Geo Librarian

RESCUE AT LAKE WILD by Terry Lynn Johnson Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021 ISBN: 978-0-358-33485-9 Source: Blue Slip Media Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK In this funny and moving animals-in-peril adventure, a twelve-year-old girl and her two best friends determine to rescue two orphaned beaver kits—and soon find themselves trying to solve a local environmental crisis.  Everyone knows that twelve-year-old Madison “Madi” Lewis is not allowed to bring home any more animals. After she's saved hairless mice, two birds, a rabbit, and a stray tom cat that ended up destroying the front porch, Madi’s parents decide that if they find one more stray animal in the house, she won’t be allowed to meet Jane Goodall at an upcoming gala event. But when Madi and her two best friends, Aaron and Jack, rescue beaver kits whose mother was killed, they find themselves at the center of a local conspiracy that’s putting the beavers and their habitats in danger. As Madi an...

EMBER Rescue Dogs #1 by Jane B. Mason and Sarah Hines Stephens Scholastic, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-338-36202-2 (school edition) Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK After Ember is rescued from a devastating house fire, she longs for a forever home. But every family that adopts the yellow Lab puppy brings her back, saying she is untrainable, has too much energy, or is just plain destructive. After three failed placements, young Ember is out of options. The Sterling family runs a ranch that turns rescued dogs into rescue dogs. They're willing to take a chance on the young Lab, not knowing that Ember's first rescue will test her skills and strength beyond imagination... REVIEW As a puppy, Ember received her name after being rescued and resuscitated after a house fire.  Ever after she carries with her the glove of the firefighter who saved her life.  But her energy and enthusiasm have made it difficult for her...

LONG ROAD TO FREEDOM Ranger in Time #3 by Kate Messner Scholastic Press, 2016 ISBN: 978-0-545-63921-7 Historical fiction/time travel Ages 8-10 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Ranger is a time-traveling golden retriever with search-and-rescue training. In this adventure, he goes to a Maryland plantation during the days of American slavery, where he meets a young girl named Sarah. When she learns that the owner has plans to sell her little brother, Jesse, to a plantation in the Deep South, it means they could be separated forever. Sarah takes their future into her own hands and decides there's only one way to run -- north. REVIEW Ranger is such an appealing hero, especially since he doesn't know he is one.  As a dog, all he knows is that when his time traveling first aid kit hums, its time to go help someone.  Messner has created an appealing historical fiction series that draws kids in with it's time t...

WHITE FUR FLYING by Patricia MacLachlan Margaret K. McElderry  Books, 2013 ISBN: 978-1-4424-2171-4 Middle Grade Contemporary Grades 2-4 Reviewed from copy borrowed from library. All opinions expressed here are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Zoe’s family rescues dogs in need. There is always the sweet smell of dog and a warm body looking to cuddle or play. There is always a new dog to be saved and loved. Fur flies everywhere. It covers everything. Zoe’s house is never silent. But the house across the street is always silent these days. A new family has moved in and Phillip, the boy, has stopped speaking. He doesn’t even want to try. Zoe knows that saving dogs and saving boys are different jobs, but she learns that some parts are the same. Both take attention and care, understanding and time. And maybe just a bit of white fur flying. REVIEW Some authors seem to have a gift for telling a story with depth and heart using a surprisingly few words. MacLachlan has ...