Review by Booklist Review
Starting when she is a puppy, Ellie is trained as a search-and-rescue dog, and she lives with her trainer, Jakob, a dour widower who lives for the work they do. But after Jakob is shot during a rescue mission and decides to retire, Ellie is transferred to Maya, a lonely police officer who longs to prove herself, and thanks to Ellie, she just might. It's not long, however, before Ellie is injured during an out-of-country mission, and her powerful sense of smell an asset for her search-and-rescue work is compromised, and she retires, spending her latter years working in nursing homes and schools. But Ellie never stops being a hero: even in her retirement, she still manages to rescue a little boy in danger. Adapted from a portion of Cameron's adult title, A Dog's Purpose (2011), this approachable novel in a lyrical tone is from Ellie's perspective, incorporating humanlike emotions that, though perhaps requiring some suspension of disbelief, will resonate with young readers. A natural choice for dog lovers.--Roush, Suanne Copyright 2015 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-Ellie, a German shepherd puppy born with a special purpose, narrates this tale. After just weeks with her family, Ellie is taken away and trained to be a search-and-rescue dog. She understands that her job is important; she tracks down lost children and adults. But Ellie also senses that her trainers, first Jakob and then Maya, need her, too. Ellie's story is heartwarming and suspenseful as readers follow the working dog and her trainers into life-threatening situations. Black-and-white illustrations bring out Ellie's personality and add visual appeal. A discussion and activity guide at the end offer additional information about the life of a rescue dog. VERDICT A fine read for young animal lovers.-Annette Herbert, F. E. Smith Elementary School, Cortland, NY (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
German shepherd Ellie tells how she is trained from puppyhood to be a search-and-rescue dog. Her thoughts include concern for her trainers' happiness and observations about the uselessness of cats. There's suspense and action, and the human-dog interactions are heartwarming; occasional black-and-white illustrations are dark and poorly proportioned. Back matter includes search-and-rescue dog facts and a reading and activity guide. Reading list, websites. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Ellie tells the story of her training and life as a search and rescue dog.Ellie was first introduced in the adult book A Dog's Purpose (2011). In this adaptation for children, the story is all her own. Starting with her earliest days in a large litter of puppies, Ellie's narration details not only how Jakob, her trainer, selected her from among her littermates, but also the fascinating, realistic details of teaching her how to Find and Work, "games" that she comes to value. But Jakob is a frustration to her. He's grieving over the death of his wife and seems unable to love Ellie. After he's wounded by a criminal, Ellie is turned over to Maya, who has much to learn about partnering with a search and rescue dog, skills Ellie patiently helps her with. Injured during a rescue, Ellie's career seems to be over until she becomes involved in a breathtaking rescue of a small child swept into a rain-filled storm sewer. Ellie's view of the world is spot-on, feeling just like the thoughts dogs must have, particularly her disdain for cats (not worth training) and her anxious concern for people who aren't busy playing with her ("It was too bad. They had nothing to do"). Additional information on how search and rescue dogs are selected and trained is appended. A satisfying and illuminating tale. (Fiction. 9-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
