SERIES THURSDAY: Scout trilogy by Jennifer Li Shotz
ABOUT THE BOOK
Scout, once a stray puppy with a troubled past, has grown into one of the best search-and-rescue dogs in Mississippi. And now he’s ready for bigger and better things: Scout is joining the National Guard. But Scout’s new life as a K9 recruit is far from easy as he adjusts to his challenging training and a brand-new family.
Twelve-year-old Matt is determined to help Scout feel at home in Nevada, but when a terrifying flash flood hits town, the pair must save the day and prove their worth.
As Scout and Matt team up to survive treacherous rising water, lead victims to safety, and attempt to rescue Matt’s sister, they quickly learn that bravery is just the first ingredient in the making of a hero. Does the duo have what it takes to protect their town from the fallout of this devastating disaster?
ABOUT THE BOOK
It’s official: Scout is now a K9 in the National Guard. But being a certified hero means Scout has his job cut out for him. He needs to work even harder to protect his country and his human best friend, Matt.
When Matt’s classmates get trapped in a raging wildfire, Matt knows that only Scout can track them down and bring them back safely. But when Matt’s dad, a First Sergeant home on leave, gets wind of their plan, he insists on joining the rescue mission.
Can the heroic team save Matt’s friends from the dangerous fires before time runs out?
ABOUT THE BOOK
Scout, a National Guard dog, was born to be a hero. When Scout and his 12-year-old owner, Matt, land in Puerto Rico after a devastating hurricane, they want to help. The pair befriend Luisa, who knows all about the Sato dogs—abandoned pups who need food and shelter.
Scout and Matt decide to foster an injured dog named Pepita. But Pepita is clearly searching for something and runs off into the rainforest. Now it’s up to Scout, Matt and Luisa to find the missing dog and bring her back safely.
Surviving the dangers of the wilderness will be far from easy, but Scout and Matt make an excellent team.
SERIES REVIEW
For the sake of expediency, I'm going to write a review of the series as a whole. I thoroughly enjoyed all three books, and I would not be disappointed if their happened to be more of them. Matt and Scout are a great pair and I liked them immediately. That's not to say that both the boy and the dog don't make mistakes because they do, which is appropriate as it makes the books more realistic. I especially loved how readable each book was and how compelling the stories were in terms of adventure and excitement. Middle grade readers who enjoy adventurous stories revolving around dogs are bound to enjoy this series. That's undoubtedly why Shotz is a bestselling author.
In the first book, Matt takes risks that he shouldn't and he borrows Scout from the dog training center on the military base without permission. But that turns out to be a good thing when Matt sets out to find his sister after the dam breaks and floods the town. Scout's search-and rescue training isn't firmly established in book one, but it's strong enough to allow Matt to use him to search for his sister while his mother is in charge of the National Guard's efforts to help.
Book two revolves around Matt's reuniting with his father who has recently returned from a tour of duty. As Matt enjoys having his father back, he worries about his friends who have taken off on a dangerous hike and rock climbing trip without telling any adults about it. He wrestles with whether he should say anything when a wildfire begins and threatens his friends lives. Things get hairy when he and his father set off with Scout to find his friends and find themselves trapped by the fire.
Book three takes a different turn when Matt goes with his colonel mother to help in Puerto Rico after a hurricane. He becomes involved with the daughter of the Puerto Rican base commander and her efforts to help the satos (stray dogs) who've been injured in the storm. A particular dog has won the girl's affections but he continuing efforts to escape make it clear that she had a home before the storm that she's trying to get back to. Matt, Scout, and Luisa follow the little dog in order to help her find her way home, but find themselves in the middle of a rain forest during a downpour facing hunger and wild dogs.
Overall, I'd rate this series very highly. The books are well-written and plotted with likable characters and compelling stories. Now it would be easy for a series like this to be rather focused on the plot with the characters getting the short-end of the stick. But that doesn't happen hear. Themes related to friendship, family, sacrifice, making good decisions, and kindness all radiate from these stories. This series is definitely going on my favorites shelf.
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