Skip to main content

Storm Dog

Image
By



Storm Dog 
By Laura Elliott 
Katherine Tegen Books, HarperCollins Publishers, 2020. 225 p. 

Ariel is the youngest of three kids. There is George who is deployed to Afghanistan, Gloria who has just graduated from high school and is known for her beauty—in fact has just been named an Apple Blossom Princess for a big parade. Then there is the younger Ariel. Ariel who is too smart for her own good (and thus tends to only get scorn from her mother and sister and hardly any notice from her father). After one bitter family confrontation Ariel heads into the woods of the Blue Ridge Mountains—even though there is a coming storm. There Ariel discovers Duke, a German shepherd with PTSD-like symptoms who guides her to a cabin to wait out the storm. In that cabin Ariel meets Staff Sergeant Josie (a former Army K-9 handler) with her own case of PTSD. It is there in that cabin that Ariel starts to plan to make her own decisions and to be proud of herself—a plan which inevitably will lead to another grand (and public) display of disappointment from her mother and sister. 

This is a good book for kids who love dogs and fight for underdogs—both animals and people. There is a lot of self-discovery and hope wrapped into one spectacular dog-show of a distraction that gets the attention not only of Ariel’s parents but the whole town. Underlying issues of army veterans dealing with PTSD, what is considered right or wrong for relationships, and some race/discrimination are all thrown in for good measure. There is a lot to unpack in this story—but kids who love animals and spunky kids like Ariel will find a lot to enjoy.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If You Like...KPop Demon Hunters

By
KPop Demon Hunters has been one of the most talked-about movies of the summer. If you loved this movie as much as I did, you don't want the magic (or the music) to stop. Try reading these books that touch on some of the same topics and themes as the animated hit! Brick Dust and Bones By M. R. Fournet New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2023. Fiction. 247 pages. Orphaned Marius works in the family business--as their cemetery's ghost caretaker. However, Marius also moonlights as a monster hunter in order to earn the costly Mystic currency he needs to bring his mother back from the dead. As the window to bring his mother back begins to close, Marius's exploits get more and more dangerous, and he may have set his sights on a monster too big to handle on his own. Like Mira, Marius longs for familial connection, and his work as a monster hunter will satisfy the thrill of demon hunting for fans the movie. Where's Halmoni? By Julie J. Kim Seattle, WA: Little Bigfoot, 2017. Comics. W...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Faves: Witchy Intermediates

By
Hee hee hee! Hello, my pretties! Here are five short, illustrated chapter books for the season of the witch - some sweet, some spooky, all magical.  The Knitting Witch Written by Norma Kassirer Illustrated by Mark Richardson. Oakland, California : The Collective Book Studio, 2024. Intermediate. 88 pages. Outrageously spoiled Ivy Lou meets her match when a witch appears and tries to trick her into becoming her child. Ivy Lou must unravel the witch's dark magic and save her parents. A modern classic in the register of Roald Dahl, with mischief, humor and spookiness. Witchycakes: Sweet Magic  Written by Kara LaReau Illustrated by Ariane Moreira. New York : Random House Children's Books, 2025. Intermediate. 76 pages. Witchycakes  owes a lot to  Kiki's Delivery Service : a cute newbie witch making and delivering baked goods to the residents of their dreamy seaside town. It's cozy and sweet with lots of glowy illustrations. New Girl: Diary of an Accidental Witch Written by...
Post a Comment
Read more

If You Like... Spooky Season Informational Books

By
It's that eerie time of year, and you may have started wondering about all the whys and hows behind our spookiest traditions. Well then, non-fiction readers, celebrate—because this is the list for you! Here are some of the latest publications covering everything from ghoulicious cooking to haunting locales to spooky global celebrations and stories for this bone-chilling season! Spooky Celebrations Around the World Written by Matt Ralphs Illustrated by Veronika Kotyk  New York; London: Phaidon, 2024. Informational. 47 pages.  Dive into a global tour of fascinating festivals in Spooky Celebrations Around the World . Beyond familiar favorites like Halloween and Día de Muertos, this vibrant book introduces young readers to 21 unique celebrations honoring spirits across every continent. With playful, yet respectful text and stunning artwork, it's a brilliant, year-round read that will spark curiosity about cultural traditions and the world. Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious ...
Post a Comment
Read more