Chester and Gus by Cammie McGovern*

I read this middle grade novel aloud to my nine year old.  He loved it.  Even my twelve year old listened toward the end.
The novel begins when Chester, a chocolate lab, is still with his mother, hoping to be paired with "his person".  Penny, a dog trainer, takes him to her home to train him to be a service dog.  One big problem.  Loud noises scared him.  As a result, he does not pass his service dog test.  Penny, however, thinks she has discovered that he can learn to read.  She reluctantly allows him to live with a family with an autistic son, Gus.  At first Chester does not know how he can help Gus, but over time Chester learns how to read and understand him.  When Gus really needs him, he is removed from the home and living with Penny.  How can he convince her to return him to the home where "his person" is?
Ms. McGovern's one son is autistic so she authentically portrays the struggle and heart ache a family with autism experiences.
The book is told from Chester's point of view, which bothered me for a bit, but soon the story swept me away, and it was okay!
*Highly recommended by my nine year old.