Mountain Dog

Tony's world changes when his mother goes to prison and he moves to Sierra Nevada to live with his great-uncle Tío. He must adapt to mountain life and learn about his uncle's work as a search and rescue volunteer. Tío introduces Tony to search and rescue dogs, including a yellow Lab named Gabe who becomes central to Tony's new life. Through training exercises and real missions, Tony discovers the intense bond between handlers and their rescue dogs. The novel, told in free verse poetry, follows Tony as he processes his past trauma while finding purpose in search and rescue work. The themes of healing, trust, and the human-animal connection emerge through Tony's journey of self-discovery in the mountains.

Readers appreciate this novel-in-verse for its emotional depth and themes of healing through animal companionship. The relationship between Tony and his search-and-rescue dog Gabe resonates with middle-grade readers. Liked: - Clear, accessible verse format that moves quickly - Authentic portrayal of search-and-rescue training - Strong messages about overcoming trauma - Alternating perspectives between Tony and Gabe - Integration of nature and wilderness elements Disliked: - Some found the story too brief - A few readers wanted more plot development - Limited exploration of secondary characters Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (382 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (31 ratings) Sample review: "The free verse poetry makes this a quick read, but the story has real emotional weight. My students connect with Tony's journey and love reading Gabe's perspective." - School librarian on Goodreads "Beautiful but could have been longer. The rescue dog training details were fascinating." - Amazon reviewer

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🐾 Author Margarita Engle was inspired to write Mountain Dog after learning about search and rescue dogs who helped find survivors after the September 11 attacks. 🌲 The book is written in free verse poetry, alternating between the perspectives of Tony (the boy) and Gabe (the search and rescue dog). 🦮 Search and rescue dogs like Gabe in the book undergo extensive training that can take 18-24 months before they're certified for wilderness rescue operations. 🏆 Mountain Dog received the 2014 Charlotte Huck Honor Book Award for Outstanding Fiction for Children. 🗻 The story takes place in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, where real-life search and rescue teams conduct approximately 400 operations each year.