Winner of the 2025 Royal Palm Literary Award for Early Readers/Chapter Book, author Joanna Michaels, tells the story of twelve-year-old Izzy O'Hare who steals a puppy to save it from being abandoned. Problem is, her nine-year-old brother, William, is allergic to dogs, and in her heart of hearts, Izzy believes her grandmother won't allow her to keep the puppy, not just because William is allergic, but because Izzy believes William is Gram's favorite. In her struggle to keep the puppy, Izzy conceives of a plan to cure William's allergies. Danger surfaces, however, when her plan backfires, placing William's life in jeopardy. When Gram rushes William to the hospital, Izzy's shame compels her to take the puppy and run away from home.