Title: Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping
Author: Craig Silvey
Illustrator: Sara Acton
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
Publication date: September 30 2025
Themes: Love, family and friendship, truth and honesty, identity and belonging, selflessness, kindness and care, community and rural Australia, dance and the arts.
A comprehensive teaching resource is available on the publisher’s website here
Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping by Craig Silvey, illustrations by Sara Acton and published by Allen and Unwin, ticks all the boxes for a stupendous sequel to Runt. It honours the original story yet contains new challenges for Annie Shearer and Runt, as this story masterfully builds upon the world of Upson Downs with surprising twists. Returning to Upson Downs feels familiar, uplifting and comforting, while also new and thrilling. This time the stakes are higher, there are familiar faces to reconnect with and new characters to meet who ensure plot twists abound as loyalties are questioned, courage is shown, secrets, regrets and personal histories are divulged, and change is embraced. Relationships (some unlikely) deepen, characters are tested in unexpected ways and fascinating backstories are revealed. The inventive mystery plot empowers readers to immerse themselves in the story, rather than passively read along, as readers play detective to consider and evaluate clues, making the enthralling mystery even more enticing and suspenseful. At the core of this story is the transformative power of kindness, friendship, truth, redemption and legacy. The story serves as an excellent gateway to rich conversations about loneliness, feeling seen and valued in a community and the role the media can play in responsibly and ethically reporting the truth. It explores the consequences when misinformation is presented and how this fuels suspicion, speculation and polarises opinions in a once close-knit community causing a fractured, divided town. This sequel also delivers in spades Silvey’s trademark sharp wordplay and clever wit. This story is a shining example of the power of unwavering kindness, selfless compassion and empathy. It illustrates how these virtues can be a catalyst for profound change to embrace the gift of second chances and experience life with a renewed purpose and richness.
This story begins six weeks after Annie Shearer and Runt against all odds displayed an indomitable spirit that rewarded them with their thrilling win of the Krumpets Dog Show. Together, this much-loved duo help put Upson Downs on the map as it has become a sought after destination for people to visit. The town is vibrant once again, there is a renewed sense of optimism in the community and the mayor, Barry Cassserole, sees an opportunity for even more people to be attracted to Upson Downs. He calls a meeting to announce Upson Downs will be hosting the Tournament of Champions Dog Show, a global competition attracting entrants from all over the world.
Shortly after this tournament is announced Runt mysteriously vanishes. The Shearers wake to peculiar and mysterious clues around Runt’s kennel. There are more questions than answers as to where Runt could be until a note appears on the community board stating that Runt has been dognapped.
Newcomers to town, reporter Rupert Broadsheet and his daughter Verity write for the local newspaper and report “news” about Runt. Max Shearer joins forces with the Broadsheet’s and works closely with Verity to use the information and clues to shed light on who is responsible for taking Runt.
With time not on Annie’s side and the tournament date looming, Annie decides that Little Annie, her grandmother’s dog, will be trained up to compete on the agility course. Much to Annie’s surprise she learns that Little Annie is a dancing dog so she must learn to dance to compete in the dancing section, if they have any chance in the tournament. This time, it is Annie who freezes and is rooted to the ground when she is meant to be performing. Dancing feels like a language she will never be communicating, it does not make sense to her.
Sergeant, Duncan Bayleaf promptly locks up Fergus Fink as the prime suspect of the alleged dognapping. After some nifty detective work and interviewing Fergus, Annie Shearer concludes that Fergus Fink is innocent. While in his cell he assists Annie for the upcoming tournament. It is Fergus Fink who recommends she seeks out Cha Cha Galore who was once a world-famous dancer. Cha Cha teaches Annie powerful lessons about dance and what she must do to deliver an outstanding performance.
With mere days until the tournament begins, Rupert Broadsheet continues to deliver daily reports. Max Shearer works with Verity leaving no stone unturned. Their sleuth like skills, deep curiosity and perseverance uncover a new character, Runt’s former owner.
The highly anticipated day of the tournament sees this tale pirouette into such a surprising and compelling direction. The story sashays through uncovered secrets, tangoes with truths, and waltzes through darkness and light, pain, revelation and healing. Annie and Little Annie’s spellbinding performance is abruptly stopped by the appearance of Runt who is gravely ill in the arms of a character no one recognises, except Annie Shearer.
The final part of the story will once again have readers willing Runt on with every fibre of their being.
The return of Runt brings truths to light and clarity blooms, weaving every thread of the story into a deeply fulfilling, utterly unforgettable and uplifting tapestry.