—Under My Skin, Over My Head, and Out of This World—came out from Penguin Canada and Triskell Press in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Under My Skin won 2013 Aurora Award. A novel for middle-grade readers, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, published by Little Brown in 2013, won the Sunburst Award, earned starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Quill & Quire, and was chosen by the New York Times Editors as one of the top six children's books for 2013. His most recent adult novel, The Mystery of Grace (2009), is a fascinating ghost story about love, passion and faith. It was a finalist for both the Sunburst and Evergreen awards.
De Lint is presently writing a new adult novel. His storytelling skills also shine in his original songs. He and MaryAnn (also a musician) recently released companion CDs of their original songs, samples of which can be heard on de Lin
De Lint is a poet, folklorist, artist, songwriter and performer. He has written critical essays, music reviews, opinion columns and entries to encyclopedias, and he's been the main book reviewer for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction since 1987. De Lint served as Writer-in-residence for two public libraries in Ottawa and has taught creative writing workshops for adults and children in Canada and the United States. He's been a judge for several prominent awards, including the Nebula, World Fantasy, Theodore Sturgeon and Bram Stoker.
Born in the Netherlands in 1951, de Lint immigrated to Canada with his family as an infant. The family moved often during de Lint's childhood because of his father's job with an international surveying company, but by the time Charles was twelve—having lived in Western Canada, Turkey and Lebanon—they had settled in Lucerne, Quebec, not far from where he now resides in Ottawa, Ontario.
In 1980, de Lint married the love of his life, MaryAnn Harris, who works closely with him as his first editor, business manager and creative partner. They share their love and home with a cheery little dog named Johnny Cash.
Charles de Lint is best described as a romantic: a believer in compassion, hope and human potential. His skilled portrayal of character and settings has earned him a loyal readership and glowing praise from peers, reviewers and readers.
Charles de Lint writes like a magician. He draws out the strange inside our own world, weaving stories that feel more real than we are when we read them. He is, simply put, the best.
—Holly Black (bestselling author)
Charles de Lint is the modern master of urban fantasy. Folktale, myth, fairy tale, dreams, urban legend—all of it adds up to pure magic in de Lint's vivid, original world. No one does it better.
—Alice Hoffman (bestselling author)
To read de Lint is to fall under the spell of a master storyteller, to be reminded of the greatness of life, of the beauty and majesty lurking in shadows and empty doorways.
—Quill & Quire
His Newford books, which make up most of de Lint's body of work between 1993 and 2009, confirmed his reputation for bringing a vivid setting and repertory cast of characters to life on the page. Though not a consecutive series, the twenty-five standalone books set in (or connected to) Newford give readers a feeling of visiting a favourite city and seeing old friends.
More recently, his young adult Wildlings trilogy—Under My Skin, Over My Head, and Out of This World—came out from Penguin Canada and Triskell Press in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Under My Skin won 2013 Aurora Award. A novel for middle-grade readers, The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, published by Little Brown in 2013, won the Sunburst Award, earned starred reviews in both Publishers Weekly and Quill & Quire, and was chosen by the New York Times Editors as one of the top six children's books for 2013. His most recent adult novel, The Mystery of Grace (2009), is a fascinating ghost story about love, passion and faith. It was a finalist for both the Sunburst and Evergreen awards.
De Lint is presently writing a new adult novel. His storytelling skills also shine in his original songs. He and MaryAnn (also a musician) recently released companion CDs of their original songs, samples of which can be heard on de Lin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
April 3, 2008
Charles de Lint has said that when he writes YA novels, he doesn't dumb down the stories; he just writes stories about younger people. He's been very successful with this approach in the past (last year's The Blue Girl was fantastic), but Dingo seems like a step backwards from this philosophy.
It's a fairly pleasant tale about twin girls who are dingos (part of the "cousins" who populate many of de Lint's works) and the human boys who fall in love with them, but I thought that most of his short stories had more depth than this book.
It also suffered from the "boy and girl meet and fall in love within seconds of knowing each other" plot device, and even though the characters repeatedly acknowledge it and comment on how weird it is, it just never seems natural.
De Lint could probably write about grass growing and I'd enjoy it, but he's definitely capable of more than he gave here.
It's a fairly pleasant tale about twin girls who are dingos (part of the "cousins" who populate many of de Lint's works) and the human boys who fall in love with them, but I thought that most of his short stories had more depth than this book.
It also suffered from the "boy and girl meet and fall in love within seconds of knowing each other" plot device, and even though the characters repeatedly acknowledge it and comment on how weird it is, it just never seems natural.
De Lint could probably write about grass growing and I'd enjoy it, but he's definitely capable of more than he gave here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2025
I read this several times years ago and recently reread it for fun as I find Charles de Lint novels extremely comforting. If books were comfort food, Charles de Lint's are my go to mac n' cheese/pizza/sugary soda.
He's won every fantasy award there is several times over and he essentially invented the entire urban fantasy genre. His novels have always been inclusive and characters have always been diverse. Decades back, his work was really the only place I could go to read about characters like me and my friends.
Dingo is one of my favorites young adult paranormal romances. It's essentially a coming of age themed attraction story with rather surprising fantasy elements and spiritual elements, and like most of all of his novels, it's in a class of its own--completely original. None of the characters are quite what they seem to be on the surface. I do always wish this one were a bit longer or that maybe it had been given a sequel.
Charles de Lint is one of the few fantasy authors out there who has basically written his own mythology with its own spiritual system for the holy, other worldly and magical. And long before Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries, Charles de Lint's work outlined the principles of fairy lore in multiple works. Hundreds of stories and dozens of novels which live in and support his own particular systems which I have always found to be far more elaborate and expounded upon than even Tolkien's. The fictional town of Newford is often the setting--if I could live in any fantasy world, this would be it absolutely. My idea of heaven is Charles de Lint's fantasy realm.
If you love fantasy and consider fantasy your genre of choice, you really need to meet Mr. Charles de Lint. He is masterful. I recommend starting with The Onion Girl, The Mystery of Grace, and Promises to Keep, and Memory and Dream.
His queer young adult trilogy that begins with Under My Skin (2012) is also amazing too and the themes of identity in this trilogy really weren't even being written about with any sort of frequency until a few years ago.
He's won every fantasy award there is several times over and he essentially invented the entire urban fantasy genre. His novels have always been inclusive and characters have always been diverse. Decades back, his work was really the only place I could go to read about characters like me and my friends.
Dingo is one of my favorites young adult paranormal romances. It's essentially a coming of age themed attraction story with rather surprising fantasy elements and spiritual elements, and like most of all of his novels, it's in a class of its own--completely original. None of the characters are quite what they seem to be on the surface. I do always wish this one were a bit longer or that maybe it had been given a sequel.
Charles de Lint is one of the few fantasy authors out there who has basically written his own mythology with its own spiritual system for the holy, other worldly and magical. And long before Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries, Charles de Lint's work outlined the principles of fairy lore in multiple works. Hundreds of stories and dozens of novels which live in and support his own particular systems which I have always found to be far more elaborate and expounded upon than even Tolkien's. The fictional town of Newford is often the setting--if I could live in any fantasy world, this would be it absolutely. My idea of heaven is Charles de Lint's fantasy realm.
If you love fantasy and consider fantasy your genre of choice, you really need to meet Mr. Charles de Lint. He is masterful. I recommend starting with The Onion Girl, The Mystery of Grace, and Promises to Keep, and Memory and Dream.
His queer young adult trilogy that begins with Under My Skin (2012) is also amazing too and the themes of identity in this trilogy really weren't even being written about with any sort of frequency until a few years ago.
August 20, 2014
As lovely and magical as ever, but I wasn't as captured by this particular story as I have been with other de Lint works.
August 8, 2020
I do love this man’s charming hopeful fantasies.
June 3, 2008
I think this is de Lint's best effort for teens yet. The twin worlds, faerie and human, are so well portrayed that the readers will never feel any doubt that we could stray there too. I especially enjoyed the portrayal of the two young men. It was refreshing to find a young hero who loves his father and believes in honor and I could completely believe the bully with the much hidden heart. The inclusion of Australian folklore was a very interesting addition and the twin shape-shifters were a great touch. I have NO background in Australian folklore however and will be interested to hear if this works for people who do.
July 16, 2008
Young adult books by my favorite fantasy authors are always nice summer reads. This book is a basic high school romance combined with traditional a la Charles DeLint spirit people out of myth mucking with humans and did I mention a shape shifting girlfriend. Very sweet story but none of the depth of DeLints more amazing books for adults like Someplace to be Flying.
March 2, 2019
I have been a fan of Charles De Lint's work for a long while. This book, while a bit fast paced in some aspects, was really good. It was cute and had a good story line.
March 17, 2016
"Dingo" - written by Charles de Lint and published in 2008 by Firebird, an imprint of Penguin Group. I became interested in this author when some of his titles appeared on a Firebird fantasy list in another book. His YA novel begins innocently when a pretty Australian girl and her dog (later revealed to be a dingo!) come into the record shop owned by Miguel's dad. The teens are attracted to one another and as Lainey gradually tells her story, a fun shape-shifting adventure begins. De Lint is a good storyteller and writes natural dialogue which should appeal to the YA audience. The plot, although outlandish, hums along and is quite imaginative. He includes relatable emotional experiences , "she's got to know that treating me like that was not cool" and "It's good to have friends," and there are unexpected outcomes, just as in real life. There are a few instances of language that most kids hear in school anyway, which does not stop me from wholeheartedly recommending this as a spirited fantasy.
January 3, 2009
This novella should have been novel-length. It felt too rushed and less rich than even most of de Lint's short stories. The premise was good, just underdeveloped. As such, I did not really feel very attached to the characters.
October 27, 2018
Dingo is part of Charles De Lint's Newford series. Number 17 to be exact. I believe this particular book is considered to be Young Adult. Now, I don't normally read Young Adult, but I was browsing a library book sale and found this. It can be a little hard to find de Lint books and so I snatched it up.
This is a quick read, coming in at 213 pages. Here we follow two sisters, Lainey and Em, who also happen to be shape shifters. Into what? You guessed it. Dingos. Now, this being Young Adult, and common with that genre, we have two teenage boys who play the love interests and must save the girls from certain doom. **DUN DUN DUNN**
Charles de Lint is known for his rich urban fantasy novels, and this is one of them. Now, being only a small book (even the size of the book is small and I'm not talking about page count) you don't have the same fantastic world building we've come to expect. While this book is highly entertaining and a fun, fast read, it is also very predictable. There's nothing going on that you can't guess from the start. Dingo is also full of tropes; from the misunderstood bad boy to the over-protective father.
If you're a de Lint fan don't expect the full scope of his talents to shine in this book. Read it. Enjoy it. And then move on to bigger and better things.
This is a quick read, coming in at 213 pages. Here we follow two sisters, Lainey and Em, who also happen to be shape shifters. Into what? You guessed it. Dingos. Now, this being Young Adult, and common with that genre, we have two teenage boys who play the love interests and must save the girls from certain doom. **DUN DUN DUNN**
Charles de Lint is known for his rich urban fantasy novels, and this is one of them. Now, being only a small book (even the size of the book is small and I'm not talking about page count) you don't have the same fantastic world building we've come to expect. While this book is highly entertaining and a fun, fast read, it is also very predictable. There's nothing going on that you can't guess from the start. Dingo is also full of tropes; from the misunderstood bad boy to the over-protective father.
If you're a de Lint fan don't expect the full scope of his talents to shine in this book. Read it. Enjoy it. And then move on to bigger and better things.
November 19, 2017
This quick little fantasy story about shapeshifters, dingoes, and spirits is another delightful foray into the world of Charles de Lint. There's magic, teen romance, bones and baobabs. Small-town high schooler Miguel meets Newford's newest arrival, Lainey, when her family moves into town that summer from Australia and he immediately falls head over heels in love with her. Lainey isn't exactly what she seems however. Her ancestors made a bargain that could cost her her life and her family has been on the run ever since. Lainey wants to stop running. Miguel will do anything to help her, but neither of them know exactly what will be necessary to secure her freedom, they're going up against powerful spirits from the beginning of time, and their only other ally is the school bully. Is he turning over a new leaf by helping them? Or is he hoping to get the power of the dingo spirit for himself?
June 15, 2023
This is a Young Adult. While Miguel is working in his dad's used record store, a cute red-haired girl named Lainey comes in with her dog. She is trying to get away from 3 creepy teens. She says one of the boys, Johnny, is stalking her. Miguel tells her about the time his father had to throw Johnny out of the store for being rude and pushing some younger kids into a rack of CDs.
While they talk, Miguel tried to pet Lainey's dog, who just growls and moves away from him. After closing the store, he walks Lainey home, where he spots Johnny skulking around. The next time Miguel sees Lainey, she's ice cold towards him. Confused, he goes home, and that night he has an odd dream about being in a great forest. A face inside a tree talks to him.
As usual, de Lint spins a good yarn. Other than overuse of the "F" word, I think most kids could read this book.
While they talk, Miguel tried to pet Lainey's dog, who just growls and moves away from him. After closing the store, he walks Lainey home, where he spots Johnny skulking around. The next time Miguel sees Lainey, she's ice cold towards him. Confused, he goes home, and that night he has an odd dream about being in a great forest. A face inside a tree talks to him.
As usual, de Lint spins a good yarn. Other than overuse of the "F" word, I think most kids could read this book.
February 19, 2019
The ideas and the story are unique, but the twins weren't the smartest, that kind of bugged me. I loved learning about the different animals and trees from Australia. I'd really like to know what happens to Johnny after this story, or Miguel's dad. That comic/record shop sounds like a place I'd want to visit.
March 31, 2023
Simple story. I think some depth would have helped make the story more tense and romantic but I also wouldn't have been able to finish it in 3 days 😆. I really liked the relationship between Miguel and his dad and liked the grey character that is Johnny, would have liked more from him.
Enjoyed it nontheless!
Enjoyed it nontheless!
July 26, 2020
I have been reading a series of books by another author and I needed a change. I had Dingo in my Charles de Lint collection but I had not read it. It was like coming home after a long trip. I loved this book.
March 15, 2018
Cute book. Really one of Charles DeLint's books aimed at teens/young adults. But, still, an okay and interesting addition to the list of his books I've read.
April 22, 2019
Another wonderful story by Charles De Lint. I thoroughly recommend this author.
December 30, 2019
Excuse me, "Newford #17"? I certainly didn't know this was a later book in a series when I read it eleven years ago! How alarming.
March 15, 2021
Almost made me like dogs...
August 31, 2021
Uninspiring story of things sort of working out in the end with not much happening.
December 18, 2021
Its de Lint, so it was nice, but not his best work. It felt under-developed.
July 7, 2023
Good story
January 20, 2024
This was my first exposure to the work of Charles de Lint and the Newford series, and I must say that it was delightful. Well plotted with a charming story for YA readers or adults.
Read
April 16, 2024DNF - Hmm…not my taste. Sorry dear 🙁🙁🙁
February 19, 2025
Solid YA romantic fantasy.
November 10, 2025
"Dogs are people, in their own way."
Dingo shifters is new, but honestly? I'm here for it.
Dingo shifters is new, but honestly? I'm here for it.
November 22, 2012
I was surprised by this book, very negatively surprised. Charles de Lint is a writer that knows how to write for Young Adult readers without sacrificing good storytelling. He has years upon years of writing experience, his short stories are down right enchanting, and he is the author I deem responsible in making me into a reader again with his book The Blue Girl. But Dingo feels like an entirely different writer, which has me incredibly disappointed and a little angry with this book.
Right off the bat I was a little confused, you see Dingo is not set in Newford. This book is set in a town, as the description says, "close to his beloved, invented city of Newford." Confusing? Yes. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to setting it outside of Newford, but still counting it in the Newford universe.
The story centres around Miguel. He works at the comic book/record store his dad owns even though he isn't all that into comics or records. That's where he meets Lainey, an Australian girl, who has just moved to their sea-side town. However, things get complicated when Miguel learns the secret behind Lianey's oddness and gets tangled up in an ancient bargain that threatens his life and hers (and also her dog's.)
What bothers me the most is that de Lint can do so, so much better then this. The best word I can come up with to describe the level of writing in Dingo this is not masterful, or magical, or wonderful, but stumbling. There was no real flow to the events, there was info-dumping, insane amounts of insta-love, and two manic pixie dream girls.
I really tried to love this book. I tried so hard that I was willing to be in denial and just focus on the good, but I feel let down. When things started to go bad, I hoped that it would get turned around. Maybe, just maybe, it was possible for me to still find something to enjoy in this and then the worst of it hit me.
Miguel reminds me a little of Bella. Yes, Twilight's Bella, that Bella. Miguel started off pretty well, he felt like a real teenage boy, with a very promising foundation for his character. Then he falls head over heels for a girl and essentially promises to marry her after meeting with her just five times and actually considers it. He completely shuns common sense in favour of making out on the beach. I was shocked.
The most well developed character is Miguel's dad. He was awesome, I felt like I knew him. However, the rest of the characters, the ones you're actually suppose to care about, are incredibly underwritten and undeveloped. Miguel didn't even feel like the protagonist by the end of the book, instead it felt like Johnny had taken centre stage.
Even the magical elements didn't impress. The concept was very unique with a Australian mythology twist, but the execution made it feel empty. I can't even explain it in more detail without feeling like I'm spoiling the entire book and that is not a good thing. The reveal of magic isn't a solid central idea, it's the story of the magic, the consequence of magic that make urban fantasy books interesting and engaging.
Don't even get me started on how they get out of the deadly ancient bargain thing. It was one of those things where I wonder how NO ONE THOUGHT OF IT SOONER. Seriously, the big bad had been stuck in limbo for forever and a day and it just never crossed his mind this easy little fix. I mean, come on.
I think part of the reason I'm so disappointed in this is that I champion de Lint's writing. I recommend The Blue Girl any chance I get. Now when I recommend his work I'm going to have to tack on "except for Dingo". I'm just incredibly disappointed and I feel that anyone else who is familiar with his writing will be as well.
Rating: 1.5 STARS
Right off the bat I was a little confused, you see Dingo is not set in Newford. This book is set in a town, as the description says, "close to his beloved, invented city of Newford." Confusing? Yes. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to setting it outside of Newford, but still counting it in the Newford universe.
The story centres around Miguel. He works at the comic book/record store his dad owns even though he isn't all that into comics or records. That's where he meets Lainey, an Australian girl, who has just moved to their sea-side town. However, things get complicated when Miguel learns the secret behind Lianey's oddness and gets tangled up in an ancient bargain that threatens his life and hers (and also her dog's.)
What bothers me the most is that de Lint can do so, so much better then this. The best word I can come up with to describe the level of writing in Dingo this is not masterful, or magical, or wonderful, but stumbling. There was no real flow to the events, there was info-dumping, insane amounts of insta-love, and two manic pixie dream girls.
I really tried to love this book. I tried so hard that I was willing to be in denial and just focus on the good, but I feel let down. When things started to go bad, I hoped that it would get turned around. Maybe, just maybe, it was possible for me to still find something to enjoy in this and then the worst of it hit me.
Miguel reminds me a little of Bella. Yes, Twilight's Bella, that Bella. Miguel started off pretty well, he felt like a real teenage boy, with a very promising foundation for his character. Then he falls head over heels for a girl and essentially promises to marry her after meeting with her just five times and actually considers it. He completely shuns common sense in favour of making out on the beach. I was shocked.
The most well developed character is Miguel's dad. He was awesome, I felt like I knew him. However, the rest of the characters, the ones you're actually suppose to care about, are incredibly underwritten and undeveloped. Miguel didn't even feel like the protagonist by the end of the book, instead it felt like Johnny had taken centre stage.
Even the magical elements didn't impress. The concept was very unique with a Australian mythology twist, but the execution made it feel empty. I can't even explain it in more detail without feeling like I'm spoiling the entire book and that is not a good thing. The reveal of magic isn't a solid central idea, it's the story of the magic, the consequence of magic that make urban fantasy books interesting and engaging.
Don't even get me started on how they get out of the deadly ancient bargain thing. It was one of those things where I wonder how NO ONE THOUGHT OF IT SOONER. Seriously, the big bad had been stuck in limbo for forever and a day and it just never crossed his mind this easy little fix. I mean, come on.
I think part of the reason I'm so disappointed in this is that I champion de Lint's writing. I recommend The Blue Girl any chance I get. Now when I recommend his work I'm going to have to tack on "except for Dingo". I'm just incredibly disappointed and I feel that anyone else who is familiar with his writing will be as well.
Rating: 1.5 STARS
December 16, 2012
In many ways, this felt like De Lint's novels for adults but with a length and complexity more appropriate for younger readers. Instead of blending the realistic and the fantastic seamlessly, the two are a bit more clearly defined, clarifying some of the ambiguity I've noticed in his other books without sacrificing the essential elements of modern fantasy. Most of the main characters are multi-dimensional and full of contradictions. Several aspects of the story that look like simple either/or decisions twist into more ambiguous and interesting directions. In these ways, this book can stand along side other excellent YA books that refuse to patronize or talk down to their young readers.
There are a few moments that I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief: A teenage boy being able to out-strategize someone who is, essentially, a several-thousand-years-old trickster god? That doesn't seem likely.
I had some doubts about how the novel handled race. It was nice to read a story where the protagonist isn't white (Miguel's late mother is presumably Hispanic), but that background never seems to have an impact on the character or the story at all. The characters travel to the Dreamtime of Australian Aboriginal culture, where one might expect to find several Aboriginal people. But although it's hinted that maybe some of the spirits and entities they meet there are not white, they are more often portrayed as shapeshifters in their animal forms. When most of the POCs in a novel appear as animals, it's problematic at best.
And the way the story treats gender leaves a lot to be desired. For one thing, all of the four main teenage characters have no mothers; that's three absent mothers who either died or abandoned their families. The only women who have substantial roles are the two teenage girls who serve exactly two functions: to be rescued by the teenage boys and to be their love interests. Miguel's group of friends includes one other girl who has a minor role. Johnny's sister makes one brief appearance where she does nothing but hit on Miguel for no apparent reason other than that he's there and male. Miguel later refers to her has "slutty," shaming her for her sexuality-- although MIguel himself is sexually obsessed with Lainey. I've come to expect more from De Lint who usually includes several fully developed, interesting women in his books. In fact, I think all of the books of his I've read have had women protagonists. Perhaps his attempt to get inside the head of a teenage boy diverted him into a sadly misogynist mindset where girls are nothing but sex objects to motivate the boy protagonist.
The one good thing about gender in the book is that it addresses some of the more complex issues about gendered roles for young men, particularly the assumption that the only acceptable masculinity is a violent one. These are important issues for boys to discuss, and if this books can prompt some of those conversations, that would be an excellent thing.
There are a few moments that I found it difficult to suspend my disbelief: A teenage boy being able to out-strategize someone who is, essentially, a several-thousand-years-old trickster god? That doesn't seem likely.
I had some doubts about how the novel handled race. It was nice to read a story where the protagonist isn't white (Miguel's late mother is presumably Hispanic), but that background never seems to have an impact on the character or the story at all. The characters travel to the Dreamtime of Australian Aboriginal culture, where one might expect to find several Aboriginal people. But although it's hinted that maybe some of the spirits and entities they meet there are not white, they are more often portrayed as shapeshifters in their animal forms. When most of the POCs in a novel appear as animals, it's problematic at best.
And the way the story treats gender leaves a lot to be desired. For one thing, all of the four main teenage characters have no mothers; that's three absent mothers who either died or abandoned their families. The only women who have substantial roles are the two teenage girls who serve exactly two functions: to be rescued by the teenage boys and to be their love interests. Miguel's group of friends includes one other girl who has a minor role. Johnny's sister makes one brief appearance where she does nothing but hit on Miguel for no apparent reason other than that he's there and male. Miguel later refers to her has "slutty," shaming her for her sexuality-- although MIguel himself is sexually obsessed with Lainey. I've come to expect more from De Lint who usually includes several fully developed, interesting women in his books. In fact, I think all of the books of his I've read have had women protagonists. Perhaps his attempt to get inside the head of a teenage boy diverted him into a sadly misogynist mindset where girls are nothing but sex objects to motivate the boy protagonist.
The one good thing about gender in the book is that it addresses some of the more complex issues about gendered roles for young men, particularly the assumption that the only acceptable masculinity is a violent one. These are important issues for boys to discuss, and if this books can prompt some of those conversations, that would be an excellent thing.
April 24, 2008
This was good stuff, if a bit slight. I guess I shouldn't really have expected A-list material from a half-sized $12 hardcover that was marketed to young adults. Although De Lint has occasionally done some of his best work when writing for young adults ("The Blue Girl" being a prime example), so you can't really rule it out either. But yeah, "Dingo" is more like a novella than a full-on novel, and the plot of "normal boy falls in love with new girl in town who is not what she seems, boy becomes involved in quest as a result" is nothing new or groundbreaking. However, De Lint's writing always has certain qualities that attract me to it, principal among them his obvious understanding and empathy with the sort of people who don't fit into the framework of mainstream society--the artists and street buskers and punks and bikers and mentally disturbed homeless. "Dingo" has plenty of this stuff going on, and therefore it struck a chord in me despite the plot itself being pretty standard (not to say cliche). The best part of it was probably the ending, and I will now attempt to explain why without spoiling the story. See, the end to the whole quest comes about 50 pages from the end, but there's a long denoument in which the relationships between various characters are explored in more detail. Things didn't exactly leave off in the best of circumstances at the conclusion of the "quest" portion of the story, and afterwards, various characters attempt to repair relationships between each other, with varying rates of success. While the plot itself is, as I mentioned, pretty standard, all of this post-climactic exposition is quite original and very different from the normally expected "happy ever after" ending in fantasy literature--especially fantasy aimed at children or young adults. Were it not for the depth and originality of this ending section, I probably would only have given this book three stars. As it is, this stuff makes up for some of the less original elements of the main plotline, and does a good job of showing why Charles De Lint's work is always worth checking out, even when he's not quite on top of his game.
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