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Summary
Summary
A poignant World War II story about a boy and his dog and his dad, and the many meanings of bravery, from Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson.With World War II raging and his father fighting overseas in Europe, eleven-year-old Hobie Hanson is determined to do his part to help his family and his country, even if it means giving up his beloved German shepherd, Duke. Hoping to help end the war and bring his dad home faster, Hobie decides to donate Duke to Dogs for Defense, an organization that urges Americans to "loan" their pets to the military to act as sentries, mine sniffers, and patrol dogs. Hobie immediately regrets his decision and tries everything he can to get Duke back, even jeopardizing his friendship with the new boy at school. But when his father is taken prisoner by the Germans, Hobie realizes he must let Duke go and reach deep within himself to be brave. Will Hobie ever see Duke, or his father, again? With powerful storytelling and gripping emotion, critically acclaimed author Kirby Larson explores the many ways bravery and love help us to weather the most difficult times.
Author Notes
Kirby Larson is the acclaimed author of the 2007 Newbery Honor Book Hattie Big Sky ; its sequel, Hattie Ever After ; The Friendship Doll ; Dear America: The Fences Between Us ; Duke ; Dash , winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction; Liberty ; Code Word Courage ; Audacity Jones to the Rescue ; and its sequel, Audacity Jones Steals the Show . She has also cowritten the award-winning picture books Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival and Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle . She lives in Washington with her husband and Winston the Wonder Dog.
Reviews (5)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Life on the WWII home front is real and wrenching in this triumphant novel by Newbery Honor author Larson. Fifth-grader Hobie's losses are deep: his father is off flying B-24s in Europe, his best friend has left their Seattle hometown, and-after considerable anguish-he lends Duke, his German shepherd, to the military's Dogs for Defense program. Though distance separates Hobie and Duke, Larson reveals the bond between them as the ballast that keeps Hobie grounded and hopeful. Hobie answers letters from Duke's Marine handler (which are written mostly in Duke's voice) with misleading notes intended to secure his pet's release from service-until he divulges a critical fact that enables Duke to save lives in battle. Despite its finely detailed historical setting, this incisive tale of loyalty, patriotism, sacrifice, and bravery transcends its era. Ages 8-12. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Larson's two main literary interests (historical fiction such as Hattie Big Sky and informational dog books such as Two Bobbies) come together in her latest novel, set in Seattle during WWII. With his father flying B-24s in Europe, Hobie Hanson figures he knows all about sacrifice. He's got the responsibility of being, in the parlance of the times, the "man of the house," which means helping his mom, working on the family fishing boat, and taking care of his little sister. But posters of Uncle Sam exhort citizens to do more, and when Hobie learns that many on the home front are loaning their dogs to the new K-9 Corps, he volunteers his beloved German shepherd, Duke -- and immediately regrets his decision. He obsesses about getting Duke back, and when his dad commends Hobie for his bravery and for "putting others before yourself," Hobie knows that's undeserved praise. Besides trying every trick in the book to have Duke returned, he fails to stand up to the class bully or for a new friend. The novel's strong concept is greater than its execution. Foreshadowing is heavy, and the nautical similes are overdone ("That worry wore away at Hobie like salt water on a wooden hull"). But the time period, shown through both product placement (such as Lux soap, Barbasol, and Unguentine) and daily activities (such as listening to radio serials), unobtrusively frames this diverting read. betty carter (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
With a war sweeping the world in 1944, Hobart Hobie Hanson's father flies B-24s in Europe, his mother serves the Red Cross in their Seattle neighborhood, and his little sister knits socks for soldiers. But is the fifth-grader, as a popular war slogan suggests, doing all he can? When Hobie hears about the Dogs for Defense program, he enlists his beloved pet, Duke, to serve with the armed forces. Instantly regretting his decision, Hobie tries to retrieve his dog as he also contends with his father's uncertain fate, constant insults from the school bully, and risking his friendship with a new student of German descent. Letters sent from Duke (and his trainer, of course) provide updates on the canine and insight into this little-known band of four-legged soldiers. Larson captures the time period with pop-culture references, such as the Hop Harrigan radio program, as well as with the war efforts back home, such as saving cooking fat to make explosives. A good example of how bravery comes in all shapes, sizes and breeds.--Leeper, Angela Copyright 2010 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-7-A handsome German shepherd dominates the patriotic cover of Larson's World War II home-front novel, but the book's action centers on the dog's absence. Hobie Hanson, an endearingly earnest 11-year-old, loves his father, who is stationed overseas in the Army Air Corps, and his crackerjack dog named Duke. Determined to aid the war effort (and by extension his dad) any way he can, Hobie loans Duke to Dogs for Defense, a real-life organization that trained pets for the military. Larson weaves a wonderfully genuine attachment between boy and dog and thoughtfully examines Hobie's conflicted emotions as Duke gets partnered with a battle-bound Marine; fearful, proud, and lonely, among other muddled feelings, the boy guiltily schemes to bring his pet home. The author peppers the novel with charming period and regional details-who knew about Wheato-Naks cereal or the Seattle fishing fleet's annual blessing ceremony?-and maintains a fairly sunny tone despite the premise's potential for tragedy. Smaller-scale tensions fail to engage, such as bullying by a meanie and manufactured quarrels between Hobie and his new friend, Max Klein. Both side plots could likely be resolved with a swift talking to from the mindful, swaggering, baseball-captaining Catherine, who is clearly the character with the best head on her shoulders. Larson's tale succeeds best as a study of the home-front experience and a poignantly dogless tale for dog lovers.-Robbin E. Friedman, Chappaqua Library, NY (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
With World War II raging around the globe, Americans are called upon to sacrifice everything, even when it might break their hearts. When fifth-grader Hobie Hanson's father leaves his fishing boat in Seattle to pilot a B-24 in Europe, he tells Hobie "to step up and do what needs to be done." Whether it is buying war bonds, collecting rubber or simply making due with less, Hobie is giving all he can to the war effort. But when he begins to feel the pressure to lend his beloved German shepherd, Duke, to the Army, Hobie realizes he still has more to give. Authentic details, such as radio drama, ration stamps and the ever-present worry of a telegram bearing terrible news, enrich this story of a boy and his dog. References to the Japanese internment and anti-German prejudice bring the war even closer to home. However, Hobie is no perfect hero. He wrestles with his decisions, making mistakes along the way; a refusal to glamorize war sets this story apart. The universal anguish Hobie feels in his sacrifice will touch readers struggling to make sense of their own losses. Exceptionally well-crafted and emotionally authentic. (Historical fiction. 8-12)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Excerpts
Excerpts
From DUKEHobie pushed the milk carton away, sick because he knew Mitch was right. Now, because of what he'd done, Duke was going to be in the war. Fighting! In the Pacific! Why had he listened to Mr. Gilbert? Mr. Rasmussen? Why had he fallen for all that business about doing his part, being a good home front soldier? Hobie didn't hear much of anything else the rest of the day. June had Scouts, so he walked home by himself. The soles of his shoes slapped out a rhythm against the pavement. Dumb, dumb, dumb. How could he have done that to Duke? His best friend. Duke would have done anything to protect Hobie, to keep him safe. Hobie was such a lousy friend he not only didn't keep Duke safe, he put him in danger. Hobie was mad enough to throw a rock through Mr. Rasmussen's window. Lots of rocks. Not that he'd really do it, but it felt awfully good to think about it. Hobie bent down to pick one up. Next to it was a penny. Heads' side up. "Find a penny, pick it up. All day long, you'll have good luck." Hobie put the penny in his pocket. He could use some good luck. Because no matter what, Duke was not going to war. Hobie was going to get him home. Excerpted from Duke by Kirby Larson All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
