From the Publisher
"An entertaining tale of angst, good dogs, and satisfying achievement." — Kirkus Reviews
"I love Ariel for her resilient spirit! She honors the comforting premise that our sense of belonging in this world comes of extending ourselves to others—human and canine! Laura Elliot has crafted an engaging and relevant story." — Leslie Connor, author of The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle and A Home for Goddesses and Dogs
"Storm Dog approaches like a gentle rain shower and then whirls into your heart like a wild frenzy. Thunder and music, dogs and dancing, Storm Dog is ultimately a story about loyalty, about longing, and no one can teach humans those two things better than a pack of fuzzy frolicking pooches. Storm Dog will make readers dance!" — Kristin O'Donnell Tubb, author of A Dog Like Daisy and Zeus, Dog of Chaos
Kristin O'Donnell Tubb
"Storm Dog approaches like a gentle rain shower and then whirls into your heart like a wild frenzy. Thunder and music, dogs and dancing, Storm Dog is ultimately a story about loyalty, about longing, and no one can teach humans those two things better than a pack of fuzzy frolicking pooches. Storm Dog will make readers dance!"
Leslie Connor
"I love Ariel for her resilient spirit! She honors the comforting premise that our sense of belonging in this world comes of extending ourselves to others—human and canine! Laura Elliot has crafted an engaging and relevant story."
Kirkus Reviews
2020-05-03
Ariel, smart but a bit plain, is her mother’s constant disappointment.
She can’t begin to reach the bar set by her gorgeous, blonde older sister, Gloria. Their mother has big Hollywood plans for Gloria, and Ariel is, sadly, just in the way. So when she discovers a lost and frantic German shepherd she calls Duke and meets Staff Sgt. Josephina Martínez, a former K-9 handler who’s retired to a lonely cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains to recover from her PTSD, they become more than just solace to the frustrated eighth grader. Ariel finally has a supportive adult in her life, and she has a mission: to help Duke overcome his fears. Since Gloria has been selected to be one of the princesses of the huge annual parade, Ariel decides to train Duke to dance among the marchers, at first hoping to upstage Gloria but later because she’s determined to have pride in her own and Duke’s abilities. Then she acquires six other dogs from the local animal shelter—not quite stolen, but nearly so. All of this combines to create a triumphant parade performance but also a major public confrontation with her nasty mother and sister. Ariel’s narration initially feels more authorial than young teen, but later in the tale she hits a more believable stride. With the exception of Ariel, characters seem rather predictable. Ariel and her family are white; Sgt. Josie is Puerto Rican.
An entertaining tale of angst, good dogs, and satisfying achievement. (author’s note) (Fiction. 10-14)
