Missing Mike by Shari Green
The Hook:
If ya’ll know me, you know I love books about dogs or any kind of pet! And this is one that is a Mrs. Penny book for the 2022-23 school year! It’s also in verse novel so it’s a pretty quick and easy read.
Cara and her family are given 10 minutes to pack up all their belongings and race out of their house when a wildfire SWEEPS through their town. Unfortunately, Cara’s wonderful dog is NOWHERE to be found. And so, the family leaves without him. Cara is devastated! After FINALLY finding a safe place to shelter, Cara focuses on locating Mike. Will she be able to find him? You gotta read the book to find out.
This book is in our library. It is also in Sora and Axis 360 as an ebook. It is 4 AR points!
My Thoughts (Careful! There Could Be Spoilers):
Even though this was published in 2018, sadly it is a timely book in that we are hearing and experiencing more and more wildfires around the globe. The author does a fantastic job with character development. She paints a picture of Cara who is fixated on Mike and cannot concentrate on anything else. She also details the fire with vivid descriptions and the panic everyone feels with the roads clogged with cars and burning trees
The family travels to an evacuation center and they meet many kind people that try to help Cara in her search. Especially foster kid, Jewel, who helps Cara print posters of Mike, contact animal shelters, and join an online lost pet hotline.
The family also finds solace in helping others at a community center sorting clothes and canned goods. I like how the book shows that even in tragedy, kindness and generosity brings us together.
The ending offers closure—the house is ruined but they do indeed find Mike—but then it also tells of the remaining problems they will have to face in the recovery mode. I give this book 4.8 stars.
Recommendations:
I loved this book! I always love a book with a pet especially a dog that tugs at my heart strings! I would recommend it for 4th-adult. It’s in verse novel. This book is very popular at our school. Even Reluctant Readers will pick up this one.
