In a misguided attempt to assuage her grief after the death of a beloved horse, Kristine's father gives her a puppy. She avoids the dog until she fears her grandparents and new baby sister are sick, and then the dog becomes a good source of comfort. Although believable in dealing with real emotions, the story is heavy-handed. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

Gr 4-6-Fifth-grader Kristine Rankin is grieving for the recently deceased family horse. When she receives a puppy for her birthday, she is horrified by the idea of a new pet and instantly rejects the dog while trying to maintain a facade of liking her gift. She pretty much ignores Mattie, despite the pup's enthusiastic affection. Kristine has other issues to deal with as well. Her preoccupation with the dog has caused her to distance herself from her best friend, and now their relationship is in trouble, and she is worried about her grandfather's health. Also, a boy from school has been teasing her. He lives near her grandparents' house, and when he meets Mattie, he is instantly smitten with the dog. Kristine gradually gets to know him better, and her feelings for him begin to change. As events unfold, she finally learns that you have to open your heart to love, despite the risks. Kristine is likable and realistic as she struggles through her grief and resistance to emotional involvement with another pet. The book is written with humor and enough drama to keep readers interested, and they'll relate to the story and to Kristine's ultimate surrender to adorable Mattie. Also suggest Colby Rodowsky's Not My Dog (Farrar, 1999) for a twist on the theme.-Alison Grant, West Bloomfield Township Public Library, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

As far back as she can remember, her grandparent's horse has been her secret delight, refuge, and confidant, but when it dies, eight-year-old Kristine feels off balance, and instead of grieving, creates an emotional distance to protect herself from further hurt. The first-person narrative examines her progressive withdrawal and close nuclear-family support during her psychological struggle. Kristine thinks she is subtle in her rejection of Grandpa's gift, a bright cuddly puppy, but Wallace expertly reveals what Kristine has hidden from herself, using her own words. Wallace skillfully builds bibliotherapeutic text rife with internal struggle, yet reveals, beneath the conflict, a happy, healthy, and well-balanced family life infused with warmth and humor. Grandpa and Kristine thieve cookie dough while grandma isn't looking, homework and chores are dutifully performed, and family well-being always comes first. Despite some didactic text and conversation and phrasing too grown-up for the characters delivering them, cunningly told. (Fiction. 8-9) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Gr. 4-6. Kristine still hasn't recovered from the death of the family's pet horse when her grandfather surprises her with a new puppy on her eleventh birthday. She pretends to be excited, but she is determined not to care for another pet and risk being hurt again. After Kristine learns that her grandfather has some potentially serious health problems, and that her new baby sister may also be ill, she begins to learn how to manage her fears of losing a loved one. A related subplot, Kristine's interest in a sixth-grade boy, further reveals her unwillingness to take a chance on a relationship that might end painfully. Kristine's first person narration of the story doesn't feel particularly authentic, but the dilemmas she faces and the way she deals with them will ring true to many young readers. Libraries short on fiction dealing with grief or pet death may want to consider adding this. --Lauren Peterson Copyright 2004 Booklist