Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this moving tale of animal friendship and found family by Warga (A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall), a rescue dog befriends an orphaned cheetah cub as part of a zoo's conservation program. When her mother abruptly dies, Chase is left alone as the only cheetah in the facility. Meanwhile, pooch Finnegan--discovered lost and injured in the woods--is adopted by sympathetic humans, one of whom is the zoo's lead cheetah trainer. After Finnegan recovers, he's partnered with Chase as a cheetah ambassador dog. Following an initial adjustment period, the two young animals become inseparable friends, with Finnegan giving Chase much-needed confidence and companionship. In return, Chase provides steadfast comfort for Finnegan, who struggles to manage his fear of storms and abandonment. The animalian protagonists' spare dual third-person POVs present a charming story that examines human and animal interactions by centering the growing emotional bond between Chase and Finnegan as well as their human handlers. Drawing inspiration from similar real-life programs, per an author's note, Warga offers an accessible point of entry for curious animal lovers, culminating in a compassionate work that additionally addresses issues of anxiety and trauma. Background human characters cue as racially diverse. Ages 8--12. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Book Group. (Mar.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5--8--Veteran Crouch immediately immerses listeners in Warga's heart-expanding, soul-comforting love story of found family. Odd-numbered chapters belong to Finnegan, injured and lost in the woods until kind human Ryan rescues him and nurtures him back to health. Even-numbered chapters feature Chase, a lone cheetah cub whose mother dies, leaving her in the gentle care of human Basma, the lead cheetah trainer for the zoo's conservation and ambassador program. Basma also happens to be Ryan's partner. Basma brings Finn and Chase together for potential friendship; their initial wariness steadfastly develops into an unbreakable, unconditional bond. With Basma's guidance, the pair become zoo's most remarkable ambassadorial pair. Ryan cues white, Basma Lena Abdallah is likely Palestinian American: Ryan cooks Basma's favorite dish for his marriage proposal meal--musakhan, considered the national dish of Palestine. VERDICT Crouch embodies every single emotion--grab those tissues!--as two animals and two humans become a forever family.
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Review by Horn Book Review
A wounded dog wanders, lost in the woods, while a recently orphaned cheetah cub named Chase lives at a zoo. The dog is found by a kind man named Ryan who takes care of his injury, adopts him, and names him Finnegan. Ryan's partner, Basma, works at the zoo and cares for Chase, giving her bottles of milk and lots of love. These events launch two stories, narrated from the alternating perspectives of dog and cheetah, that eventually intersect. As Finnegan learns to trust humans again, his intelligence and trainability make themselves evident, and Basma believes he can be a "cheetah ambassador dog": a companion that can provide comfort, socialization, and support for Chase. Basma teaches both animals to perform a short routine, during which she educates the zoo audience on conservation. Short chapters trace the friendship that develops between the two animals. But don't let the cute narrators fool you: this novel takes on weighty emotions such as shame, fear of abandonment, and self-destructive behaviors in ways that will be accessible and relatable to a young audience. An author's note details the basis for the story in the Cincinnati Zoo's cheetah guard-dog program; "fun facts" about cheetahs and dogs are also appended. julie hakim AzzamMarch/April 2026 p.73 (c) Copyright 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
A runaway former shelter dog and an orphaned cheetah cub bond in friendship. Chase the cheetah cub, grieving for her mother, is nurtured and bottle-fed by zoo employee Basma Abdallah. Finnegan the dog, injured by a fox after being chased off by his angry former owner, is found and cared for by Basma's partner, Ryan. Warga's gentle tale of animal comradeship focuses firmly on the experiences of each animal protagonist, letting their personalities inform the story. Finnegan's memories of his previous home are tinged with internalized guilt after being labeled a "bad dog." He's amusingly food-focused and knows a bit about the world from watching television and seeing pictures in books. He dislikes cats and has opinions about rabbits and squirrels. When Basma brings Finnegan with her to work at the zoo, he overcomes his feline aversions and warms to the cub, finding her puffy baby fur and clumsiness appealing. The friendship between the creatures is warmly empathetic. Finnegan takes a benign, big-brotherly role, encouraging Chase to trust Basma's clicker training, part of a demonstration for zoo audiences to support the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Chase, in her turn, reminds Finnegan that he's cared for and that she's his friend and part of his family. To's soft, tender black-and-white illustrations perfectly complement the sweet, sometimes heart-wrenching narrative. Basma is cued Palestinian American, and Ryan reads white. An endearing, deeply moving story of healing. (animal facts, author's note, resources)(Fiction. 7-11) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
