Millie is a feisty border terrier who lives on the streets and has a keen sense for finding scraps of food, usually in the shadows or the cover of darkness. She protects herself with a shield of what is perceived by many as aggression--barking and snarling--when in reality, Millie is just plain scared.
Turned over to animal control after a recent run-in with the dogcatcher, Millie is rescued by a special education teacher who also rehabilitates and rehomes dogs. It's a win-win. Together, the dogs and her students learn emotional resilience, anger management, and other coping skills.
When one of the students, a struggling reader named Tori, shows a natural gift for dog training and working with fearful dogs, Millie is temporarily placed in her care. Tori may be young, but she knows a thing or two about anger, fear, and abandonment after her mother could no longer care for her and she was placed in kinship care with her grandfather. Millie wonders if she's finally found her person and begins to let down her emotional guard. But when trust and belonging are challenged, Millie reverts to old habits--fleeing, hiding, and growling. Will she end up back on the streets? Or can Millie and Tori embrace their training, trust in each other, and find a forever home together?
Mille is an empathy-building novel for young readers who love dogs and is a tender portrayal of the importance of emotional safety and what it means to truly belong.
About The Author
McCall Hoyle lives in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains with her husband, children, and an odd assortment of pets. She is a middle school teacher and librarian. When she's not reading, writing, or teaching, she's probably playing with or training one of many dogs. You can learn more about her at mccallhoyle.com.
My Review
I loved this book, told from a dogs point of view, and having had many dogs in my life, it was spot on.
Millie is a Border Terrier, and her start is very sad, and we are with this sweet dog as she tries to basically survive!
This book is geared at 8 to 11 year olds, but I think dog lovers of all ages will enjoy!
Millie is rescued from the shelter, and we follow her to see if they can rehabilitate, and we follow her at she misses the other dogs from her life that she loved.
I think that children are going to enjoy this, especially with the dog doing all the thinking! Her tail tight between her legs, or her tail wagging, the smells of food and those she loves! They will be wondering if she will survive, if she will find her forever home?
This is a heartwarming read, especially for those who love dogs!
I received this book through the Publisher Shadow Mountain, and was not required to give a positive review.
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