Pet's Party

Animal Ark Pets (UK Order) #20

by Ben M. Baglio, Paul Howard (Illustrator)

Mandy and James try to convine the grandmother of their visiting friend, Max, not to send Max's terrier puppy to a kennel, but instead to let the puppy stay to enjoy the Welford Christmas celebrations.

Genres: Animals, Christmas, Childrens, Dogs

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Ben M. Baglio created the brief for two series of children's books - Dolphin Diaries and Animal Ark. Dolphin Diaries features a girl and her family from Florida, who travel around the world as marine biologists and study dolphins. Animal Ark features two children who work together to help animals and solve animal-related mysteries. The books were written by commissioned writers in the UK under Baglio's instruction using the pseudonym Lucy Daniels. Each ghostwriter is named with a 'Special Thanks' on the copyright page.

Using his real name he also wrote the book series The Pet Finders Club, featuring a group of three children who search for peoples lost pets.

Reviews

[Rena Sherwood]

I think this was the last book in the series published in America by Scholastic. It was originally published in the UK by Hodder. Despite the author name on the cover, it was really written by Helen Magee, who wrote a heaping helping of books in the Animal Ark Universe.

I originally read this soon after I had suffered a bad fall while walking my dogs. Loaded up on painkillers, the book left me numb. In order to do this review, I thought I'd give it another go.

And had to bail at page 16.

Max and his Cairn terrier puppy is forced to spend the week before Xmas at his mentally disturbed Grandmother's. She suffers from what is now called complicated grief, and goes apeshit when a speck of dirt gets in her perfectly clean cottage. The puppy is banished to a shed in the back yard, despite the extreme cold. Max is forced to attend Mandy and James' school for one week.

One week. He's going to a new school for one week.

And all the kids are so NICE to Max. What kind of school kids are ever nice to the new kid? Oh yeah, this is fiction.

I remember my first day at Delaware County Christian School, where I was the only person who ever heard of the Golden Rule. I was eight. I was laughed at, spat at, yelled at, humiliated, then ignored.

Yeah, schoolkids are really so great to the new kid.

And everyone in Welford apparently knew that Max's Grandmother was barking mad. But, of course, no one did anything about it. That bit was realistic. There's a documentary on Pink Floyd, where one of the band members talks about Syd Barrett. Asked just how crazy Syd was, he replied that Syd got so bad, "that we almost talked about it."

England in a nutshell.

Animal abuse has very narrow definitions. A dog has to be at death's door, and preferably dead, before the police will do anything. The puppy in this book was experiencing what some what term "borderline abuse." A roof, no matter how drafty and leaky, is considered adequate shelter for a six month old puppy. Puppies and dogs used to their people or a lot of interaction become traumatized when shut up in a shed, yard or kennel for long periods of time.

Really, it would've been better for Max and his puppy if Grandma was found hanging from a dust- free chandelier. Would've made for one really interesting Animal Ark Pets book.

Misery, disappointment and family trauma -- just what Christmas is all about.

Since I can't bear to re-read this because of the painful issues it brings up, I'm giving this no stars.

[Twyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite part was when Mrs.Trigg gave holly a home.the worst part was when Mrs. Trigg was being mean to sandy.the best character was Mandy. there was no worst character