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story identification - Help with identifying book about talking dog from outer space?



I read this book a long time ago, and while its name is lost to me, several details ring remarkably clear.


The premise of the book is that this boy adopts a dog who has the ability to communicate with him and other children via mind reading. He offers advice to the children and helps them deal with their problems. This one girl is sexually assaulted by the brother, and the dog gives her advice and how to talk about it. The boy develops a crush on a girl that he meets at a hotel swimming pool, and the dog explains it as ‘puppy love’ (harhar). The climax goes something like the boy is on a truck with his parents and it starts leaking gas. The dog smells it and saves them before the truck explodes. In the end, I believe the dog goes back to his home planet, because he realizes that the children are competent enough now.


The cover was somewhat of a 80-90s painting like style, with kids running and a space ship flying beneath them.


I’ve been searching for this book for ages, and am almost convinced it was some strange fever dream (ALMOST). If someone could help me, I would greatly appreciate it!



Answer



I have also been looking for this book for a long time. I read it years ago and could never remember what it was called, I only remembered that the dog was from another planet and that there was a sexual assault. I just tried a couple online databases (including the one I remember finding it on originally years ago) and finally found it! It's A Time for Evron by Bryan Smillie:



Evron, along with eleven of his dog friends, have come to Earth from another planet far away in space. They are here to see how Earth's kids respond to them. The dogs are confidantes to the young people and so the kids talk to them about their private feelings. They can always talk to their Evron friend in privacy. A number of issues arise throughout the book from first love and friendship problems, to low self-esteem, abuse and racism. Evron is always there to guide the young people. Sometimes he gives direct advice; other times, he helps them to work out decisions on their own. Every kid should have an Evron by his or her side to help out.



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