Decoding Dot Grey by Nicola Davison is a story of a quirky teenager with a unique way of existing in the world that will instantly grab your heart.

The year is 1997, Dot Grey has just moved into her own abode, a small damp basement in the home of an elderly gentleman she refers to as Magoo. With her, she has an interesting crew of small pets, no dogs, and a careless injured crow. She works at an animal shelter and has been since she was much too young to have a job. Dot is avoiding her father, she doesn’t want to visit her mother who is in a coma after a terrible accident. She doesn’t have any friends besides the crew at the shelter and is trying to live her life and avoid the pain.

Nicola Davison’ writing is compelling and spellbinding. Maybe its because the story is set in 1997 so it feels comforting or perhaps it's just the incredible way she weaves the story through tragedy and humour. It’s a story that gets right under your skin. The story was filled with tragedy, from the way animal shelters used to handle unwanted pets through euthanasia, Dot’s mother’s accident, animal abuse, dementia, the list goes on. This book could have been a depressing tale but through the whole story there was an underlying current of hope, of light. 

Dot Grey is an incredible character. Nicola Davison has given us a stubborn, head strong, compassionate, brave human being navigating the grief that’s all around her. She is the light through the cracks. Although the subject matter gets a little heavy, there is so much humour in the story. The interactions at the animal shelter with Dot and her found family are heartfelt and funny! It felt like Nicola Davison was giving us a real fly on the wall view of the ins and outs of Dot’s life.

The story is at times melancholy, devastating and joyful and will sit with readers for a long time after the last sentence is read.