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Summary
Summary
Sheila Keenan's captivating stories and Nathan Fox's stunning art bring the heroic military dogs to life
Some war heroes heard wind whistling over a hidden trip wire.
Some war heroes sniffed out a sniper 1,000 yards away.
Some war heroes stood tall...on four legs!
Dogs of War tells the stories of the canine military heroes of World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War and of the bonds between soldier and dog. These three fictional stories are inspired by historic battles and real military practices, and are heroic adventures, rendered with fascinating detail, about the faithful dogs who braved bombs, barrages, and battles to save the lives of countless soldiers.
Based on the real-life roles of military dogs that worked as Red Cross workers, messengers, scouts, search-and-rescue teams, sentries, and mascots, Dogs of War captures the devastation brought on by war and the celebrations of life and friendship between boys and their dogs.
Author Notes
SHEILA KEENAN is the author of many nonfiction books such as Greetings from the 50 States ; Animals in the House ; O , Say Can You See? ; Gods, Goddesses, and Monsters ; and Scholastic Encyclopedia of Women in the United States . She also helped launch Scholastic's graphic novel imprint, Graphix, and served as its executive editor. She lives in New York City and is currently a senior editor at Abrams Books' ComicArts division.
NATHAN FOX is an illustrator and storyteller whose work has appeared in the New York Times , the New Yorker , Rolling Stone , Wired , and Entertainment Weekly , among other publications. His work has also been published by DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, and Marvel. He lives with his wife in Kansas City, Missouri.
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
In one of this graphic novel's three short stories, Henry, a lonely African-American boy, befriends a Vietnam vet named Lanford. With difficulty, Lanford tells Henry about Sheba, his scout dog patrol mate. "Army rules," Lanford recalls bitterly. "Dogs are equipment, like your gun or your ammo." All three of the story's dog heroes make it through combat alive, as do their handlers. Yet Keenan (Greetings from the 50 States) doesn't flinch from the terrors they face, and neither does Fox's traditional comic book-style artwork. The first episode is set during WWI, as a 16-year-old orphan and his border collie survive trench warfare; the second follows new recruit Cooper and feisty Husky Loki as they are chased by Nazis through a blizzard; the third belongs to Lanford and Henry (and Sheba). All are crammed with action and emotion. Ages 8-12. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Color by Rico Renzi and Guy Major. In this wrenching graphic novel, three stories of dogs who were active participants in wars are presented. Slightly muddy illustrations highlight the chaos and grimness of war, and the text, though sometimes dense, is overall well balanced with the art. A powerful author's note, compelling stories, and the heroism of these dogs will likely inspire and move readers. Reading list, websites. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
In three stories of military-trained dogs in war zones, this excellent example of a historical-fiction graphic novel provides both adventure and insight. Boots features an episode from the trenches in Ypres during WWI that may be familiar to some youth: the Christmas truce, during which German and British soldiers put away deadly fighting for holiday celebrations together. In Loki, the scene from WWII is more unusual but no less compelling: a sled dog works and plays among the military installation protecting Greenland from German forces. Sheba is set both during Vietnam and in her GI handler's life years later back in the U.S. They are weighty narratives, but Fox's beautiful, detailed, and deeply colored imagery excels in depicting riveting soldier and dog lives in these varied conflicts and landscapes. Keenan, meanwhile, stays true to good storytelling, providing realistic facts about life in wartime without adding burdensome pedantic asides. Among the many stories about military working dogs being published in recent years, this is a real standout.--Goldsmith, Francisca Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 5 Up-Keenan has created an exhilarating and suspenseful set of stories about three soldiers and their dogs while also giving a general overview of different wars and touching on some period political and cultural events. Donnie and his dog, Boots, are medics lost deep in the trenches of World War I, trying to find their platoon. Rescuers stationed in Greenland, Cooper and his dog, Loki, are sent to save a downed World War II pilot. The book ends with the compelling story of Lanford, a vet back from Vietnam suffering from flashbacks of his scout dog, Sheba. These relationships feel genuine and are well developed, showing the training process and the reliance each one had with the other in order to stay alive. By the end, readers will feel that these dogs were not just helpers, but true soldiers worthy of honor. Fox's illustrations do a wonderful job of showing the devastating nature of these conflicts without sensationalized violence. The backgrounds are exceptional, showing the extremes of each story's harsh and dangerous environment. A prologue gives more information about each war and a history of solider dogs up to present day. This stunning graphic novel will be a hit with reluctant readers and history lovers.-Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Three illustrated vignettes evince the deep bond between a man and his best friend in the midst of wartime. Man's best friend didn't rest while he fought across the lines of battle during wartime. Focusing on three major wars--World War I, World War II and Vietnam--Keenan uses the graphic medium to show how dogs aided soldiers both physically and mentally. The opening piece, "Boots," portrays a border collie in the trenches of Ypres in 1914 who is able to help sniff out wounded soldiers. When Boots and her young British handler find themselves facing the enemy on December 25, they take part in the famed Christmas truce. In "Loki," the most thrilling offering, a strong-willed sled dog helps an American soldier serving in Greenland during World War II navigate perilous weather and impending enemy advancement. In the moving "Sheba," an African-American soldier develops a strong bond with his scout dog during the Vietnam War--only to have her treated like a piece of equipment and wrenched from his life. The bonds between these men and their dogs are palpable; the visual component of this work adds a layer of pathos that shows just how strong the connection between man and dog can be. Keenan adroitly captures this work with her parting words, "Semper Fido!"; a truer tenet was never spoken. A must for dog lovers and fans of military history and historical fiction. (author's note, further reading) (Graphic historical fiction. 9-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
