What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:
1. *Danny and his dog Banjo have a special relationship that every boy should experience in his life.
2. *When a neighbor man accuses Banjo of chasing his livestock, Danny's life is turned upside down.
3. *Danny's father forces him to make an incredible decision regarding Banjo and his future.
4. *In a nearby town, Meg is a young girl who absolutely loves animals and taking care of them. She is quite surprised when she comes across a stray dog.
5. *Danny and Meg live parallel lives and one small dog brings them together.
What I Thought Of It - Five Observations/Reflections:
1. *As a reader, it is always so exciting to begin a new story that I know nothing about.
2. *I was drawn into Danny, Meg, and Banjo's lives immediately. I also learned a lot about ranching, livestock, and rodeos.
3. *With every dog story comes the worry on whether the dog will live or die. That worry was here, but shed in such a different life than most "dog" stories.
4. *Recently I've been reading many middle-grade novels with a female protagonist so it was refreshing to see a boy at the center of the story who was not only strong, but sensitive and empathic.
5. *It may be a recent "trend", but I appreciate the short chapters and the "hook" at the end of each one. This format grabs the young reader and keeps them engaged in the story.
Who Should Read It: I would love to see this novel used in second through sixth grade classrooms. The story definitely has something to offer to all of these readers. I can't wait to use the novel either as a class read aloud and/or a "Breakfast with Books" book club selection. Happy Reading!
Rating: 5 STARS out of 5 Stars!
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