Carl's dog Mooch has died, and his heart is breaking. He spends all his time daydreaming about his lost friend. He doesn't care about anything anymore, about food, about school, about his friends. First he lost his dad, then Mooch--Carl's afraid of what he might lose next.
Carl especially doesn't care about Gary's annoying puppy, Dumpling. Carl and Gary didn't get along at all, but since Mooch died he's been coming over to Carl's with Dumpling, trying to cheer him up. When Gary offers to give Dumpling to Carl, he realizes the puppy isn't as stupid as he looks. Carl soon finds that although he's lost one friend, he's gained another.
Mooch Forever is a touching story of one boy's loss, and how it is tempered by friendship. (1997)