A high-quality tear-jerker about man’s best friend.
A moving children’s tale about the ineffable bond between a boy and a canine as they come to terms with God’s plan for them.
Jeremy, an 8-year-old who lives on a farm with his parents, is very excited when their family dog, Ginger, gives birth to five adorable puppies. He knows that the pups will only be on the farm for a couple of months before his parents give them away, so he tries to spend as much time with them as possible. What he doesn’t expect, however, is the connection that he quickly forms with the biggest of the litter, whom he affectionately calls Achilles. (Ginger, unknown to Jeremy, had already named the pup Thunder.) Achilles feels the same way about the boy; it’s a friendship unlike any other. Unfortunately, Jeremy’s parents make it clear that they can’t afford to have another dog, so Achilles will have to find a different home, like all the other pups. Heartbroken, Jeremy tries to thwart his parents’ efforts by dissuading would-be adopters while also trying to cherish every moment with his beloved pet. All the while, Achilles tries to accept God’s will for whatever he has in mind for him—even if it isn’t a life with Jeremy. Ellis’ debut switches smoothly between Jeremy’s and Achilles’ perspectives. The author masterfully uses crisp details to paint clear pictures of settings and emotions, and as a result, readers will likely become absorbed by the story. Ellis also takes several moments to expound on important life lessons, subtly touch on Christian doctrine, and even show genuine, positive parent-child interactions. Although it’s often a difficult feat to humanize animals, Ellis does it well, keeping things as realistic as possible; for example, the dogs don’t understand human speech, but they do sense their emotions. This book is sure to be inspirational for Christians, moving for dog lovers, and perfect for readers who are both.
A high-quality tear-jerker about man’s best friend.Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5127-5526-8
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Westbow Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A solid introduction to a holiday celebrated by millions.
Soundar’s rhyming picture book gives readers an overview of the Hindu celebration of Diwali as it is celebrated in large parts of North India and by the North Indian diaspora.
Diwali is celebrated on the night of the new moon, and so after “Grandpa watches the waning moon” and notes that “the festival is coming soon,” an Indian boy and girl help their family clean and decorate the house. Then they all don new clothes, sing hymns and light lamps together, and exchange gifts and sweets with their neighbors, all in celebration of the holiday. Family members wear a combination of traditional Indian and Western attire; the suburban setting looks Western. It ends with a joyful greeting: “Shubh Diwali, to one and all. / We wish you joy, big and small!” Soundar’s use of “Shubh” in the title—meaning “auspicious” or “holy”—instead of “Happy” is welcome, as is Chua’s inclusion of neighborhood diversity (white and black families as well as a person using a wheelchair). As an entry on the holidays shelf, it breaks little new ground, but North American shelves hardly overflow with Diwali titles. An author’s note explaining the regional and religious differences in the celebration of Diwali across South Asia and the diaspora and a glossary of common terms provide readers with additional scaffolding.
A solid introduction to a holiday celebrated by millions. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8075-7355-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Whitman
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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Thought-provoking and full of heart; a genuinely pleasurable read.
Before he ages out of seeing Holy Beings, Nathan must find water monster Dew a mentor.
A couple of years after the events of Healer of the Water Monster (2021), Nathan’s life in Phoenix, Arizona, is changing—he and his mother, Janet, are moving in with Janet’s boyfriend and his son, the book’s co-protagonist, Edward. More than that, Nathan’s going through puberty and knows his time with Dew is limited—her new guardian will be Edward. But to ensure that Dew learns the water monster songs, she needs a mentor. Nathan wants it to be powerful water monster Yitoo Bi’aanii, who eagerly returns to the Fourth World. Upon seeing how her river has dwindled, Yitoo declares that an Enemy is stealing the water. The quest to thwart the Enemy is quickly complicated as the stakes rise and the heroes face conflicting loyalties. The environmentalist narrative embraces nuance and complications, avoiding easy answers without undermining the possibility of a hopeful future. Edward, newly informed of his Diné family’s brutal relocation era story, also struggles with inherited trauma, while Yitoo, who was witness to the violence, carries the atrocities with her. Additionally, Edward grapples with the fact that his late mother was White and with being the only household member who is not fully Diné. The bittersweet ending is as beautiful as the prose describing the fantastical journey to get there.
Thought-provoking and full of heart; a genuinely pleasurable read. (author’s note, glossary, note from Cynthia Leitich Smith) (Fiction. 10-14)Pub Date: May 23, 2023
ISBN: 9780062990433
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Heartdrum
Review Posted Online: April 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
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