3 stars
| I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did. I generally avoid books with dogs on the covers, because you ultimately know what is going to happen to them. From the first page of the book, you basically know the ending, however how you got to the end was well constructed. The narration of the book was very simple, but reading it was quite natural. It didn’t feel forced and instead came off as conversational. It almost reads like a collection of linked short stories in switching from one adventure/mishap to the next. It was a very realistic way for someone to recount connected events. There is quite a lot of violence related to animals, so while it is a good educational read, it may not be a good fit for sensitive readers without assistance. As a very sensitive kid growing up, I definitely would have been upset by it, but I think with explanations about survival and such, it can be a good teaching moment. Well-written and engaging. Despite my best efforts, I was pulled in by the tale and of course got attached to Old Yeller. I knew what would happen at the end with all the foreshadowing, but it was still quite sad. I did think it happened quite abruptly and was kind of unsatisfying. Not the ending itself, but just how it was presented. I suppose this was a realistic way to do it rather than drawing it out, but it felt very quick. The discussions following the dreaded event were also unsatisfying and seemed to downplay the impact Old Yeller had. The overall message about the good and bad of life was great, I just think it could have been written a little better to respect Old Yeller as a character and not just part of a bad event Travis has to move on from. Overall, a good read filled with adventure and suspense. I definitely do not regret my choice to read this book with a dog on the cover. Goodreads |