Review by GiGi Kang
Nimbus Publishing Limited, 2022
288 pages, Paperback, $21.95 CAD, 978-1-77471-056-2
Young Adult, Ages 14+
Fiction
The shelter squats behind an industrial park. A house that grew awkwardly into its new purpose, first one wing then the other, it’s brick on the sides and wooden in the middle, like a hopeless airplane. Above the door are large wooden letters, ARS, for Animal Rescue Shelter, just one letter off from spelling arse, inspiring the occasional prank call from bored adolescents. The windows are too small on the sides and too big in the front. If I had my way, we’d block them off so people couldn’t peer in at us when the “closed” sign is displayed, as it is right now. Three cars are in the parking lot, waiting for the sign to turn. People hover with sad stories. Trouble is, it’s easier, faster, to say yes to them than no. It’s how I ended up with four of my pets.
It is autumn on the East coast of Canada in 1997. Eighteen-year-old Dot Grey lives alone in a dank basement with a handful of animals. Her landlord is an old man with a strict no-animals policy. Decoding Dot Grey is a tender story about a teenage girl navigating personal loss for the first time, distancing herself from her worst memories, and trying to find refuge in animals instead.
Dot works at the Animal Rescue Shelter where she meets and treats all kinds of animals who are without homes or are injured. Dot’s father—who she communicates with via pager or his calls to the shelter—struggles to understand why she chooses to be around suffering at the shelter. Her mother, an animal lover, is in a coma following a disastrous accident, and the shelter is a refuge for Dot. She doesn’t have any friends, but she has her co-workers. Judy runs the shelter and looks out for Dot, sensitive to her mother’s condition. Rachel, the most convivial character, is an artistic college student who attempts to uncover Dot’s guarded personality. Joe is the new hire who Rachel is convinced has a crush on Dot. The three of them—Dot, Rachel, and Joe—begin to spend more time together until a secret shakes their new-found friendship.
Davison’s prose is specific and unambiguous, mirroring Dot’s outlook on life. Dot’s quiet moments with animals, such as crawling in spaces with dogs at the shelter, demonstrate Dot’s gentle nature that she otherwise keeps to herself. These moments make her likeable as readers see her warmness, however, she has a tendency to be mistrusting and glum which prevents meaningful connections with humans specifically.
There is a perpetual barrier between Dot and the people she engages with, including her father. Dealing with her mother’s unconsciousness, she suppresses joyful emotions. While her love for animals brings some joy and the novel is successful in showcasing life through personal loss, its sorrow may be too much for some readers. After all her hard work at the shelter, personal struggles, and care for the menagerie of animals she has adopted, Dot deserves more happy moments between the difficult ones.
Decoding Dot Grey is a heavy novel, depicting personal loss, depression, isolation, and the euthanasia of animals. While there is levity through Dot’s co-workers, her appreciation for nature, and familial love, the novel is still better suited for older teens. Fans of Francisco X. Stork will recognize a similar fearlessness in Davison’s depiction of difficult matters that real teens face.
GiGi Kang is a UBC graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. She is a creative writer, writing poetry, fiction, and screenplays. At The Luna Collective, she interviews creatives from around the world, and reviews latest music and film releases. Read more at gigikang.com.
YOUNG ADULTING 