THE JUNKYARD

“In Reilly’s fantasy novel, dogs face life-and-death challenges in a junkyard in the woods. This compelling tale will resonate with dog lovers, even those who are older than its middle school target audience. The author’s respect for animals is clearly reflected in his observations of canine behavior, including their body language and their social, playful, and aggressive interactions. The only humans in the narrative are the vile Mr. Fergusen, who runs a dogfighting enterprise in his junkyard garage, and his avid customers. All the other characters are animals, who speak to one another (but not to humans), form communities, and strategize. Exhausted pit bull Ninja is about to enter the ring, goaded by Fergusen and bloodthirsty men who “stink of rotten souls.” Unable to take any more abuse, Ninja decides that she won’t fight. There’s an authentic appeal to readers’ emotions in her decision and in what this “entertainment” entails, and the author doesn’t sugarcoat the dehumanizing reality of dogfighting, or the cruelty of a dog owner “who hates dogs so much that he starves their bellies, tortures their bodies, and conditions their minds toward violence.” Most of the story, though, happens among dogs in the junkyard, and, memorably, in the nearby forest. At one point, Dodge, one of the junkyard’s “free” watchdogs, orders his secret crew of abandoned strays to bring the half-dead Ninja to his home; heaps of detritus (tires, TVs, home appliances, auto parts, empty freight railcars, and more) form tunnels and lairs on the north side, where Dodge and his crew live. On the south side, a rival pack resides, led by another watchdog, Saab, who’s broken the two groups’ uneasy truce. Dodge is hopeful that having a pit bull on their side will even the odds. Multiple conflicts then collide involving Dodge and Saab, Fergusen’s timid house dog, a vengeful wolf, a murderous mastiff, and an enraged grizzly bear. As the book heads toward its adrenaline-charged conclusion, excellent characterization gives the narrative dimension and emotional resonance. The entire story is enhanced by Denver’s expressive, watercolor-style illustrations. An affecting mix of fantasy, harsh reality, and high-stakes action. ”

Kirkus Reviews

“A Starred Review and Notable Book Seal from BlueInk Review. Bryan Reilly's immersive novel The Junkyard concerns a group of stray dogs living in a junkyard and the cruel owner of the establishment who pits the strongest of them against one another in the barbaric sport of dog fighting. When Ninja, a pacifist pit bull, intentionally loses a fight, she’s tossed out and left for dead by the mean junkyard owner, Fergusen. A group of roaming canines led by German Shepherd Dodge help Ninja recover. They rename her Maytag (based on the discarded item nearest to her when she was found) and welcome her into their fold in the northern part of the junkyard, where they have secretly taken up residence. Meanwhile, on the yard’s south side, the aggressive Rottweiler Saab aims to take over the entire junkyard with the help of a one-eared wolf from the surrounding forest who seeks revenge for his father’s death. Soon, Maytag must decide whether to remain passive or help protect his newfound friends. Reilly vividly paints this literary junkyard and the surrounding landscape with fine detail. From the mountains of tires to the walls of broken-down cars and appliances, his descriptions bring readers into the animals’ secret hideaways and tunnels. He also creates page-turning tension, via the brutality of dog fights, the blast of Fergusen's "thunderstick" and other ominous occurrences. Readers will find themselves absorbed in the harsh battle between canines and humans. The animals’ dialogue is natural and sometimes funny (“Sniff my butt, house dog!” retorts one dog when insulted by another). And Rich Denver's full-color illustrations, scattered throughout, effectively complement the intricate, well-crafted prose. While The Junkyard seems intended for middle-grade readers, the story—with its message of peace over violence, strength in kindness, and uniting with others toward a positive goal—should attract a much wider audience. Rich in canine characters, with its unique narrative told from their perspective, this emotional journey will entertain dog lovers of all ages.”

BlueInk Review

“Loved it! 😍 4 of 5 stars A dark and emotional story told through the eyes of a kindhearted pit bull about survival, family, and choosing who you want to become. The Junkyard is a dark and emotional story about survival, cruelty, loyalty, and hope. It follows a pit bull first known as Ninja, later called Maytag, as she is forced to fight in an underground dog-fighting ring. She learns that if she can survive seven wins, she may earn a different life as a junkyard watchdog. That small chance of freedom drives the early part of the book and gives Maytag’s journey real weight. After the fighting pits, Maytag enters the dangerous world of the junkyard itself. There, she joins a pack of dogs trying to survive under the control of Mr. Fergusen, a harsh man who treats animals as property instead of living creatures. The junkyard is more than just a setting. With its rusted cars, sharp metal, and endless scraps, it mirrors the damaged lives of the dogs who live there. One of the book’s strongest features is its cast of animal characters. Each dog has a clear personality and role in the story. Dodge, the German Shepherd leader, brings wisdom and strength, while Lexus helps hold the pack together. Maytag stands out most of all. Her growth from a brutalized fighter into someone capable of love, trust, and courage gives the novel its heart. Bryan Reilly also does a good job making the dogs feel believable rather than cartoonish. They are expressive and emotional, but they still feel grounded in the harsh world they inhabit. The use of car-brand names like Lexus, Fiat, and Impala is a smart detail that fits the junkyard setting and quietly reinforces the idea that these animals have been cast aside. The second half of the novel becomes even more intense as outside dangers close in, including the mysterious Monster and the threatening One-Eared Wolf, Canis. At times, the constant action can feel heavy, especially near the final battle. Even so, the fast pace matches the danger of the world and keeps the tension high. Overall, The Junkyard is a gripping and often heartbreaking read. Fans of animal-centered survival stories will likely connect with its themes of resilience, belonging, and redemption. It is a tough story, but a rewarding one. ”

Reedsy Discovery

“A splendid mix of fantasy and adventure starring a remarkable dog having to survive ill treatment and facing the question of putting her life on the line in defense of her canine friends. An interesting, original, and fascinating read, "The Junkyard" by author/storyteller Bryan Reilly and artist/illustrator Rich Denver, will be of particular interest to young readers who enjoy original stories featuring dogs and dealing with the issue of animal cruelty. "The Junkyard" is especially and unreservedly recommended for family, community, and K-12 school library General Fiction collections for ages 8-18.”

Midwest Book Review

“Raw, immersive, and emotionally rich. In Reilly’s compelling novel, a pacifist pit bull, rescued from a brutal fighting ring and given a new life among stray dogs in a hidden junkyard sanctuary, must decide whether to fight when ruthless rivals threaten to destroy her newfound family. Maytag didn’t expect to survive. Once a pit bull named Ninja, she chose death over harming another dog in Mr. Fergusen’s brutal fighting ring. Left for dead, she’s rescued by Dodge and welcomed into a hidden tribe of junkyard strays. For the first time, she finds belonging. But peace is short-lived. When Saab and a vengeful wolf threaten war, Maytag must decide if protecting her new family is worth breaking her vow against violence. With the grit of classic animal survival fiction and a layered coming-of-age core, Reilly brings the junkyard to life. Driven by Maytag’s emotional conflict, the narrative examines compassion in a harsh, unforgiving world. Rich character dynamics, ever-present human threat, and a vivid setting add to themes of belonging, identity, and moral responsibility. A gripping and emotionally resonant story that asks whether peace can survive in a world built on violence, and what it truly means to fight for those you love.”

The Prairies Book Review

“Winner of the Literary Titan Gold Book Award in the Children's Book Category. Bryan Reilly’s The Junkyard, illustrated by Rich Denver, is one of those middle-grade stories that quietly slips past your defenses. At first glance, it is a story set in a junkyard. Beneath that gritty surface, however, is something far more tender. This is a story about choosing peace in a world shaped by violence. It is about finding family in the most unexpected places. Ninja is a pit bull trapped in the brutal world of dog fighting, a bloodthirsty and morbid sport that strips animals of dignity, safety, and trust. She would rather lose than harm another living creature. She would rather suffer than become what others demand. After she deliberately throws a fight, her cruel owner, Mr. Fergusen, abandons her at the edge of a forest and leaves her for dead. Yet what seems like an ending becomes a beginning. A tribe of scrappy junkyard strays discovers her, renames her Maytag, nurses her back to health, and offers her something she has never truly known: love. As a dog lover, I found myself caught between heartbreak and joy with every turn of the page. The horror of the fighting ring left me enraged and gutted. Then came the warmth of Maytag settling into her ragtag new family, and the story opened into something gentle, hopeful, and deeply moving. That peace does not last. When the aggressive Rottweiler Saab and a vengeful forest wolf named Canis set their sights on the northern junkyard, Maytag must face the question she has been running from: can a dog who refuses to fight bring herself to protect the ones she loves? It is a question with real emotional weight, and Reilly handles it with care, restraint, and courage. What impressed me most was the writing. Reilly does not talk down to his readers. His prose is vivid, thoughtful, and emotionally intelligent. Each scene is painted with enough texture that the junkyard seems to rise from the page. You can almost feel the rusted steel, the cold ground, and the shared warmth of the pack huddled together. Rich Denver’s illustrations are sparse, yet effective. They appear at just the right moments, giving shape to characters the prose has already made unforgettable. The message woven through this story is powerful without ever feeling preachy. Maytag’s journey, from a life of forced violence to one of chosen love, reminds young readers that gentleness is not weakness. Kindness, in this story, becomes its own form of bravery. For anyone who has ever loved a dog, The Junkyard will feel deeply personal. Readers will root for Maytag with their whole hearts. Moving, heartfelt, and beautifully written, Reilly’s novel is a must-read for young readers ready to dive into emotionally rich fiction. It is also an absolute gift for dog lovers of any age. ”

Literary Titan

“The Junkyard is an engaging novel with prose bearing morality that depicts lessons gotten from the protagonist’s choice. One of these moral lessons centered around compassion, which resulted from Maytag’s intentional refusal to fight. This was an unusual emotion for a character like her (being an animal), but Reilly used it to show that violence does not really have to be the surviving factor; expressing compassion can also stand as a moral choice, and the story insisted that this value remains the stronger alternative when trying to choose between compassion and violence. The novel also went on to highlight the topic of animal treatment. The author used the narrative to express the pain, both emotionally and physically, that animals used for entertainment usually face. It is painful to see these atrocities imposed on them, and so this part urges readers to pause and rethink their behaviors toward vulnerable animals. Do they use them for entertainment or profit? If yes, then that would be cruelty. Since the protagonist's life at the beginning was filled with violence and wickedness, Maytag did not let the trauma grow with her, nor did she let it define her. After being saved by the group of stray dogs, she began to transform into a newfound version of herself she slowly discovered. This part posed a message to readers that whatever trauma has been faced by an individual can still be healed, gradually. There might have been scars imprinted in the heart left by the past, but recovery is possible, and with time those scars will fade away. The illustrations were a part of the novel that showed the animals' world. The imagery captured various moments, bringing the environment vividly to life in the minds of readers. The picturing of the junkyard feels more than just a location; it was a place where the dogs found solace, away from the humans, and a shelter to the homeless. The Junkyard tells the story of survival and the courage to do what is right in cases of wrong. For Maytag, she set a clear example of good morals, and she invites all readers to emulate these values. To those who have faced or experienced any sort of trauma, with the right place and right friends, healing is possible. Readers who are interested in animal stories with moral reflection will enjoy this, but I will particularly recommend it to young readers because its characters and lessons will reach deep into their hearts. ”

LitPick.com

“5-Star Review! An exciting, suspenseful narrative featuring a cast of memorable canine characters. My nine-year-old and twelve-year-old both loved it and were hooked at each chapter to find out what would happen next. Each dog has a unique, charming, and complex characterization, and the plot keeps you compelled because the stakes are high and the dangers are real. I loved the imaginative descriptions of the junkyard - you can really picture the dogs navigating this gritty but fun setting. Highly recommended! ”

Goodreads

“5-Star Review! The Junkyard is a gripping and emotionally resonant story that follows Maytag, a discarded pitbull who finds new purpose among a pack of junkyard dogs fighting for survival, freedom, and family. What I love about the story is how it blends suspense, adventure, and deep emotion, which pulled me into a vividly imagined world where every character has clear motivations and distinct personalities that drive the plot. I also appreciate how the story avoids the typical “single hero” trope. Instead, several characters play meaningful roles in resolving the conflict, which makes the twists feel fresh and unpredictable. From intense battles to touching moments of loyalty and sacrifice, The Junkyard delivers a powerful message about duty, family, and the universal desire for freedom. I found the story both thrilling and deeply moving, and it stayed with me long after I finished reading. Highly recommended! ”

Goodreads

“5-Star Review! A fast-paced and thrilling story of friendship, loyalty, and courage. I think middle grade readers (and beyond) will love the vivid, detailed descriptions of the characters, the action, and the environment where it all takes place. Even beyond the beautiful storytelling and illustrations, this story has so much heart! I was invested in the characters right away, and I had trouble putting it down.”

Goodreads