Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Book Review: Spunky's Diary

Spunky's Diary. Janette Oke. 1982/1998. Bethany House. 112 pages. [Source: Childhood Copy]

Spunky's Diary is the diary of a dog. Most of the novel is told from the puppy's perspective. Later entries in the diary reveal a dog that is becoming a bit wiser and less impulsive. The book contains his perspective on leaving his mom and his home behind as he's adopted by an eager family. The family has four kids, and there is much love in his life, and a lot of playing ahead of him. But Spunky's Diary is definitely an odd read in some ways. It's a children's book featuring the death of a young child (one of Spunky's owners). The book captures the uncertainty of those days (as she gets sick and weak) and the sadness of the family as seen through the family pet. I am not sure how popular sad-dying books are with the intended age group. I do know that I AVOIDED any books with any hints of sadness as a kid. It is, I suppose, an interesting twist in a dog book. A book with a dog on the cover, where, it's NOT the dog who dies but the human. But still.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

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