Bryan Reilly's middle-grade fantasy novel, The Junkyard, illustrated by Rich Denver, has been honored with the Literary Titan Gold Book Award in the Children's Book category. The novel has also received the BlueInk Review Notable Book Seal, as well as 5-Star Review Awards from Readers' Favorite and LitPick.com.
The Junkyard follows Ninja, a pit bull forced into the brutal world of dog fighting who would rather suffer than hurt another dog. After deliberately losing in the fighting ring of the cruel junkyard owner Mr. Fergusen, she is punished and abandoned at the edge of a nearby forest. A tribe of stray junkyard dogs discovers her, gives her a new name, Maytag, and nurses her back to health inside their hidden home among wrecked cars, appliances, tires, and trains.
For the first time, Maytag experiences love, safety, and belonging. But peace is fragile. Saab, the aggressive Rottweiler from the southern junkyard, joins forces with Canis, a vengeful forest wolf, in a plan to conquer the northern junkyard. If conflict turns the junkyard into a warzone, Mr. Fergusen may send the strays to the put-down place. As danger closes in, Maytag must decide whether her new family is worth fighting for.
Literary Titan praised The Junkyard as "moving, heartfelt, and beautifully written," calling it "a must-read for young readers ready to dive into emotionally rich fiction" and "an absolute gift for dog lovers of any age." The review highlights the novel's emotional intelligence, vivid prose, and powerful message that gentleness is not weakness.
Reilly's inspiration for The Junkyard grew from several personal and cultural moments, including his reflections on storytelling after seeing Star Wars: Episode I, his experience in lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001, and his deep love for dogs. The result is an adventurous yet emotionally layered story about violence, recovery, found family, resilience, and the courage it takes to choose kindness.
The Junkyard offers young readers a timely and compassionate message: kindness can be a form of strength. Through Maytag's journey from trauma to healing, Reilly explores the importance of staying true to one's values, accepting help from others, and breaking cycles of harm.
Readers can purchase The Junkyard by Bryan Reilly on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Middle-grade readers, parents, educators, librarians, and dog lovers looking for an emotionally rich adventure about courage, compassion, and found family are encouraged to discover this award-winning novel today.
About the Author
Bryan Reilly is a marketing copywriter, content creator, and author of The Junkyard, a middle-grade fantasy that previously earned semi-finalist recognition in the ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition. His love for movies and books such as Watership Down by Richard Adams and The Body by Stephen King helped inspire the novel, which began as an emotional pen-to-paper reaction to Star Wars: Episode I.
Reilly began 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. Through that unique experience, he learned how to edit collaboratively, bind and promote materials, and support emerging creative voices.
Bryan Reilly lives in Connecticut with his wife, son, and story-inspiring pit bull mix.
Email: thejunkyardbook@gmail.com
Media Contact
Name
Literary Titan
Contact name
Bryan Reilly
Country
United States
Url
https://www.thejunkyardbook.com/
COMTEX_484067571/2888/2026-06-17T13:11:48
