MY REVIEW
The Junkyard follows Ninja, a pit bull forced into brutal dog fights by the cruel Mr. Fergusen. When she deliberately loses a fight rather than hurt her friend, she is left for dead outside the junkyard. But that should have been the end of her story. It isn’t.
Rescued by a secret community of abandoned dogs, Ninja is given a new name, Maytag, and a chance at a different life. Soon she discovers that the junkyard is divided by rival packs, hidden tunnels, strict rules, and dangers lurking beyond the fence. the-junkyard-for-review (file) …
Maytag wants nothing more to do with fighting, but survival keeps dragging her back toward the skills she is trying to escape. With wolves closing in and tensions rising inside the yard, she must decide what strength really means.
Dark, funny, suspenseful, and surprisingly heartfelt, this is an exciting animal adventure about courage, loyalty, freedom, and second chances.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The Junkyard
Written by Bryan Reilly
Illustrated by Rich Denver
Ages: 8-12 | 192 Pages
Publisher: Bryan Reilly (2026) | ISBN-13: 979-8903103942
Publisher’s Book Summary: Ninja is a pit bull who would rather die than hurt another dog. When she purposefully loses in the fighting ring of a cruel junkyard owner, Mr. Fergusen, she is punished and left for dead at the edge of a nearby forest. A tribe of stray junkyard dogs finds her and gives her a new name, Maytag. They nurse her back to health and welcome her into their secret home inside the northern junkyard’s mountains of wrecked cars, appliances, tires, and trains. For the first time, Maytag feels love and is incredibly relieved to be free of Mr. Fergusen’s fighting ring.
But her relief is short-lived.
Saab, the aggressive Rottweiler of the southern junkyard, plans to conquer the north with the help of a vengeful forest wolf. If the junkyard becomes a warzone, Mr. Fergusen will surely take the strays to the put-down place. When Saab’s plan is set in motion, Maytag must decide if her new friends are worth fighting for.
PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bryan Reilly is a marketing copywriter, content creator, and author of The Junkyard, an award-winning middle-grade fantasy that explores kindness as courage, compassion, and found family. His love for movies and books such as Watership Down by Richard Adams and The Body by Stephen King inspired The Junkyard, which began as an emotional pen-to-paper reaction to Star Wars: Episode I.
Bryan started ‘writing for his livelihood’ in 2005, after using corporate severance money to rent a New York City loft for the Unpublished Underground, an art gallery for aspiring writers. Opening and running an ‘underground loft’ was truly a unique experience. He learned how to edit collaboratively, bind and promote materials, and bid a hasty farewell to corporate severance money!
Bryan lives in Connecticut with his wife, son, and story-inspiring pit bull mix.
Learn more at www.thejunkyardbook.com.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Rich Denver is a professional illustrator, graphic designer, dog owner, and Navy veteran. He served in the U.S. Submarine fleet under the ice of the North Pole and has a unique appreciation for the tight spaces and camaraderie enjoyed by the dogs of The Junkyard.
*Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Bryan Reilly. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.
GIVEAWAY
Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win one of three signed paperback copies of The Junkyard. One lucky grand prize winner will receive the ultimate book-lover’s bundle: a signed paperback copy of The Junkyard plus a $50 Amazon gift card and a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card!
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