MMGM: A Tale of Three Tails: A Buddy Review of Love Rolls In

 

Have you ever wondered what kinds of books a dog likes? Or perhaps you have a child (like my youngest son) who has always been obsessed with animals, especially rescues. Or maybe you have a rescue of your own. Love Rolls In by Erin Soderberg Downing is the first in a series of animal rescue adventures with twins Henry and Ruby. Their mom is a vet, and they have a farm bursting with chickens, goats, a dog, a cat, a pig, and a llama. And then Arlo joins them. He has a spinal injury, and Henry and Ruby must take care of him and prepare him for his future home.

Today I have a very special joint review with my fellow blogger and incredible middle-grade fantasy author, Valinora Troy, and her pup, TOTP. Max and TOTP loved Love Rolls In, and today they are sitting down having a virtual chat across the fence (or rather the pond).

 

 

 

Dog to Dog: What Did They Think of Love Rolls In? 

TOTP: Hi I’m TOTP which stands for Top Of The Pups but that doesn’t mean I am bossy, I am really quite shy.

Max: I’m Max! I got that name at the shelter. I might growl if I meet you, but I’m really a big softie inside.
 
TOTP: I can see that! Did you enjoy Love Rolls In? What was your most favourite part?

Max: I loved Love Rolls In! I really liked how a rescue dog (like me!) was the main character. I liked it when Arlo first came home, and the twins thought they might get out of school to take care of him. What was your favorite part?

TOTP: That was brilliant! I loved Arlo being best pals with Big Mill the pig and curling up together on the porch of the pig house, but I was really sad Arlo had to get wheels because his paws didn’t work very well. Do you think that made him a dog-car? I really don’t like cars though I wonder which is faster – wheels or paws? Would a walk be called a walk if you had wheels?

Max:  That part made me sad, too. I had surgery in January, and my family was really worried I might lose a toe. (But I’m okay now!) Except if I had wheels or a dog-car, I could go even faster and maybe chase those pesky squirrels at the park. Squirrels are the worst! (They taunt me from the top of every tree.) If I had wheels, I’d call it Zoomies 2.0!

Slothie 2, Max's favorite toy

TOTP: Squirrels are the worst (though I have never met any). Sometimes I chase birds, but I never catch them, it’s only for fun! Is there any animal in the story you would like to go adventuring with? Who would be loudest and best at keeping away pesky neighbours (if you have any, like I do)?

Max: Henry! He really understands dogs. I don’t really like other animals much, but I love my people. My neighbors (except for those squirrels!!!) don’t bother me much, but I think a big llama might be good for scaring delivery drivers away. Who would you like to go adventuring with, and how do you deal with those pesky neighbors and those people bringing packages?

TOTP: A llama would be good – at the moment I have to do it all myself. Sometimes my sister and nephew are with me and they help me tell off people cheekily passing the gate, and warn the unfriendly dogs next door to stay on their own side of the boundary fence! I’d like to go adventuring with the goats and climb to the top of their goat castle and maybe see some pesky squirrels in the trees! I’m glad you have recovered from your operation. Operations are really scary things, and if I were Arlo I’d have stuck my paws to the ground and NOT gone anywhere near vets. 

Max: I love the vet because my humans feed me lots of cookies to distract me! My operation wasn’t that scary, because I thought I was going on an adventure (I love the car!). When I got home, I was super sleepy and had to wear a funny cone around my neck. I needed a lot of petting! And I couldn’t go for a walk for 6 weeks. But I’m better now, just in time for spring walks and adventures!

TOTP with his ball!

TOTP:  I don’t like walks, even though I have all my paws but I am a rescue dog too, so I know what it is like to not have a loving pet human to look after. I think I would be friends with Arlo, especially after he was rescued from the vets.

Max: I’m so glad to meet another rescue! I love my human pets, I mean family, so much! When they took off my collar for the first time to brush me, I got so scared. I tried to get my collar back on myself. They don’t understand our language, but I said, “No, I’m still a pet!!! I don’t want to go back!” I bet you feel the same way too. Do you have a favorite memory of when you found your fur-ever home?

TOTP:  I used to live in a run but when I reached my fur-ever home, my pet human took me into a room where there was a comfy basket on the floor (don’t know who that was for) and a huge bed which I knew had to be for me and that made me very happy! I also got lots of toys which I would love to share with Arlo. Have you a favourite toy?

Max: My favorite toy is my first toy, Slothie (a stuffed sloth). Actually, I’m on Slothie 2 because I like to do “surgery” on my stuffed friends. Slothie 1 had a tartan patch, so we called him “Slothie Maclean” (after my mom’s Scottish clan). I sleep with him every night. What’s your favorite toy?

TOTP: Slothie Maclean sounds great fun and I bet you’d make a great vet, Max I love tennis balls and toys that bounce like tennis balls the best. It was great fun doing a buddy read with you, Max, I hope we can do it again!

Reading Guide (for humans): Perfect for ages 8-12 and reading levels third grade and up. Just a sweet story with animals, siblings who get along, and lots of animal adventures!

Notes from the Front Porch: 

Max and TOTP would love a suggestion for their next buddy read. 

What has been your family's favorite dog-friendly book?

 

 

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle!  

 

  

If you love Anne and tender, heart-filled stories, you’re always welcome here.  Never miss out on future posts by following this blog.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Photo credits: Photo of TOTP courtesy of Valinora Troy; Photos of Max by Jenni Enzor

MMGM: Dog-Loving Adventures: Wish and Wonderland

I’m a bit late to the party on Wish. I probably heard about it first on MMGM, but then a dear friend put a copy in my hands last summer. “You have to read this.” And she was right.

At first Charlie was a little hard to warm up to, but my the end of the novel, I was moved to tears. Of course, I had to find other books by Barbara O’Connor, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that she’s a dog person like me. Read on for more about Wish, and one of my other favorites by O’Connor, Wonderland.

Synopsis of Wish

Eleven-year-old Charlie Reese has been making the same secret wish every day since fourth grade. She even has a list of all the ways there are to make the wish, such as cutting off the pointed end of a slice of pie and wishing on it as she takes the last bite. But when she is sent to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina to live with family she barely knows, it seems unlikely that her wish will ever come true. That is until she meets Wishbone, a skinny stray dog who captures her heart, and Howard, a neighbor boy who proves surprising in lots of ways. Suddenly Charlie is in serious danger of discovering that what she thought she wanted may not be what she needs at all. (from Amazon)

My take:

I loved this warm and loving portrayal of a child in foster care. I have a few friends who are foster parents, so I’m always excited to see more books about this topic. Charlie's aunt and uncle are just as well developed as the kid characters. Although this book could be heavy with all that Charlie has gone through, the project of the saving the stray dog really lightens the mood. Charlie has the most kind friend in Howard, but I also like that he's not a pushover. At times, Charlie needs a reminder that although her life has been tough, she can't take her anger on others. I also loved how Charlie went from wanting the family that she could never have to appreciating the people who truly loved her. I thought the way faith was handled was sensitive and realistic. If you love dogs, heartfelt stories, and well-earned endings, you will love this book!

 

Synopsis of Wonderland

Mavis Jeeter is fearless and bold, but she has never lived in one place long enough to have a real best friend. Her flighty mother has uprooted them again to another new home and taken a job as a housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis wants this home to be permanent―which means finding herself a best friend.


Rose Tully is a worrier who feels like she doesn’t quite fit in with the other girls in her neighborhood. Her closest friend is Mr. Duffy, but he hasn’t been himself since his dog died. Rose may have to break a few of her mother’s many rules to help Mr. Duffy―and find someone who really understands her.


Henry has run away from home, but he craves kindness and comfort―and doesn’t know where to look for them.

When Mavis and Rose hatch a scheme to find Mr. Duffy a new dog, their lives and Henry’s intersect―and they all come to find friendship in places they never expected.

My take:

This story centered around a friendship between two girls who couldn’t be more different. O’Connor showed how Mavis, full of energy and spunk, and Rose, shy and timid, could bring out the best in each other. I ached for Mavis because her mom never stayed in one place or one job for long, but Mavis handles her mom with humor and her life circumstances never quell her joy for life. I'd love a friend like her! I didn't think that three POVs (one is Henry, the dog) would work, but it really makes for an interesting read and lets us get to know all the characters well. This book had such a satisfying ending. I couldn't imagine it any other way. And we're left with hope, absolutely necessary for middle grade. Another one for dog lovers who like books with friendship and a lot of heart!  

Max, the Reading Dog*

 

Max’s Take (on a five bone 🦴scale):

 🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴Best MMGM ever! I would read any book by O’Connor. Dogs who get rescued make the best characters!

Your turn

Have you read Wish? What are your favorite books with dog or animal characters? Yay or nay on books from animal's point of view?