Book review: ‘You Can Call Me Clover’
You Can Call Me Clover: A Dog Rescue Story by Darcy Kate. Four Leaf Press, 2025. Softcover, 330 pages
Juggling school, work, and a troubled father, 16-year-old Logan doesn’t have an easy life. Perhaps that is why he feels empathy for a hungry dog hanging around the restaurant where he works. Drawn to Logan by his kindness — and the scent of food — the pup, Clover, finds herself befriended and on the way to a nearby animal rescue group.
So begins Darcy Kate’s captivating debut young adult novel about dog rescue in general and one dog in particular. Logan’s home situation precludes his adopting the curious and friendly canine, so he leaves Clover in the capable hands of the rescue group’s manager, Miranda. But Logan begins volunteering for the group — along with his girlfriend, Kylie — out of a genuine love for dogs.
How the two teens find themselves in a budding romance and trying to help find Clover her home makes for a good read while also educating readers on the work, patience, and compassion involved in animal rescue. The author’s choosing to alternate points of view between Logan and Clover works very well, especially as she has Clover’s thoughts, reactions, and actions down pat.
You Can Call Me Clover is a novel sure to appeal to a wide young adult audience while making important points about the need for empathy and care for dogs in need.
Are you the author or publisher of a book about animals that you would like considered for review? Please send the details to editor@bestfriends.org.
Let's make every shelter and every community no-kill
Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets.
Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.
You can help save homeless pets
You can help end the killing in shelters and save the lives of homeless pets when you foster, adopt, and advocate for the dogs and cats who need it most.
Saving lives around the country
Together, we're creating compassionate no-kill communities nationwide for pets and the people who care for them.
Let’s be friends!
Connect with us on social media to stay in the loop about the lifesaving progress we’re making together.
