FICTION

Ellie's Story

by W. Bruce CAMERON
illus. by Richard Cowdrey. 208p. ebook available. Tor./Forge/Starscape. Apr. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780765374691.
COPY ISBN
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.
Reviewed by Annette Herbert, F. E. Smith Elementary School, Cortland, NY
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.
 , Mar 01, 2015

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