Yep, the Dog Diary books are still available and perfect middle to upper elementary dog lovers. This is the first book in the series. Each book features a different breed of dog. Ginger, born in a puppy mill, is a golden retriever. The series is based loosely on real dogs. ( )

*spoilers!*

The beginning was so sad, during all the puppy mill stuff. And then so frustrating that a small toddler's parents got Ginger for the child when the parents knew nothing about the proper care of a dog, and then just abandoned her when she nipped at the child because the child smashed her tail with a hammer! Those are the kind of people who should never be allowed to own a dog. Ginger meets a really nice worker at the animal shelter, who eventually finds her a new owner. But then Ginger's new owner has to leave town unexpectedly and the dog sitter is rather mean so Ginger runs away and ends up living as a stray for awhile... That was hard to read, I felt so bad for her. But the end, with Ginger finally getting a forever home, saving her new boy from drowning, and then reuniting with her brother from the puppy mill, aww! That was so wonderful to read after all she had been through. I would definitely recommend this book! ( )

If you are dog lover just like me, you will appreciate this novel. I like how the author open the eyes of the reades to the miserable story of dogs, especially the mother (dam) dogs, in puppy mills. The lesson of not giving a puppy or pets as gifts during Christmas or Holidays and how it should be avoided were also mentioned. ( )

Starting from Ginger's life as a puppy, with her littermates and mother and following her through all of her different residences and humans, Ginger (Dog Diaries #1) is told from Ginger's point of view. Seeing things through a puppy's eyes - and then a dog's as Ginger grows - is a unique way to look at things that we've likely either not looked twice at or never paid any attention to in the first place.

It's a great way to get the, sometimes heavy handed, message that Ginger has across. While it's definitely easier for readers to connect with Ginger with her telling the story than if it were told in the third person (or dog?), a few places felt like they were pushing a point just a bit more than necessary. A conversation one character has with a veterinarian, for example, seemed not very realistic but did make a point.

There is great information in Ginger on how to care for a puppy. As it's not the basic step-by-step how-to book, it may appeal to a different set of readers, as well. There are things in the novel that I think some adults even don't always consider when adding a new dog (a puppy, especially) to the family and it's great that they're included here.

The situation that the 'escape' in the synopsis refers to was a good point to have in the story - a good what 'not' to do. It's too bad there wasn't a what 'to' do either in the story or in the appendix (for reference, reassurance, etc).

Ginger and her story do well in telling what really owning a dog is like - that it takes responsibility, know how, patience, and forethought. Klimo's book isn't one that's going to glorify owning a dog and make everyone want to rush out and get a golden retriever, but it also shows the joys of having a pet, a true best friend.

While absolutely applaud Ginger for having the message that adoption of pets is better than from a breeder or, in Ginger's case, a puppy mill and pet store situation, but I felt it could have been done with a bit more grace, especially given the target age of the book. It seems possible to convince elementary readers that they should adopt their first/next dog without making them feel bad if the family pet they currently have was bought. It's possible the author and I just differ on how to get a message across.

Jessell's illustrations are fun and it's nice to be able to actually see Ginger at the different stages in her life. The black and white works very well within the book and the art contributes to the story.

(7/10)