Book picks similar to
Finding Chance by Linda Benson


dogs
juvenile
middle-grade-ninja-reviews

The Star Shepherd


Dan Haring - 2019
    In a world where the light from the stars is the only thing that keeps the world safe from dark creatures, a boy, his dog, and the town baker's daughter must race to rescue the stars and find his father, the local Star Shepherd, before too many stars fall from the sky.

Aces Wild


Erica S. Perl - 2013
    Unfortunately, said dog (also named Ace) is a shoe-chewing, mud-tracking, floor-peeing kind of dog. Despite Zelly's best efforts to drag Ace (literally!) to puppy kindergarten, his flunking report card says it all: "This Ace is wild."Also wild is the other Ace in Zelly's life. Grandpa Ace has decided to begin dating again and is dining and dancing every night, against his doctor's orders. Determined to get both Aces under control, Zelly enlists the help of her two best friends, Allison and Jeremy (despite the fact that they don't quite see eye to eye). They need to come up with a plan, fast. But how?  It's not like either Ace ever does what he's told.

Roverandom


J.R.R. Tolkien - 1998
    His punishment was to be transformed into a toy, and now he is forced to track down the magician so he can be returned to normal. His adventures will take him to the moon and under the sea, introducing him to many fabulous - and dangerous - creatures.Inspired by the loss of his own child's favourite toy, this charming tale was written by J.R.R. Tolkien long before The Hobbit, yet remained unpublished for more than 70 years. This new paperback edition includes a full introduction and detailed notes about the story.This is an old-fashioned story, yet it still speaks freshly today... would leap to life when read aloud to a child. - INDEPENDENTLord of the Rings buffs will enjoy picking out bits of Nordic mythology and will relish Tolkien's fabulous sense of landscape - THE TIMESCover illustration by J.R.R. Tolkien

Sled Dog School


Terry Lynn Johnson - 2017
    But what is he even good at? The only thing he truly loves is his team of dogs, and so Matt’s Sled Dog School is born. Teaching dogsledding should be easy, right? But people, just like dogs, can be unpredictable. And sometimes the bravest thing a person can do is admit they need help.

White Fur Flying


Patricia MacLachlan - 2013
    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.

Code Word Courage


Kirby Larson - 2018
    Billie's big brother, Leo, is about to leave, too, for the warfront. But first, she gets one more weekend with him at the ranch.Billie's surprised when Leo brings home a fellow Marine from boot camp, Denny. She has so much to ask Leo -- about losing her best friend and trying to find their father -- but Denny, who is Navajo, or Diné, comes with something special: a gorgeous, but injured, stray dog. As Billie cares for the dog, whom Denny names Bear, she and Bear grow deeply attached to each other.Soon enough, it's time for Leo and Denny, a Navajo Code Talker, to ship out. Billie does her part for the war effort, but she worries whether Leo and Denny will make it home, whether she'll find a new friend, and if her father will ever come back. Can Bear help Billie -- and Denny -- find what's most important?A powerful tale about unsung heroism on the WWII battlefield and the home front.

The Call of the Wild


Oliver Ho - 2005
    The stories are abridged; the quality is complete. Classic Starts treats the world's beloved tales (and children) with the respect they deserve--all at an incomparable price.Here is the ultimate dog story, one filled with emotion, adventure, and excitement.During the Gold Rush, Buck is snatched away from his peaceful home and brought to the harsh and bitter Yukon to become a sled dog. Will he adapt, and learn to trust men? Or will his newly awakened primitive instincts lead him to search for the freedom he has never known?

Dog Gone


Diane Moat - 2016
    The animal has been brutally tortured and killed, and Sam is incensed by its senseless death — and the apparent disinterest of the local police. She resolves to learn more about saving animals in distress but soon realizes that this can be a frustrating business as her efforts are constantly hampered by endless rules and red tape. In desperation, Samantha turns to crime in her efforts to tackle those who harm and abuse animals, while never losing her focus of finding the man who killed the dog she found. Assisted by a gorgeous "fence," a social media guru who spends her life indoors, and a retired gangster, Sam follows her instincts with an undeterred and unrelenting fortitude until she finally tracks down the heartless killer and faces him in a final reckoning. DOG GONE is a satisfying adventure for animal lovers everywhere.

The Boy Who Cried Ghost


Richard Clark - 2018
    Sure, his room's big enough, and he doesn't have to share a bathroom with his older sister... but he just can't shake the feeling that the previous owner hasn't moved out yet! But, being a fan of horror comic books, Peter actually starts to think it's cool living in a haunted house. Not only that, the ghost actually starts to like Peter! But... does it like Peter too much? So much that it wants to keep him trapped in the house... forever?!If you like Goosebumps or a light take on Tales from the Crypt, you'll love The Boy Who Cried Ghost! From the writer of My Best Friend Is a Secret Agent, this middle grade chapter book is a scary-fun mystery full of chills and thrills for any reader - children, tweens, teens... and beyond! This funny haunted house horror story is the first in the Ghost Town Mystery series, so if you like it, there's more to come!(Don't forget to look for the surprise after Chapter 1!)

How to Speak Dog: A Guide to Decoding Dog Language


Aline Alexander Newman - 2013
    Super-engaging dog photography, along with National Geographic Kids' signature bold and bouncy design, helps illustrate the key canine concepts. Quick-hit tip boxes, fun facts about mankind's best friends, and informative sidebars from the experts enliven the text. Readers young and old will respond to the irresistible call of the canine in this delightful book that will warm hearts and wag tails everywhere--a must-have in every home where pups are looking for love and understanding.

Wish


Barbara O'Connor - 2016
    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.

You're a Good Dog, Carl


Alexandra Day - 2007
    What she doesn't know is that the minute she's gone, Carl and the baby gallop off on adventures. In this collection of six of Alexandra Day's popular Carl stories, Carl and the baby explore a department store, a park, and even a masquerade ball and always make it back before Mother knows they're gone. Carl and Madeleine's joyful romps, told mainly through lush, wordless spreads, are gathered together here for the first time, and will delight children and all those who take care of them."

Hooper Finds a Family: A Hurricane Katrina Dog's Survival Tale


Jane Paley - 2011
    He's funny. He's a survivor. In this moving tale of adventure and triumph based on a true story, meet Hooper, the tenacious puppy who makes an incredible journey in search of home.Here comes Hooper, one plucky, spunky dog whose warm spirit and goofy personality are irresistible. Hooper tells his own dramatic rescue tale after being left homeless in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and taking a daring trip from New Orleans to New York to meet his new family.He tells of the terrifying force of Katrina, his trials in the shelter, and being the new dog on the block in a city far from home. As Hooper struggles to find his place, he learns to overcome his fear of water and faces down feisty squirrels as well as the resident bully and top dog in his new neighborhood.“A heartwarming story about moving forward after trauma and loss by making space for new loved ones and new possibilities.” —Kirkus“Paley fills her gentle first novel with engaging animal characters. Readers may be similarly moved to stand up to their fears.” —Publishers Weekly

Pawsitively in Love Again at Christmas: A Small Town Taggert Family Romance


Jacqueline Winters - 2020
    

Trauma Queen


Barbara Dee - 2011
    But for Marigold, it goes way beyond embarrassing. Marigold's single mom is a performance artist, meaning she stages dramatic, wacky performances to express her personal beliefs. Things like wrapping herself in saran wrap for a piece on plastic surgery, or inviting people over in the middle of the night to videotape her sleeping. In fact, Marigold's mom's performances caused such a ruckus in their last town that the two of them, along with Marigold's little sister, have just had to move. Now Marigold's starting a new school, missing her best friend like crazy, and trying to fit in all over again in the shadow of a mom who's famous for all the wrong reasons. As if that's not bad enough, Marigold's mom takes on a new job--teaching drama at Marigold's school! Now all the kids know instantly just how weird her mom is, and Marigold's worried she'll never be able to have a friendship that can survive her mother.