Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-5-A serious and perhaps overly emotional tale about a young girl named C.J. and her new puppy, Molly. In the same style as Cameron's previous "A Dog's Purpose" iterations, this addition is presented through a dog's-eye view, as Molly attempts to understand the world of her human. C.J. must keep Molly a secret from her extremely inattentive mother, Gloria. This is where the narrative takes a turn. Gloria is an extravagant spender who leaves her daughter unattended while she escapes on weekend ski trips. C.J. runs away for several weeks after a confrontation with her mother's boyfriend, and, oddly, Gloria does not report her daughter's disappearance or even speak to C.J.'s school. While the concept of having a hidden pet may attract young readers, some of the finer details of the plot are over-the-top and confusing. VERDICT Purchase where fans of Ellie's Story and other installments in this series are popular; a nonessential addition otherwise.-Ashley Selima, Lincoln Public Library, RI © Copyright 2017. 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
Puppy Molly is taken in by CJ but must hide in the girl's room because CJ's neglectful mother hates dogs. Eventually discovered and taken to the pound, Molly is also trained to become a cancer-sniffing dog and saves the life of CJ's teacher. Narrated by Molly, the story is sentimental and unbelievable; dark black-and-white illustrations appear throughout. A note on cancer-sniffing dogs and a reading guide are included. (c) Copyright 2018. 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.
