It's easy to feel brave when he's pretending to be a gladiator, battling ferocious beasts. But in real life, Leo feels like he never accomplishes anything—he can't even seem to make more than two friends, and one of those is his neighbor's little white dog, Jack Pepper.

Then, one day at school, Leo's imagination gets him in trouble, and suddenly some new friends are asking him to join them. Leo goes along, even though it means telling lies and making mischief. When things get out of hand and Jack Pepper saves Leo from his own misadventures, Leo's family and neighbors think Leo saved the dog. Leo revels in being the hero—it feels so good, even if it's a lie. But when Jack Pepper is really in danger, can Leo find the strength in himself to be the hero everyone already thinks he is?

From award-winning author Sarah Lean comes a heartwarming tale about a friendship between a boy and a dog, the power of telling the truth, and the extraordinary capacity of imagination to help you be yourself.