"Readers who have always wondered what their pets are really thinking will love this cleverly written story from the perspective of Zeus, a German Shepherd service dog. Young readers who love dogs, play an instrument in band, or have experience with invisible illness will relate to Madden and his desire to just be a regular middle-school kid." — School Library Journal
"Tubb has written another charmer, sure to be popular with young dog lovers for its sheer joyful exuberance" — Chattanooga Times
PRAISE FOR A DOG LIKE DAISY : “Daisy’s wry comments on human foibles and eccentricities...combine to paint a moving picture of suffering and, ultimately, redemption. Daisy is distinctive and memorable, and this depiction of PTSD is useful, making this a fine, compelling tale.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Avid canine lovers will surely appreciate the intimate look at Daisy’s yearning for purpose. The focus on...service dogs should enlighten readers about the ways our four-legged companions function as more than just pets. A poignant animal tale, and a strong addition to most collections.” — School Library Journal
“Daisy’s voice is strong, painting a world with canine synesthesia: happy days are yellow, untruths taste like turkey bacon. With joint appeal to children of soldiers and dog-lovers, this is likely to find a broad audience.” — Booklist Online
“The emotional journey of veterans experiencing PTSD is a difficult subject, and this book explores it with empathy and candor. The commitment of these characters—human and canine—to confront their past and find freedom in the future offers an inspiring example of personal resilience.” — Chapter 16
“Beautifully written, this big-hearted book is filled with courage, guts, loyalty, and hope, just like Daisy herself. Truly a celebration of the healing power of love!” — Bobbie Pyron, author of A Dog’s Way Home
“A story that is at once heartbreaking and heart healing. It is a story that reminds us that wisdom can be found in unlikely places. That our enemies can become our best friends. And that what we need is sometimes right in front of us.” — Lois Sepahban, author of Paper Wishes
PRAISE FOR THE 13TH SIGN : “An original, action-packed plot, a resilient heroine, a twist ending and 12 sly, angry Keepers will hold readers on edge. The ultimate astrological fantasy.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The swiftly paced plot will please readers used to Hunger Games-style action. Kids into astrology and horoscopes will hang on every chapter, especially when they find out that the concept of Ophiuchus exists and is used in some beliefs.” — Booklist Online
PRAISE FOR SELLING HOPE : “Tubb deftly ingrains a thoughtful ethical question into the story…but never overdoes it in this bouncy tale populated by a terrific cast of characters. The well-synthesized period flavor extends right down to the one-liners that punctuate Hope’s earnest, easygoing, and perfectly pitched narration.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Tubb uses rich historical material well in this clever story whose time line is a 17-day countdown to the comet catastrophe.” — School Library Journal
Daisy’s voice is strong, painting a world with canine synesthesia: happy days are yellow, untruths taste like turkey bacon. With joint appeal to children of soldiers and dog-lovers, this is likely to find a broad audience.
A story that is at once heartbreaking and heart healing. It is a story that reminds us that wisdom can be found in unlikely places. That our enemies can become our best friends. And that what we need is sometimes right in front of us.
"Tubb has written another charmer, sure to be popular with young dog lovers for its sheer joyful exuberance"
The emotional journey of veterans experiencing PTSD is a difficult subject, and this book explores it with empathy and candor. The commitment of these characters—human and canine—to confront their past and find freedom in the future offers an inspiring example of personal resilience.
Beautifully written, this big-hearted book is filled with courage, guts, loyalty, and hope, just like Daisy herself. Truly a celebration of the healing power of love!
PRAISE FOR SELLING HOPE : “Tubb deftly ingrains a thoughtful ethical question into the story…but never overdoes it in this bouncy tale populated by a terrific cast of characters. The well-synthesized period flavor extends right down to the one-liners that punctuate Hope’s earnest, easygoing, and perfectly pitched narration.
Booklist (starred review)
PRAISE FOR SELLING HOPE : “Tubb deftly ingrains a thoughtful ethical question into the story…but never overdoes it in this bouncy tale populated by a terrific cast of characters. The well-synthesized period flavor extends right down to the one-liners that punctuate Hope’s earnest, easygoing, and perfectly pitched narration.
Booklist (starred review)
06/05/2020
Gr 3–7 —Readers who have always wondered what their pets are really thinking will love this cleverly written story from the perspective of Zeus, a German shepard service dog. Raised in a program that trains puppies before they are adopted by their owners, Zeus is a lovable and protective companion to Madden, who has Type I diabetes and experiences life-threating blood sugar fluctuations. Getting a service animal was his mom's idea, and their relationship gets off to a rough start. At first, Madden isn't keen on bringing Zeus to school where the animal draws attention to his health concerns. Zeus's training to alert Madden (and others) when his blood sugar levels are dangerous, is more evident in music class where the boy plays the physically taxing tuba. Amid all this, Zeus fears he will be reassigned. On the surface, the book appears to be a simple story about the developing bond between a boy and his service dog. But there are also so many unanswered questions along the way, particularly about Madden's strained relationship with his family. This intriguing subplot, along with short chapters, will keep readers engaged. Appended material from the author on the service dog training process reinforces some of the information introduced in the story. The author's decision to write the book from Zeus's perspective is fun and entertaining. Young readers who love dogs, play an instrument in band, or have experience with invisible illness will relate to Madden and his desire to just be a regular middle-school kid. VERDICT The story, the characters, and the irresistible canine protagonist will be enjoyed by a wide range of readers..—Anne Jung-Mathews, Plymouth State Univ., NH
Zeus, the lovable hero of this humorous audiobook, is a service dog assigned to safeguard Madden, a boy with diabetes who just wants to play the tuba in his school band and be a regular kid. Telling the story from the dog’s perspective, narrator Todd Haberkorn is spot-on voicing Zeus’s thoughts—from hilarious interpretations of human words to astute observations of the complicated sights, sounds, and smells in Madden’s middle school world. Haberkorn’s pacing and intonation complement the emotional roller coaster of experiences Zeus must face as he struggles to understand the chaos in and around Madden and valiantly attempts to protect him from “the enemy”—music. Clever and engaging, Haberkorn’s narration and Zeus’s canine enthusiasm for life make this a fun listen. S.A.A. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Zeus, the lovable hero of this humorous audiobook, is a service dog assigned to safeguard Madden, a boy with diabetes who just wants to play the tuba in his school band and be a regular kid. Telling the story from the dog’s perspective, narrator Todd Haberkorn is spot-on voicing Zeus’s thoughts—from hilarious interpretations of human words to astute observations of the complicated sights, sounds, and smells in Madden’s middle school world. Haberkorn’s pacing and intonation complement the emotional roller coaster of experiences Zeus must face as he struggles to understand the chaos in and around Madden and valiantly attempts to protect him from “the enemy”—music. Clever and engaging, Haberkorn’s narration and Zeus’s canine enthusiasm for life make this a fun listen. S.A.A. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
2020-03-29
Zeus is initially nonplussed by his assignment; it must be a dangerous job for the valedictorian of his prison-trained canine class. But after he meets Madden and his controlling military mother, he begins to rethink his position. Madden benefits from the latest diabetes-treatment technology, but sometimes the pressure of trying to fit in overrides his best intentions. Wanting to appear like just a regular kid was one of the reasons he chose to take up tuba in the band, even though it’s a physically taxing instrument. Because of the way it makes Madden stand out, Zeus becomes convinced that music, as much as he savors it, must be the enemy. He needs to protect his boy from it, leading to lots of humorous if well-meaning attacks on all things band-related, his motivation never registering with the humans in his life. This just adds to Madden’s embarrassment of having a German shepherd accompany him around his school. Narrator Zeus, ever insightful in a canine way, does a hilarious job of deciphering English, assembling interesting interpretations of new words. Madden’s fumbling attempts at a relationship with Ashvi, an attractive flute player, add spice to this engaging tale. Zeus does not seem to understand racial difference, but Madden and his mom seem to be white; Ashvi’s name suggests that she is South Asian.
Fun and surprisingly informative. (Fiction. 9-12)
