Soldier Dog

by Sam Angus

Book by Sam Angus

Genres: Historical Fiction, Animals, War, Historical, Middle Grade, Fiction, Dogs

279 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

Sam Angus is a bestselling and award-winning author of historical adventure novels for children of nine and over. Her novels, required reading for schools across the United Kingdom, deal lightly with some of the bleakest moments of British and Colonial history. Her books include Soldier Dog, Captain, A Horse Called Hero, The House on Hummingbird Island and School for Skylarks.

Sam Angus was born in Italy, and grew up in France, and spent much of her childhood moving from home to home and country to country, but most of her early childhood was spent in Franco's Spain. She went to more than ten different schools and was the naughtiest girl in all of them. She then went on to read English at Trinity College Cambridge, where she secretly kept a dog in her college rooms. After Cambridge she went to Central St Martins to study fashion then taught A Level English Literature for many years, before becoming a full-time writer. She lives between London and Exmoor and has five children, several horses and a handsome, stubborn West Highland terrier.

Sam Angus's books have been longlisted and shortlisted several times for the CILIP Carnegie Medal. Soldier Dog was longlisted in 2013, Captain in 2015 and The House on Hummingbird Island for 2017. She has also won or been shortlisted for many local and national awards including the North East Book Award, The Sussex Coast Amazing Book Award, the East Lothian Libraries’ Lennox Author Award, the James Reckitt Children’s Book Award, the Hillingdon Book of the Year, and the Bath and Somerset Centurion Award, amongst others, the Cheshire Book Award.

Reviews

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best novel I've read in ages! If you love dogs this is the book for you. Please don't be put off by the war theme. I have no real interest in war books, and chose it solely because of the dog theme.

I read it over 3 nights, as I found it very hard to put down, and cried at least twice each night. It left me loving my own dogs even more. Even though I read this a few months ago, I still regularly think about this book and how it affected me emotionally. This book will stay with me forever, and constantly remind me of that special relationship between human and dog.

I would definitely read this again, and have recommended it to everyone I know.

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guys... Sam Angus did it... she wrote a historical fiction for Middle Grade to Young Adults that has a happy ending! a warm and fuzzy supremely happy ending! And it's WWI historical fiction...and it has a dog... and the ending is still happy! this checked all the boxes for me!

Characters:
Stanley! OMWord...he was the sweetest and most angsty little guy... but I loved him and how much he loved his dogs!🩵 My heart y'all ripped to shreds within the first few chapters, but Mrs. Angus slowly put it back together, shredding it again and then again, but wow! I loved Stanley and how, but in the end, he realized the immense grief that had plagued his da.
Tom sounded like a great older brother even if we only knew him through letters and memories.🩵
Lara was so sweet! So kind to poor Stanley!
Da...he had some issues, but by the end man...I cried and was in love with the transformation and restoration and everything!
The McManus brothers were the absolute best! I adore them!
Trigger...well, Stanley's thoughts about him cracked me up.🤣
I loved Bones and Pistol and Soldier and Rocket and all the dogs! *hugs* but I especially loved Bones and Soldier!🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵

Langauge:
N/A

Romance:
Mentions of two characters like each other and then get married. There is nothing on the page.

Violence/Gore:
This is a WWI historical fiction with Stanley serving on the frontline trenches in the Sommes area... but Mrs. Angus was never overly grotesque. Everything was handled well with enough details, usually in relation to the state of the ground and gunshots to know things weren't good that they weren’t going back...the worst description of injuries had to do with a dog... but again, facts stated and nothing overly described.

Overall:
This would make an incredibly heartfelt and gut-wrenching movie...someone put this in motion somehow! I loved this book! the messenger dogs during WWI were AMAZING! These dogs are real heros that you don't hear a whole lot about, so an entire book dedicated to them and their Keepers was so insightful, and the happy ending made it well worth the read!

Recommend ages 9+

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

A powerful story about the war dogs of WW1.
Although this was written for a middle-grade audience, there are some heavy subjects and graphic depictions of war that could be upsetting for younger readers.

[R.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my. Wow!

I knew this book would be good. Like A Horse Called Hero, I enjoyed every moment of it! I was pulled in from the beginning to the end and could have stayed in longer. :)

There's so much to say, but I don't know how to put it to words!

Stanley - I understand why he ran away and I felt so bad for him. He was a courageous boy!
Da - Although I didn't cry at any of the parts, Da just made me so sad! Like Stanley, I felt so bad for him. Da's sadness and bitterness tore him and his son's relationship apart, until the end!
Hamish - I don't know why I like him. The author never says his age or a lot about him, but some reason I like him. He and a couple other soldiers befriended Stanley, when Stanley has no one else.
Bones - ;(
Soldier - A lovely dog, even though he's a hound! :)

I knew there was going to be action, but in the middle I stopped for a little bit because it wasn't very interesting. I was definitely right though, the action was amazing later on!!

Content: there were a few swear words. There wasn't a lot of violence, but I think it would be a good read for younger teenagers.

A definite "must-read" and favourite! I totally recommend this book!

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I immensely disliked the actions of Stanley's father as the book began. Despite the fact that Da was grieving, I found his actions unforgivable.

I am not fond of war stories and am repulsed by the violence and death.

I am extremely disturbed by cruelty toward animals. The military treatment of animals is an affront to the value of life. The use of horses in the story was reminiscent of the descriptions found in War Horse by Michael Morpurgo.

Despite the content of the book which I am sure accurately described the experiences of a boy, his family, and events during World War I, I found the book to be exceptional.

I struggled with some of the terminology spoken by English characters in 1917. I would recommend reading the book on an electronic device with immediate dictionary access. I need to remind students to not let the vocabulary discourage them from reading the book. They will not be disappointed.

Why did I like a novel with content that was so different from my usual genre of reading?

The Colonel made this comment when Ryder and Bones had completed their training. "You've done well, Ryder, very well. Bones has taken your courage, your sense of honor for his own. He'll always be true, faithful, and brave, even to the last beat of his heart, would-I've no doubt-give his own life for you." (84) You can't beat a good dog story!

"At four forty-five the enemy howitzers belched into fire, the enemy guns launching an onslaught that whisked the night into shooting tongues of flame. The earth itself was erupting. Stanley's heart pounding a tattoo to the thudding of the guns, the screaming of the howitzers tearing his eardrums, the veins in his temples throbbing." (120) I might not like war stories but Sam Angus is an incredible writer.

How interesting that a platoon leader would bring a rum ration around to soldiers on the front line. (174)

"Haloes of luminous mist cradled the hollows and crevices of the plain. a whispered word of warning flew like wind along the trench. Stanley's blood ran cold, fear for himself and fear for Pistol compounded into one." (174) Can you see it? Can you hear it? Can you feel it?

A historical note says that the stories of two of the messenger dogs were partially based upon a real dog during World War I named Airedale Jack. (241)

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why I kept bypassing this on the library shelf, but I was persuaded I needed to read this and I gave in. I listened to the audio version and recommend this as a great edition with a clear and appropriate voice, and an easy story to follow by ear.

I loved this. Very much in the vein of Michael Morpurgo (with obvious similarities to War Horse in this case), it's a three-tissue (if not more) affair, that brings home the issues of animals used in wartime within the moving story of a family drama.

Stanley has lost his mum, his brother is fighting in France. It's 1918 and he's 14 years old. His father is angry, distant and cruel. When their thoroughbred dog Rocket becomes pregnant with 'mongrels' he worsens and threatens to drown the puppies, even Stanley's favourite, Soldier. Stretched to breaking point, Stanley enlists, hoping to find his brother Tom in France.

Most of the story takes place on the Front. Stanley's ability with animals is spotted and he joins the team that trains dogs to run messages around the trenches.

It's an area that's well covered in fiction, the trenches of World War One, but just as Morpurgo brought the unique horse perspective to the table, Angus makes us realise the use dogs were put to and how they suffered alongside the men. Several times I was in tears listening. I thought I knew what the ending would bring, but there were some twists I missed, and I liked the structure and flow of the story and what Angus did with the characters. Stanley's father and Tom, though secondary characters, play a large role in the story, always in Stanley's thoughts, and as Stanley, too young for war, sees the horrors around him, he comes to understand them more.

This would make an excellent teaching tool in KS2/3 history lessons on WWI and life in the trenches, as it's realistically bleak without being overly so.

And just like War Horse, this would make an excellent film, though maybe in a few years time to avoid seeming too similar to Morpurgo's work.

An excellent YA wartime read, but do expect tears.

[Megs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very apprehensive to start this one for the same reasons that I've never seen War Horse. I'm a huge animal lover and I hate thinking of them being hurt even a little bit, let alone going through the horrors of war. But, I gathered up my courage and read this one anyway. And it was every bit as sad as I expected, but also more interesting than I expected.

This is one of those books you need to read beside a box of tissues. I kept a personal "cry counter" on this one and I believe my final tally was 5 bouts of tears. Two of which were full out sobbing. Just so you can't say I didn't warn you.

A book that makes you cry that much must be doing something right (although I'm sure I'd cry in a poorly written book on the same subject). I found Soldier Dog to be well written and engaging. I cared deeply about Stanley and even more about Bones and Soldier.

The thing I didn't expect was to be interested in the war aspect as well. I found this book to be very well researched and really informative. I'm about as far from a war buff as you can be, but I actually enjoyed learning about how dogs were used as messengers in WWI. So hooray for learning something!

The only other I'd question on this one is it's suitability for younger readers. The grade range on this one is 4-7. I'm not sure is a 10-year-old could handle this book. It destroyed me and I turn 25 this week! However, on that note, this book might be good for boys interested in war to get them reading. But there were images in this one that are terribly haunting and awful and I bawled as I read them. The use of gas was absolutely terrifying and devastating.

Soldier Dog is an extremely moving look at the use of canine soldiers in WWI, as well as the journey of a brave young man who leaves his safe life in England to face the unknown horrors of war. This one will have you bawling you eyes out and feeling so thankful that your pets won't have to go through the terrible situations war dogs did.

[Claire Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, where do I start? This is quite simply the best book I have read in a long while. Although recommended to me ages ago, I've only just got round to reading this, as it's one of the two books I'll read this month for the bookclub I'm a member of.

I'll admit that I was initially a bit put off this book by the front cover picture and description on the back cover, as I'm not very interested in books about war and fighting. However, although it is set during the first world war and a lot of the scenes take place close to the front lines in France, this story is so much more than just a war book.

Fourteen year old Stanley is the main (human!) character and he is endearing and well written. The supporting characters (human and canine) spring into life from the pages and managed to bring forth just about every emotion in me. Happy to angry, frustrated to sad, i finished this feeling wrung out and left me an emotional wreck!

This book is extremely rare in that I didn't pick up a single grammatical error whilst reading. I have to say I can't honestly remember when that last happened. The use of vocabulary is wide and the descriptive language fantastic.

This is a tale of love, betrayal, hurt, pride, family and, most importantly to me, it depicts the level of emotion that I feel for my dogs like nothing else I've ever read. A true masterpiece that I'll be recommending to all my friends, especially my fellow dog lovers. This book just made me want to cuddle my hounds all the way through. Brilliant brilliant writing.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A boy goes into war to find his brother not knowing that the two dogs he trains one dies in action and one is his dog at home sons not knowing that Stanley loses his sight

[Chiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recensito su ChiaraLeggeTroppo.

Parto sempre un po’ prevenuta e molto molto molto spaventata, quando si tratta di libri per cani. L’averne uno, ma soprattutto l’aver imboccato un determinato percorso assieme a lei, mi ha portata ad abbracciare la cultura cinofila con assoluta radicalità e il mio sguardo si è fatto esageratamente critico nei confronti di qualsiasi cosa possa anche solo accennare una parvenza di ignoranza sulla materia. Mi rifiuto categoricamente di leggere un libro che, per quanto osannato o famoso o divertente o commovente contribuisca a diffondere un’immagine sbagliatissima non solo di determinate razze (vedi Labrador e Golden Retriever, cani da caccia che il mondo ritiene, con grandissimo torto e grandissimo danno nei confronti dei cani stessi, cani da divano) ma del cane in sé. Ho dei problemi persino con Hachiko, per la tempesta di stupidaggini che gli sono seguite, figuriamoci quando si tratta di qualcosa di davvero aberrante sotto questo punto di vista! Proprio non ce la faccio a sopportare, per amore di una lettura piacevole, di avere a che fare con un qualcosa che contribuisce a diffondere ignoranza e disinformazione sullo splendido universo cinofilo. Per questo motivo mi sono approcciata a Per te qualsiasi cosa con le pinze, in punta di piedi, terrorizzata al pensiero di saltare in aria dopo poche pagine e di dover abbandonare il libro. Non è andata così, per fortuna, e quindi oggi sono qui a parlarvene, con gli occhi a cuoricino e il cuore devastato dalla commozione per la quale incolpo, senza vergogna, Sam Angus.
Stanley è giovane, un bambino, e vive in tempi che non hanno nessuna pietà per i bambini come lui. La prima guerra mondiale sta divorando l’Europa, lontana dalla campagna inglese dove vive assieme al padre, ma ha già stretto la sua morsa sulla sua famiglia: Tom, suo fratello, già combatte in Francia quello che si rivelerà un sanguinoso e mostruoso conflitto di trincea. Stanley non ha una vita facile, orfano di madre, e il dolore che grava su di lui come un’ombra è invece una mancanza troppo grande da sopportare per suo padre, il quale si rifiuta di affrontarlo e preferisce nascondersi dietro una rabbia cieca che allontana tutto e tutti, da Stanley alla splendida Rockett, fedele compagna leggera come il vento. Ed è proprio quando questa rimane incinta di un cane di campagna che il destino impone il suo volere, legando un piccolo cucciolo grigio ad un bambino che è alla disperata ricerca di qualcosa di saldo, di un affetto sincero a cui aggrapparsi nella tempesta che si ammassa all’orizzonte e nel vento che già scuote le fondamenta della sua esistenza. E sarà proprio questo legame, la sua rottura, a portare Stanley ad arruolarsi nell’esercito per fuggire da una crudeltà insensata e ad affrontare tutta una serie di prove che lo porteranno a crescere, gli insegneranno ad amare e ad amare persino nella perdita, e infine lo restituiranno ad un mondo che non sarà più lo stesso, con la consapevolezza che le cicatrici del conflitto rimarranno lì, incise nel suo animo, ad imperitura memoria di tutto ciò che ha vissuto.
A scanso di equivoci, Per te qualsiasi cosa è un romanzo storico. L’autrice si è prodigata si uno scrupoloso lavoro di ricerca, tanto sul conflitto mondiale quanto sull’uso che entrambi gli schieramenti fecero dei cani al fronte – e la bibliografia citata in chiusura ne è la prova lampante, assieme alla grandissima ricchezza di dettagli che si assorbono in corso di lettura. Per quanto la storia di Stanley sia inventata, quella dei cani che lo accompagnano – Soldier, Bones e Pistol – è invece ispirata a quelli che sono stati veri cani da staffetta, utilizzati per trasportare messaggi dal fronte alle retrovie quando ogni altra comunicazione era impensanbile e impossibile. Se quello dei Segnalatori è un capitolo poco noto della storia mondiale, quello dei Guardiani è pressoché sconosciuto e Sam Angus, con il suo lavoro, rendo loro una giustizia che, con uno stile lineare, elegante e straordinariamente evocativo nella sua semplicità, tratteggia figure di grandissima dignità e dall’umanità sconvolgente. Figure che, di fatto, non sono neppure umano ma fanno il loro lavoro come e meglio di uomo: i cani staffetta, raccimolati con grande urgenza da tutto il paese, affidati a uomini perché questi diventassero la loro ragione di vita, addestrati ad ignorare la paura e il dolore per riuscire a tornare da loro. Creature dalla straordinaria fermezza, creature amate e che amano oltre ogni nostra comprensione, e tra tutti Bones.
Bones troppo grande; Bones dal manto di velluto; Bones dalle orecchie attente e il passo scattante, bestia troppo pesante forse ma non per questo meno coraggiosa. Bones che conquisterà Stanley e sarà il suo appiglio in una realtà che non è adatta ad un bambino; Bones che con quel bambino instaurerà il rapporto che ogni essere umano dovrebbe avere con il proprio cane; Bones che con caparbietà sacrificherà persino se stesso per fare ciò che Stanley gli ha detto di fare – tornare, tornare da lui, ad ogni costo. Bones mi ha spezzato il cuore, sarò onesta, e tra tutti i cani è stato quello che ho amato di più per la fiera intelligenza, il grande cuore, la mole sgraziata e la solida presenza, perennemente appoggiata contro il fianco del suo piccolo umano, come a volergli sempre ricordare di non essere solo in un mondo sporco e insanguinato.
Ma prima di Bones c’è il piccolo Soldier, cucciolo dal pelo argentato e gli occhi chiari che insegnerà a Stanley cosa significhi essere responsabile di qualcuno. Soldier, zampe leggere come il vento, affidatogli dalla sua stessa madre, che verrà coraggiosamente salvato e poi perduto; Soldier sempre vivo nel suo ricordo, intoccato e intoccabile, piccolo animale amato oltre immaginazione, la cui scomparsa segnerà per Stanley il punto di non ritorno tra la sua infanzia e una maturità ancora lontana.
E dopo Bones, Pistol. Un cane che ha perso fiducia nell’uomo, che ha subito le peggiori angherie, che è stato tradito proprio da chi riteneva essere il centro del suo universo – il suo vecchio umano, a cui la guerra ha mangiato la ragione -, che ha sofferto e che ha perso tutto, persino il pelo – tranne la sua stroardinaria dignità. Pistol che guarda al mondo con paura, che ringhia, che abbaia e che minaccia. Pistol che, però, rinascerà al fianco di Stanley e lo aiuterà a ritrovare, nel buco dove una volta aveva un cuore che la perdita di Bones ha spezzato, un soffio d’amore così puro da riuscire, col tempo, a scacciare l’infinita oscurità dei dolori vissuti. E che, inaspettatamente, si rivelerà essere molto più di quel che pare, squarciando un orizzonte pregno di oscurità con un raggio di sole, un’aurora destinata – col tempo – a farsi giorno dopo una notte troppo lunga.
Sono questi, gli incredibili protagonisti di questo romanzo. I cani, e un ragazzino che cresce sotto i nostri occhi e matura piano piano, trovando nei suoi fedeli amici a quattro zampe il sostegno e il calore che le trincee hanno rubato ad un’intera generazione di uomini trasformati in fantasmi. Non c’è spazio per gli artifici letterari, i ghirigori e i giochi di parole: Per te qualsiasi cosa è una storia troppo importante per poter essere raccontata diversamente da come è stata scritta. Vi trascinerà in un mondo incrostato di fango e sangue, ma senza mai perdere il tenero disincanto di un ragazzino troppo giovane che non comprende del tutto la situazione in cui si è andato a cacciare, e che grazie alla confortante presenza dei cani al su fianco non profonderà mai nella cupa disperazione di una parentesi buia dell’umanità. Vi toccherà il cuore, suonando le corde più profonde delle vostre emozioni e lo farà senza guardarvi in faccia. Ma così, del resto, è anche la guerra che Stanley vivrà sulla propria pelle. Così è la perdita, così è la speranza, così è la vita che, nel suo sembrare spaventosamente fragile, è per questo quanto mai preziosa.
Dovessero farne mai un film, ne verrebbe fuori qualcosa di molto simile a War Horse, ma se possibile infinitamente più commovente e straziante. Non è un libro da leggere, è un libro da amare. Consigliatissimo.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! From the first to the very last chapter. My attention was held right through, and then during the final chapters I could not bring myself to put the book down.
This book really highlights how loyal dogs can be to their masters, and how losing your best furry friend can involve as much grief as losing a human loved-one.
I highly recommend!!

[19halln · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book by Sam Angus. It is an emotional and powerful story about an underaged dog handler during WW1. I would recommend this book to years 8s and above. It contains mild language. This book is suitable for all genders who have an interest in non-fiction war stories. Personally, I will read more war stories because I found this so interesting.

[Jimy Sharp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally read non fiction military books, although I found some of the historical references off or wrong this is outweighed by the sheer love of dogs in this book. It's a nice story and although quite sad also uplifting along the way. It was nice to read something fictional for a change.

[Madison Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touching

I didn’t think I would like this. However, it surprised me. I started to really care for each of the characters. There were so many relationships that evolved throughout this book and it was heart warming. While war is never going to be a positive experience, it was descriptive and moving. It was also very humbling to read this is respects to the military. God bless them and their families.

Overall a good read! Worth your time to read.

[Imogen Gardiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best books I’ve ever read! I was definitely crying at multiple points throughout the book, but it was an amazing book. Definitely recommend reading it!

[Janette Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the story.and that you followed his life he wasn’t too graphic, but very informative

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book, it would be suitable for Y6 alongside their studies in history. It's fantastic, moving and memorable. A must read.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so happy this book didn't end the way I thought it would! I had no idea how important messenger dogs were and that 7,000 of them were killed in WWI. It was a great historical angle for a story, but it was a slow read. I put it down twice to read other books before finishing. While I appreciated the themes of empathy and forgiveness along with the historical approach, it's not a book I would recommend.

[Str4tus4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ngl, this was one of my favourite books ever when I was younger. When I was 9, I read this book for the first time. I borrowed it out of the library every week I got the chance. I only just remembered it the other day and thought I'd add it to my goodreads.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a lot of feels about this book.

I should start by pointing out that I'm not a fan of animal books, unless they are nonfiction. I don't like reading stories all about animals or from an animals point of view. So, I wasn't very thrilled to see this book on the Battle of the Book List.

I'm not even sure how to explain this book. In short, it's about a boy who escapes his father by running away to war. Even though he's too young they let him join and he is put in the dog messenger unit.

Of all the books on the Battle of the Book list this year, this is the one that hit me the hardest. It wasn't my favorite, but it's the one I can't stop thinking about it. It made me bawl at several times. Even just thinking about it now, I'm getting teary-eyed and I finished it a month ago.

My heart just ached for Stanley. The author did such an excellent job at showing how young and vulnerable Stanley really was, yet also demonstrating his courage and bravery. Such a well-written character.

I don't read a lot of war books, but this is one of the best I've encountered. It pulls at the heart strings without leaving you feeling completely hopeless. I could see myself reading it again.

One Note: They had this on the list for 5th/6th graders, but I think it's more appropriate for 7th/8th grade.

[Anastasia202 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soldier Dog by Sam Angus is a very disconsolate yet heart-warming novel which encompasses a WWI history lesson and the adventures of a young boy and dog all in one heart-wrenching and fascinating tale. I always had a box of tissues by my side while reading this book; so the author of it definitely did something right if it was capable of touching my conscience to such extent. This novel shined light on several significant topics; a dog's distinguishing identity, the impacts of grief and finally, the delicate system of identities in war.
The philosophy of animals embodying their own distinguishing identity may seem baffling, however, it has been recognized in many historic and contemporary proses, especially Soldier Dog by Sam Angus. Not only did this enlightening text illume dogs’ unconditional love, but it also portrayed how these incredible creatures are capable of vividly expressing emotion. Bones and Soldier remained loyal to Stanley, they sacrificed their welfare for the army’s success and victory, and they were capable of emoting just like humans, which definitely brought them closer to Stanley.
Unfortunately, this novel also explored the disheartening theme of how an individual is impacted by grief, whether it be grief from a family member’s death or grief from being abused and persistently degraded. In Soldier Dog, Stanley’s father was shrouded by sorrow because of his wife’s death and his son’s departure to the battlefields of France, and as a result, he locked up his heart to Stanley. In turn, Stanley, realizing the tragedy of being abandoned by everyone; his brother, mother and father, falls into depression and he absconded his home to join the army. Grief is what triggered Stanley to join the army, and accordingly, what triggered the plot (hook/trigger incident) and also the factor which greatly contributed to his identity’s shaping. He started to reach out to those in distress, be compassionate by understanding what others are going through, to value what he had and consequently, developed his moral standards.
Lastly, throughout the course of this novel, I was able to distinguish the theme of how delicately everyone’s identities are weaved together in war. Everyone’s hearts beat in one chorus, all of their souls invested into the same efforts. The consequences of one individual’s failure produce a domino effect, and these consequences impact the lives, and determine the life or death, of all other soldiers.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set against the backdrop of World War I, 13-year old Stanley watches his beloved older brother Tom depart for service and soon joins him after a misunderstanding involving his father, Da.

The family dog runs off and returns pregnant which Da sees as a burden. He threatens to drown the puppies even though Stanley has developed a strong bond with the runt whom he has named Soldier in honor of his brother Tom. When Stanley awakens one morning unable to find Soldier he believes Da has made good on his promise to kill the dog so he runs away to enlist in the service, lying about his age to gain entrance.

Stanley finds his place training dogs for service, but he is only given one dog to train while his peers are given three each. Stanley is desperate to be sent to France and his hard work pays off. What follows is a story of bravery and miracles, of a family repairing its wounds, and of the atrocities of war.

This book is well written, incorporating letters into the prose, giving readers a unique view of one character's voice. World War I often seems to be the overlooked war when it comes to children's literature; the Civil War and World War II receive much better coverage. This book features memorable characters, a plot that tugs at the heartstrings, and enough war details to put the reader there and teach them something significant without making them put the book down due to revulsion.

I'd recommend this book for grades 4-6, especially boys as the action is gripping and the story moves along at a great pace.

[Tracy Ledoux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book! Brought tears to my eyes and has a wonderful plot twist (I won't give it away)...During World War I, 13 year old Stanley watches his brother leave for war while he must stay behind with his temperamental father. When his father’s dog, Rocket, becomes pregnant from a stray, Stanley falls in love with one of her pups. Stanley’s father is angry that she had mixed breed dogs and gives away her puppies except for the Stanley’s favorite, Soldier, who he drowns when his neighbor won’t even take it. Stanley is heartbroken and runs away from home to join the army and search for his brother. In the army, Stanley works in a special unit with messenger dogs and becomes master to two exceptional dogs. This is an intense and wonderful story of courage, loyalty, and love of humans and man’s best friend. Includes a historical photo gallery of war dogs used in World War I.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soldier Dog by Sam Angus was a great book. This book is a story of a young boy named Stanley who runs from home after his father apparently drowns Stanley's puppy, Soldier. After leaving home, Stanley join the British army to help fight in WWI. In the army, Stanley joined a group of dog-keepers who trained the dogs to carry messages between battalions. This book goes on to be an emotional rollercoaster, at one point your happy the next your depressed, and then next thing you know your happy again. I gave this book a four star rating. I gave it four stars because it was full of action and those are the kind of books that I personally enjoy. This book was an easy and fast read for me because the book kept making me want to read more and more. I would recommend this book to all people who enjoy thrillers and action. As you can see, this book is worth reading.

[Maja Kron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would love to give this a higher rating but I can't... It truly is a beautiful story about a young man and his dog, I just couldn't really get into it. It's a very short book, only around 240 pages, and I think a story like this could have been better off with a couple more. I didn't really have time to get to know and care for any of the characters, which I think is a must. I also didn't enjoy the writing style too much. I understand why it is written like it is, but I didn't feel like it flowed very well, and that distracted me from what I was reading.

I do like that it is partially based on a true story, and I'm glad I got to experience this. I'd never even heard of the messenger dogs before, and they were so important for the war. If it had been a few pages longer I'm sure I would have loved it. Still a great book, and I don't regret picking it up!

[Ms. Tongate, TLC Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for dog lovers! Such a great read to learn about the Messenger Dogs in the First World War. Grab a Kleenex!

*100,000 dogs served in the Great War. Of theses 7,000 dogs were killed.
Page 152 Lt. Colonel Thorne to Stanley, "Remember that all he does, he does for you."

This book came from a story the author heard on the radio. An Airedale named Jack, recruited by the British Army and trained at the War Dog School. The idea of the messenger dog, of his intelligence, great loyalty, and of the sense of duty that could draw him through gunfire and back to his master, that brought tears to my eyes.

*Bones, Pistol/Soldier

[Kirsti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had a kind of War Horse vibe going for it, and I never fully fell into the story. Maybe it was the uneasy resemblance to war Horse that made me feel that way, but I'm not sure. It was good in parts, and I especially felt sorry for Bones. Guessed the ending again, boo. I've got to stop imagining how books end, because I wreck them for myself. Three Stars, although I tossed up between three and four. shame I couldn't like this, I've been looking forward to reading it since purchasing it a few months ago.

[Deb Tyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to take this one slowly due to my pitiful lack of background knowledge on World War I. However, Soldier, Bones, and Pistol (the war dogs) kept me engaged and reading until the very end which did NOT disappoint.

I will gladly hand this novel to my eighth graders in the fall. Vocabulary is challenging, and I don't think I would have handed Soldier Dog to one of my sixth graders last year without support.

This is definitely a Kleenex book--you will want to keep the tissues handy while reading this one!

[Morgan Mescher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been one of the best books I have ever read. I would definitely rate this a five. I have never read a book so suspenseful, that I have enjoyed. This book is about a boy named Stanley, who ran away because of the actions his dad had did. Stanley went to the army and became a dog messenger. He later did come home after his dad found him working and showed up with the one thing Stanley thought was dead. This book would be for middle school students who like animals and the war. I would recommend this book. It was an amazing book about tragedy and happiness.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt so many strong emotions with this book and it had me crying a few times. I had a hard time putting it down and I am sure it will stay with me a long time because of the way it affected me emotionally. It's a reminder of the powerful connection between humans and dogs, and how loyal our four-legged friends are. It's not so much about war as it is about these special bonds.