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Operation: Happy: A World War II Story of Courage, Resilience, and an Unbreakable Bond
As World War II enters her backyard, a young girl tries to cope with the war and keep her family together by completing a bucket list with her best her dog Happy. Featuring a dog’s POV and inspired by real-life experiences of a young Pearl Harbor survivor, this historical middle-grade novel will inspire readers 8-12 to find courage in any situation.
It’s 1940, and Jody is moving with her military family yet again—this time to a small naval base in Pearl Harbor. She’s always created a “top ten” list for each new home to help her adjust, and with Hawaii being so beautiful and her loyal dog Happy by her side, it’s easy to find things to add.
But Jody’s mom is convinced the island is dangerous and starts constantly practicing first aid. Jody also learns that Happy is getting older and beginning to slow down. To cope, she makes a list of fun things they can do together. “ Happy” gives her something to focus on beyond the scary new experiences, like air raid drills and Yellow Fever vaccinations.
Before long, everyone’s worst fears come Pearl Harbor is attacked. In the aftermath, Jody’s father must stay behind as the rest of the family is evacuated, and Jody promises him she will keep everyone together. But things are hard in San Francisco, where she feels like an outsider. Worse, her mother has become depressed, and Jody worries she and her sister will have to go to an orphanage. With Happy by her side, Jody hatches a brave plan to keep the family safe … Will Happy see them through?
Happy
perfect for fans of historical fiction as well as animal loversa moving and historically accurate novel inspired by true eventsideal for readers of Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and Kate DiCamillo
It’s 1940, and Jody is moving with her military family yet again—this time to a small naval base in Pearl Harbor. She’s always created a “top ten” list for each new home to help her adjust, and with Hawaii being so beautiful and her loyal dog Happy by her side, it’s easy to find things to add.
But Jody’s mom is convinced the island is dangerous and starts constantly practicing first aid. Jody also learns that Happy is getting older and beginning to slow down. To cope, she makes a list of fun things they can do together. “ Happy” gives her something to focus on beyond the scary new experiences, like air raid drills and Yellow Fever vaccinations.
Before long, everyone’s worst fears come Pearl Harbor is attacked. In the aftermath, Jody’s father must stay behind as the rest of the family is evacuated, and Jody promises him she will keep everyone together. But things are hard in San Francisco, where she feels like an outsider. Worse, her mother has become depressed, and Jody worries she and her sister will have to go to an orphanage. With Happy by her side, Jody hatches a brave plan to keep the family safe … Will Happy see them through?
Happy
perfect for fans of historical fiction as well as animal loversa moving and historically accurate novel inspired by true eventsideal for readers of Kimberly Brubaker Bradley and Kate DiCamillo
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2024
27 people are currently reading
3979 people want to read
About the author
Jenni L. Walsh
16 books644 followersJenni L. Walsh is the USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books for adults and children, spending her days knee deep in words in Philadelphia’s suburbia. Beyond words, Jenni is a mama (of a soulful eleven-year-old, a soccer-loving nine-year-old, and six needy furbabies), a wife, a Philly and 'Nova sports fan.
But where did it all begin? Jenni spent her early years dabbling in various forms of writing and with her nose in a book. Her writing chops first began to develop through one-page stories. Never fail, the storyline followed the same progression: girl meets boy, girl marries boy, girl and boy have baby. That's it.
Now Jenni has moved on to stories with a bit more depth and, for the mamas, Side by Side is a historical women's fiction story of America’s most infamous crime spree of Bonnie and Clyde told in the raw and honest voice of the woman who lived it, Bonnie Parker. In Becoming Bonnie, a prequel set in the Roaring Twenties, a picture of Bonnie's earlier life, before and while she meets Clyde, is brought to life. Jenni's third historical women's fiction book A Betting Woman takes us to the California gold rush, featuring a little known woman from history, Eleanor Dumont, but who is largely remembered by the moniker Madame Moustache. In The Call of the Wrens, Jenni introduces readers to the Women's Royal Naval Service (the Wrens), who carried wartime secrets on their shoulders as motorcycle dispatch riders during both world wars. Unsinkable is Jenni's first bestselling novel, hitting the USA Today bestsellers list, and is about two resilient women, one of which is the real-life Violet Jessop who survived the Titanic and two additional maritime disasters. Jenni's next historical novel Ace, Marvel, Spy features Alice Marble, who was the world's number one women's tennis player, an editor for the Wonder Woman comics, and a spy during the Second World War. Up next from Jenni, in October 2025, is Sonora, a historical novel about performer Sonora Carver, one of the first women to dive from a forty-five foot tower on the back of a horse and who inspired the film Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken.
For the kiddos, Jenni's debut middle grade books, She Dared, features true stories from women who, at a young age, accomplished daring feats of perseverance and bravery. She is also the author of I Am Defiance, inspired by a real-life resistance group, known as the White Rose. Jenni has contributed Hettie and the London Blitz: A World War II Survival Story to the Girl's Survive series. Revolutionary War hero Sybil Ludington, who is often known as the "female Paul Revere," is brought to life in By the Light of Fireflies, Jenni's first historical novel with a touch of magical realism. Over and Out is a thrilling and fast-paced espionage and escape story that is inspired by real stories of life in East Berlin during the Cold War. Operation: Happy, set during the attack on Pearl Harbor, tells the story of a real-life survivor and includes the POV of her dog, Happy, to soften the events of one of America's most notable moments in history. In May 2025, Jenni is excited to be releasing her first contemporary novel, a mystery/adventure story called The Bug Bandits, which is inspired by a real heist and the shenanigans of Home Alone.
But where did it all begin? Jenni spent her early years dabbling in various forms of writing and with her nose in a book. Her writing chops first began to develop through one-page stories. Never fail, the storyline followed the same progression: girl meets boy, girl marries boy, girl and boy have baby. That's it.
Now Jenni has moved on to stories with a bit more depth and, for the mamas, Side by Side is a historical women's fiction story of America’s most infamous crime spree of Bonnie and Clyde told in the raw and honest voice of the woman who lived it, Bonnie Parker. In Becoming Bonnie, a prequel set in the Roaring Twenties, a picture of Bonnie's earlier life, before and while she meets Clyde, is brought to life. Jenni's third historical women's fiction book A Betting Woman takes us to the California gold rush, featuring a little known woman from history, Eleanor Dumont, but who is largely remembered by the moniker Madame Moustache. In The Call of the Wrens, Jenni introduces readers to the Women's Royal Naval Service (the Wrens), who carried wartime secrets on their shoulders as motorcycle dispatch riders during both world wars. Unsinkable is Jenni's first bestselling novel, hitting the USA Today bestsellers list, and is about two resilient women, one of which is the real-life Violet Jessop who survived the Titanic and two additional maritime disasters. Jenni's next historical novel Ace, Marvel, Spy features Alice Marble, who was the world's number one women's tennis player, an editor for the Wonder Woman comics, and a spy during the Second World War. Up next from Jenni, in October 2025, is Sonora, a historical novel about performer Sonora Carver, one of the first women to dive from a forty-five foot tower on the back of a horse and who inspired the film Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken.
For the kiddos, Jenni's debut middle grade books, She Dared, features true stories from women who, at a young age, accomplished daring feats of perseverance and bravery. She is also the author of I Am Defiance, inspired by a real-life resistance group, known as the White Rose. Jenni has contributed Hettie and the London Blitz: A World War II Survival Story to the Girl's Survive series. Revolutionary War hero Sybil Ludington, who is often known as the "female Paul Revere," is brought to life in By the Light of Fireflies, Jenni's first historical novel with a touch of magical realism. Over and Out is a thrilling and fast-paced espionage and escape story that is inspired by real stories of life in East Berlin during the Cold War. Operation: Happy, set during the attack on Pearl Harbor, tells the story of a real-life survivor and includes the POV of her dog, Happy, to soften the events of one of America's most notable moments in history. In May 2025, Jenni is excited to be releasing her first contemporary novel, a mystery/adventure story called The Bug Bandits, which is inspired by a real heist and the shenanigans of Home Alone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
May 21, 2024
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade historical fiction about a little girl’s experiences during and after the events of Pearl Harbor. Based on a true story. A bit too dark for the age group, but a good read for those who can handle it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
Bookish Yays:
🐶 I was thankful for the small note at the start, telling us that Happy will be fine during the story. We dog lovers want doggies to be safe and “happy” even in fiction.
🐶 Jody’s perspective is exactly as a child would sound like when excited or worried or determined. I liked her character, and felt sad at how the two main adults in her life failed her.
🐶 Happy is excellent. I love how his confusion at human vocabulary and his fondness for silly words is included in his narration, as well as his propensity to copy the way Jody talks. I wish there had been even more chapters from his view. Dogs make every book brighter, and Happy is no exception. I am glad the author made this fictional addition to a factual story.
🐶 Appreciate the realistic representation of the lives of military families, the focus on how scary wartime can be for children and animals, and the mention of the bias against Japanese Americans after the Pearl Harbor attack.
🐶 Loved the pun in the title. Happy is an operation as well as the pet dog's name. Thus, ‘Operation: Happy’ includes fun activities with Happy the dog as well as Jody’s elaborate attempt to maintain a happy face while their domestic situation was crumbling.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🐾 The book can be divided into three distinct parts: pre, during and post Pearl Harbor. The pre-attack section was my favourite. The second section didn’t take that many chapters but it was still well written, though a bit traumatising to read. However, the final section that’s set in San Francisco didn’t work that well for me. It went a bit haywire by trying to cover too much. The result felt cluttered.
🐾 The story isn't entirely happy unlike what the title and the cover suggest, covering quite a few sad themes that aren’t often a part of middle-grade fiction. Some of the more triggering topics are depression, war-related trauma, and sexual assault. I felt like the book went overboard with the misery, especially in the post-Pearl Harbor section, but the author’s note reveals that the story is based on true incidents written in the memoir by Pearl Harbor survivor Joan Zuber Earle. This memoir, while speaking about the children during the war, aimed at adults. So it could get away with darker content. But as this book is aimed at middle-graders, I am not sure if it works as effectively.
🐾 While we know that there is a 1.5 years gap between Jodi and her elder sister Peggy, their actual ages (12 and 13 respectively) aren’t revealed until the 87% mark. This left me quite uncertain for most of the book as I couldn’t understand if the character depiction was realistic or not.
🐾 I thought the story might stop at exploring the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, but it goes a year beyond. This means that the ending isn’t exactly the end of the war, but the end of Jody’s struggles. I did like this ending, but I am not sure if I like a book to stop in between a major war.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at close to 5 hours, is narrated by Gail Shalan and Brian Holden. Both the narrators were exceptional. After the first chapter, I actually googled to see if Gail Shalan was a tween/teen-aged narrator, because she was so good at voicing Jody. Her exuberant narration was perfect. Brian Holden was somewhat overshadowed but that’s also because he had to voice only Happy while Gail voiced a variety of characters. But his rendition of Happy was spot on. If your child listens to audiobooks, this would be a fabulous one, as long as they are okay with the sadder themes.
All in all, it’s not like I hated anything about the book. However, the book contains many incidents that could be a tad too upsetting for the target age group, even though the writing approaches the content delicately.
Recommended, but with hesitation. I don’t feel comfortable advocating it to younger middle-graders. Maybe it would work better for younger teens, children aged 11-14. Discretion advised before handing the book to sensitive children. But if you do opt to give this a go, the audiobook is a great option.
3.5 stars, rounding up for the audio version.
My thanks to Zonderkidz and NetGalley for the ALC of “Operation: Happy”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plot Preview:
1940. Jody is excited when her father is transferred to a small naval base in Pearl Harbor. She always creates a “top ten” list for every new home her military family moves to, but this time, the excitement is greater as it is the first time she will have her wonderful pet, an ex-military sentry dog named Happy, by her side. When Jody learns that Happy is slowing down, she resolves to do as many fun things as she can in the time she has left with him. However, this plan is affected when her mother has some ominous feelings about the island. When her worst fears come true, Jody’s father needs to stay behind but the rest of the family (Jody, her mom and her elder sister Peggy) is evacuated to San Francisco, which will bring new challenges in their lives.
The story comes to us in Jody’s first person perspective, with some chapters from Happy’s third person pov.
Bookish Yays:
🐶 I was thankful for the small note at the start, telling us that Happy will be fine during the story. We dog lovers want doggies to be safe and “happy” even in fiction.
🐶 Jody’s perspective is exactly as a child would sound like when excited or worried or determined. I liked her character, and felt sad at how the two main adults in her life failed her.
🐶 Happy is excellent. I love how his confusion at human vocabulary and his fondness for silly words is included in his narration, as well as his propensity to copy the way Jody talks. I wish there had been even more chapters from his view. Dogs make every book brighter, and Happy is no exception. I am glad the author made this fictional addition to a factual story.
🐶 Appreciate the realistic representation of the lives of military families, the focus on how scary wartime can be for children and animals, and the mention of the bias against Japanese Americans after the Pearl Harbor attack.
🐶 Loved the pun in the title. Happy is an operation as well as the pet dog's name. Thus, ‘Operation: Happy’ includes fun activities with Happy the dog as well as Jody’s elaborate attempt to maintain a happy face while their domestic situation was crumbling.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🐾 The book can be divided into three distinct parts: pre, during and post Pearl Harbor. The pre-attack section was my favourite. The second section didn’t take that many chapters but it was still well written, though a bit traumatising to read. However, the final section that’s set in San Francisco didn’t work that well for me. It went a bit haywire by trying to cover too much. The result felt cluttered.
🐾 The story isn't entirely happy unlike what the title and the cover suggest, covering quite a few sad themes that aren’t often a part of middle-grade fiction. Some of the more triggering topics are depression, war-related trauma, and sexual assault. I felt like the book went overboard with the misery, especially in the post-Pearl Harbor section, but the author’s note reveals that the story is based on true incidents written in the memoir by Pearl Harbor survivor Joan Zuber Earle. This memoir, while speaking about the children during the war, aimed at adults. So it could get away with darker content. But as this book is aimed at middle-graders, I am not sure if it works as effectively.
🐾 While we know that there is a 1.5 years gap between Jodi and her elder sister Peggy, their actual ages (12 and 13 respectively) aren’t revealed until the 87% mark. This left me quite uncertain for most of the book as I couldn’t understand if the character depiction was realistic or not.
🐾 I thought the story might stop at exploring the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, but it goes a year beyond. This means that the ending isn’t exactly the end of the war, but the end of Jody’s struggles. I did like this ending, but I am not sure if I like a book to stop in between a major war.
🎧 The Audiobook Experience:
The audiobook, clocking at close to 5 hours, is narrated by Gail Shalan and Brian Holden. Both the narrators were exceptional. After the first chapter, I actually googled to see if Gail Shalan was a tween/teen-aged narrator, because she was so good at voicing Jody. Her exuberant narration was perfect. Brian Holden was somewhat overshadowed but that’s also because he had to voice only Happy while Gail voiced a variety of characters. But his rendition of Happy was spot on. If your child listens to audiobooks, this would be a fabulous one, as long as they are okay with the sadder themes.
All in all, it’s not like I hated anything about the book. However, the book contains many incidents that could be a tad too upsetting for the target age group, even though the writing approaches the content delicately.
Recommended, but with hesitation. I don’t feel comfortable advocating it to younger middle-graders. Maybe it would work better for younger teens, children aged 11-14. Discretion advised before handing the book to sensitive children. But if you do opt to give this a go, the audiobook is a great option.
3.5 stars, rounding up for the audio version.
My thanks to Zonderkidz and NetGalley for the ALC of “Operation: Happy”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || X/Twitter || Facebook ||
June 18, 2024
I read Operation: Happy one with my 8-year-old daughter and we really enjoyed it. She loves dogs so when I saw this cover with a dog, I knew that it would be a hit for her. This book is geared more towards middle school age, but my 3rd grader did great comprehending the story and knowing what was going on. We had wonderful discussions regarding the things we read about in this book. It is definitely on the heavy side with it being based around war, but it's done very appropriately for children and isn't frightening. Kids who love history will really enjoy this one.
Thank you NetGalley, and Zonderkidz, for an ARC in return for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley, and Zonderkidz, for an ARC in return for my honest review.
April 17, 2024
The cover is excellent, but I have very mixed feelings on the inside of this book.
About this book:
“A girl, her dog, and the list that saved them...
As World War II enters her backyard, a young girl tries to keep her family together and cope with the war by completing a bucket list with her best friend: her dog Happy. Featuring a dog’s POV and inspired by real-life experiences of a young Pearl Harbor survivor, this historical middle-grade novel will inspire readers 8-12 to find courage in any situation.
It’s 1940, and Jody is moving with her military family yet again—this time to a small naval base in Pearl Harbor. She’s always created a “top ten” list for each new home to help her adjust, and with Hawaii being so beautiful and her loyal dog Happy by her side, it’s easy to find things to add.
But Jody’s mom is convinced the island is dangerous and starts constantly practicing first aid. Jody also learns that Happy is beginning to slow down. To cope, she starts a list of fun things they can do together, like journeying to a Fountain of Youth. “Operation: Happy” gives her something to focus on beyond the scary new experiences, like air raid drills and Yellow Fever vaccinations.
Before long, everyone’s worst fears come true: Pearl Harbor is attacked. In the aftermath, Jody’s father must stay behind as the rest of the family is evacuated, and Jody promises him she will keep everyone together. But things are hard in San Francisco, where she feels like an outsider. Worse, her mother has become depressed, and Jody worries she and her sister will have to go to an orphanage. With Happy by her side, Jody hatches a brave plan to keep the family safe … Will Operation: Happy see them through?”
Series: Seems to be a stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- A couple mentions of those in the Bible; A mention of thanking Jesus; A mention of God blessing the Marines; A mention of Bibles; A mention of church going; A mention of Sunday School; A mention of Jewish refugees;
*Note: “My god” is said by Jody’s father; Mentions of the rumored fountain of youth & Jody wondering if it will work on dogs (*Spoiler* ); A couple mentions of smiles that could rival the Wicked Witch of the West (including Jody having one and it noting “I smile, a little wicked witch coming out of me”); A couple mentions of people acting crazy during a full moon.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘crap’, a ‘dang’, a ‘darn’, a ‘doggone it’, a ‘duh’, a ‘holy mackerel’, a ‘my god’ (said by Jody’s father), a ‘shut it’, a ‘worked our tails off’, two forms of ‘dumb’, and two ‘shoot’s; A mention of a cuss word (said by Jody, which typically would have her mother get a bar of soap); A bit of sarcasm & eye rolling; Gunfire, Going through gunfire and bombs, Bombings, Explosions, Blackout drills, Air Raid drills, Fires, the aftermath of the bombing, Screams and crying, & being scared (up to semi-detailed to detailed); Recalling the bombings & gunfire (barely-above-not-detailed); Jody and her sister are given the jobs of loading machine guns and loading the guns’ belts; Jody’s mom is very concerned about their family moving to Hawaii (Pearl Harbor; Her mom had a dream and Jody says she’s “spooked” and scared, which makes Jody nervous and concerned); *Spoiler* ; *Spoiler* ; *Spoiler* ; Jody orders Happy to attack a man who was going to causing harm to someone (See Sexual Content Spoiler, barely-above-not-detailed); Jody sneaks out (when not with her parents to get something for Happy); Jody, her sister, and their friends throw mangos at each other (food fight style) & Jody and her sister lie to their mother about it (because they don’t want to get them or their friends in trouble; Jody adds that they’ve never been the type of sisters who “blissfully work together or keep each other’s secrets. Until today, that is.”); Jody lies (to her mother and a new friend); Jody eavesdrops on her parents (multiple times; she doesn’t tell her sister for fear of being ratted out); Happy recalls his eyesight getting worse, overhearing the humans talk about the dangers of it, and is sad to be apart from his human; Set during pre-Pearl Harbor bombing, post-Pearl Harbor bombing, and World War II, & all about many mentions of all of it (the war, bombs/bombings, explosions, blackouts, sirens, fires, ships and submarines being destroyed, planes being shot down, gunfire, torpedoes, attacks, injuries, and deaths; up to semi-detailed); Mentions of other wars; Mentions of injuries, blood/bleeding, & illnesses; Mentions of a girl living at an orphanage while her father is fight overseas (her mother passed away years before); Mentions of children being taken away from their parents due to negligence; Mentions of eavesdropping; Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deception (including Jody says that a Marine shouldn’t deceive);A handful of mentions of tattoos (a sailor teases Jody about getting her own and Jody thinks that her mom would rub a tattoo clear off of her body); A few mentions of Happy attacking intruders & their pain (told to do so); A few mentions of jails/prisons; A few mentions of throwing up & vomit; A few mentions of dog poop (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of cigarettes; A mention of jealousy; A mention of a bully; A mention of graffiti;
*Note: See Sexual Content Spoiler Note about an attack on a young teen girl; Jody and her older sister have some moments of bickering/attitudes and teasing towards the other, but it’s pretty light (her sister keeps a diary and Jody doesn’t read it, despite that being hard for her; *Spoiler* ); Jody’s mother has signs of depression & sadness (*Spoiler* ); When seeing a Japanese maid, Jody thinks she’s the only one spooked by her despite the Pearl Harbor Bombing recently happening (her mother tells her that the maid could be a spy and to say nothing around her; The maid tells Jody that not all Japanese are bad); Mentions of Japanese-Americans being taken to camps (including children and a girl at Jody’s school), them being treated like animals by their own country, & some thinking that they can’t be trusted (Jody doesn’t think that is fair or right); Mentions of Happy being sluggish and getting older (Jody’s mom takes him to the vet for a once-over and the vet says he’s in his “golden years”, which we see in Happy’s point of view of the whole vet trip; Jody has never thought about life without Happy and hugs him tight and plans to make the most of whatever time they have left together); Mentions of celebrities (Shirley Temple, Amelia Earhart, the Andrew Sisters, and the Ink Spots); Mentions of books, authors, & fictional characters (Nancy Drew, Gone With the Wind, Under the Lilacs, Jo’s Boys, and Little Women); A handful of mentions of the yellow-fever vaccine, everyone on the island having to get it, & deaths of those who had yellow fever, malaria, and other diseases rather than combat; A few mentions of a car brand; A few mentions of movies (The Little Princess, Gone With the Wind); A couple mentions of brand names & items (Monopoly and Kleenex); A mention of Girl Scouts; A mention of rivalry between the different armed forces (such as a Navy father putting his family before his duty, which a Marine like Jody’s father wouldn’t do); A mention of someone moving zombielike; A mention of passing wind (gas).
Sexual Content- A few mentions of Jody’s older sister (age 13) having crushes;
*Note: *Spoiler but important note* ; A handful of mentions of butts (a bruised one, butts in chairs, and freezing one off); A mention of a vet probing Happy’s “eyes, ears, belly, and other places”.
-Jody Zuber, age 11-12
-Happy the dog
1st person P.O.V. switches between Jody & Happy
Set in 1938 & 1940-1942
240 pages
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Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
I went into this book thinking “please don’t make me cry, please don’t make me cry, please don’t make me cry” because, well, it’s a dog book and those have a high tendency to make me cry on average. I was relieved by the author’s dedication to dog lovers noting that Happy would be fine, but I still was nervous because “fine” doesn’t always mean the way I want it to be. I do admit to tearing up at times because of the unconditional love that Happy shows (as early as page eight). I don’t typically care for books with the point of view of an animal, but this one was really cute. Happy is a great dog—the goodest, really.
I feel like a had a pit in my stomach for the majority of this book, in all honesty. There’s something about reading about a major event in history through a middle-grader’s eyes that makes the event feel even more solemn to me. Maybe it’s because I can fill in the blanks with more historical details or just seeing a traumatic event happen, but it’s a different level compared to reading historical fiction told from adults’ perspectives.
This story is inspired by a real-life Pearl Harbor survivor named Joan Zuber Earle and her book telling the accounts of it all and the aftermath. Reading reviews of that book, it sounds like a lot of parts of this book actually happened to the real-life “Jody”, which makes me wonder what was fictional and what was real.
While published by Zonderkidz, there’s very little faith content shown in this book. I’m very sad that God’s name was taken in vain in my advance reader’s copy. I hope it’s not in the final edition of this book, but won’t know until I see or hear elsewise. Until then, I’m noting this use of language and hesitant to recommend this book to those under the age of 12 because of it, the war details, and the Sexual Content Spoiler note. I honestly have mixed feelings on this book and may end up dropping ratings if the use of God’s name in vain is in the final print edition of this book. If you look at this book as a secular-published mainstream book, then I think many would find this book a good resource and great for homeschool families especially. As a book published by a Christian publishing house, it’s disappointing for that alone.
[4/16/24 Update: God's name is taken in vain in the final edition of this book with an adult saying, "My god, that ship is listing," right when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. All rating have dropped a full star because of this.]
Based on the page number, I was expecting this book to continue for a couple more chapters, so I found the ending to be very sudden. Rereading it a couple times though, I found it to be a decent, open-end ending. The war is still going on, but Happy is alive and that was very important to me.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Zonderkidz) for this honest review.
About this book:
“A girl, her dog, and the list that saved them...
As World War II enters her backyard, a young girl tries to keep her family together and cope with the war by completing a bucket list with her best friend: her dog Happy. Featuring a dog’s POV and inspired by real-life experiences of a young Pearl Harbor survivor, this historical middle-grade novel will inspire readers 8-12 to find courage in any situation.
It’s 1940, and Jody is moving with her military family yet again—this time to a small naval base in Pearl Harbor. She’s always created a “top ten” list for each new home to help her adjust, and with Hawaii being so beautiful and her loyal dog Happy by her side, it’s easy to find things to add.
But Jody’s mom is convinced the island is dangerous and starts constantly practicing first aid. Jody also learns that Happy is beginning to slow down. To cope, she starts a list of fun things they can do together, like journeying to a Fountain of Youth. “Operation: Happy” gives her something to focus on beyond the scary new experiences, like air raid drills and Yellow Fever vaccinations.
Before long, everyone’s worst fears come true: Pearl Harbor is attacked. In the aftermath, Jody’s father must stay behind as the rest of the family is evacuated, and Jody promises him she will keep everyone together. But things are hard in San Francisco, where she feels like an outsider. Worse, her mother has become depressed, and Jody worries she and her sister will have to go to an orphanage. With Happy by her side, Jody hatches a brave plan to keep the family safe … Will Operation: Happy see them through?”
Series: Seems to be a stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- A couple mentions of those in the Bible; A mention of thanking Jesus; A mention of God blessing the Marines; A mention of Bibles; A mention of church going; A mention of Sunday School; A mention of Jewish refugees;
*Note: “My god” is said by Jody’s father; Mentions of the rumored fountain of youth & Jody wondering if it will work on dogs (*Spoiler* ); A couple mentions of smiles that could rival the Wicked Witch of the West (including Jody having one and it noting “I smile, a little wicked witch coming out of me”); A couple mentions of people acting crazy during a full moon.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘crap’, a ‘dang’, a ‘darn’, a ‘doggone it’, a ‘duh’, a ‘holy mackerel’, a ‘my god’ (said by Jody’s father), a ‘shut it’, a ‘worked our tails off’, two forms of ‘dumb’, and two ‘shoot’s; A mention of a cuss word (said by Jody, which typically would have her mother get a bar of soap); A bit of sarcasm & eye rolling; Gunfire, Going through gunfire and bombs, Bombings, Explosions, Blackout drills, Air Raid drills, Fires, the aftermath of the bombing, Screams and crying, & being scared (up to semi-detailed to detailed); Recalling the bombings & gunfire (barely-above-not-detailed); Jody and her sister are given the jobs of loading machine guns and loading the guns’ belts; Jody’s mom is very concerned about their family moving to Hawaii (Pearl Harbor; Her mom had a dream and Jody says she’s “spooked” and scared, which makes Jody nervous and concerned); *Spoiler* ; *Spoiler* ; *Spoiler* ; Jody orders Happy to attack a man who was going to causing harm to someone (See Sexual Content Spoiler, barely-above-not-detailed); Jody sneaks out (when not with her parents to get something for Happy); Jody, her sister, and their friends throw mangos at each other (food fight style) & Jody and her sister lie to their mother about it (because they don’t want to get them or their friends in trouble; Jody adds that they’ve never been the type of sisters who “blissfully work together or keep each other’s secrets. Until today, that is.”); Jody lies (to her mother and a new friend); Jody eavesdrops on her parents (multiple times; she doesn’t tell her sister for fear of being ratted out); Happy recalls his eyesight getting worse, overhearing the humans talk about the dangers of it, and is sad to be apart from his human; Set during pre-Pearl Harbor bombing, post-Pearl Harbor bombing, and World War II, & all about many mentions of all of it (the war, bombs/bombings, explosions, blackouts, sirens, fires, ships and submarines being destroyed, planes being shot down, gunfire, torpedoes, attacks, injuries, and deaths; up to semi-detailed); Mentions of other wars; Mentions of injuries, blood/bleeding, & illnesses; Mentions of a girl living at an orphanage while her father is fight overseas (her mother passed away years before); Mentions of children being taken away from their parents due to negligence; Mentions of eavesdropping; Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deception (including Jody says that a Marine shouldn’t deceive);A handful of mentions of tattoos (a sailor teases Jody about getting her own and Jody thinks that her mom would rub a tattoo clear off of her body); A few mentions of Happy attacking intruders & their pain (told to do so); A few mentions of jails/prisons; A few mentions of throwing up & vomit; A few mentions of dog poop (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of cigarettes; A mention of jealousy; A mention of a bully; A mention of graffiti;
*Note: See Sexual Content Spoiler Note about an attack on a young teen girl; Jody and her older sister have some moments of bickering/attitudes and teasing towards the other, but it’s pretty light (her sister keeps a diary and Jody doesn’t read it, despite that being hard for her; *Spoiler* ); Jody’s mother has signs of depression & sadness (*Spoiler* ); When seeing a Japanese maid, Jody thinks she’s the only one spooked by her despite the Pearl Harbor Bombing recently happening (her mother tells her that the maid could be a spy and to say nothing around her; The maid tells Jody that not all Japanese are bad); Mentions of Japanese-Americans being taken to camps (including children and a girl at Jody’s school), them being treated like animals by their own country, & some thinking that they can’t be trusted (Jody doesn’t think that is fair or right); Mentions of Happy being sluggish and getting older (Jody’s mom takes him to the vet for a once-over and the vet says he’s in his “golden years”, which we see in Happy’s point of view of the whole vet trip; Jody has never thought about life without Happy and hugs him tight and plans to make the most of whatever time they have left together); Mentions of celebrities (Shirley Temple, Amelia Earhart, the Andrew Sisters, and the Ink Spots); Mentions of books, authors, & fictional characters (Nancy Drew, Gone With the Wind, Under the Lilacs, Jo’s Boys, and Little Women); A handful of mentions of the yellow-fever vaccine, everyone on the island having to get it, & deaths of those who had yellow fever, malaria, and other diseases rather than combat; A few mentions of a car brand; A few mentions of movies (The Little Princess, Gone With the Wind); A couple mentions of brand names & items (Monopoly and Kleenex); A mention of Girl Scouts; A mention of rivalry between the different armed forces (such as a Navy father putting his family before his duty, which a Marine like Jody’s father wouldn’t do); A mention of someone moving zombielike; A mention of passing wind (gas).
Sexual Content- A few mentions of Jody’s older sister (age 13) having crushes;
*Note: *Spoiler but important note* ; A handful of mentions of butts (a bruised one, butts in chairs, and freezing one off); A mention of a vet probing Happy’s “eyes, ears, belly, and other places”.
-Jody Zuber, age 11-12
-Happy the dog
1st person P.O.V. switches between Jody & Happy
Set in 1938 & 1940-1942
240 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
I went into this book thinking “please don’t make me cry, please don’t make me cry, please don’t make me cry” because, well, it’s a dog book and those have a high tendency to make me cry on average. I was relieved by the author’s dedication to dog lovers noting that Happy would be fine, but I still was nervous because “fine” doesn’t always mean the way I want it to be. I do admit to tearing up at times because of the unconditional love that Happy shows (as early as page eight). I don’t typically care for books with the point of view of an animal, but this one was really cute. Happy is a great dog—the goodest, really.
I feel like a had a pit in my stomach for the majority of this book, in all honesty. There’s something about reading about a major event in history through a middle-grader’s eyes that makes the event feel even more solemn to me. Maybe it’s because I can fill in the blanks with more historical details or just seeing a traumatic event happen, but it’s a different level compared to reading historical fiction told from adults’ perspectives.
This story is inspired by a real-life Pearl Harbor survivor named Joan Zuber Earle and her book telling the accounts of it all and the aftermath. Reading reviews of that book, it sounds like a lot of parts of this book actually happened to the real-life “Jody”, which makes me wonder what was fictional and what was real.
While published by Zonderkidz, there’s very little faith content shown in this book. I’m very sad that God’s name was taken in vain in my advance reader’s copy. I hope it’s not in the final edition of this book, but won’t know until I see or hear elsewise. Until then, I’m noting this use of language and hesitant to recommend this book to those under the age of 12 because of it, the war details, and the Sexual Content Spoiler note. I honestly have mixed feelings on this book and may end up dropping ratings if the use of God’s name in vain is in the final print edition of this book. If you look at this book as a secular-published mainstream book, then I think many would find this book a good resource and great for homeschool families especially. As a book published by a Christian publishing house, it’s disappointing for that alone.
[4/16/24 Update: God's name is taken in vain in the final edition of this book with an adult saying, "My god, that ship is listing," right when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor. All rating have dropped a full star because of this.]
Based on the page number, I was expecting this book to continue for a couple more chapters, so I found the ending to be very sudden. Rereading it a couple times though, I found it to be a decent, open-end ending. The war is still going on, but Happy is alive and that was very important to me.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Zonderkidz) for this honest review.
April 29, 2024
Compelling story based on true events:) It starts off slow and steady but reels you in as we follow Jody and her family from before Pearl Harbor happened to when they evacuate to California.
I never thought about people evacuating after it happened 😕 I wanted to hug everyone and buy them all groceries and movie tickets if they wanted an escape.
The descriptions of the attack through Jody's eyes *shudders* I could not put the book down till I knew they were all safe.
Happy was such a sweet and protective 💓 furbaby:). A couple times especially I wanted to high five him and give em extra treats.
I admired Peggy and Jody's spirit, doing their best to keep everything together with their trying circumstances.
I definitely understood their mom's struggles with depression 🫥.
Would recommend, this is an excellent addition to the time period fiction books (and historical fiction in general).
I always feel immersed in whatever she's writing about :).
I never thought about people evacuating after it happened 😕 I wanted to hug everyone and buy them all groceries and movie tickets if they wanted an escape.
The descriptions of the attack through Jody's eyes *shudders* I could not put the book down till I knew they were all safe.
Happy was such a sweet and protective 💓 furbaby:). A couple times especially I wanted to high five him and give em extra treats.
I admired Peggy and Jody's spirit, doing their best to keep everything together with their trying circumstances.
I definitely understood their mom's struggles with depression 🫥.
Would recommend, this is an excellent addition to the time period fiction books (and historical fiction in general).
I always feel immersed in whatever she's writing about :).
October 30, 2023
’For dog lovers everywhere.
(‘Don’t worry, Happy is going to be okay.)
This is the story of a family, a husband who is in the military, a wife and two young girls, and a dog named Happy. Happy enters their lives, or more specifically Jody’s, the younger of their two daughters whose Christmas list begins with #1: a dog. A dog whose name is Happy.
Not long after, their lives are uprooted as the war is beginning to impact American families, especially military families like theirs. Their family is sent to the naval base in Pearl Harbor. For a while, it is idyllic, the weather lovely, and quite a different way of life from their home back in the states.
Although nothing much has changed since they’ve moved there, their mother, who wasn’t a big fan of moving there, believes that they might be in danger.
Jody, on the other hand, seems to love the island, although she is beginning to worry about Happy, as she knows that Happy is beginning to show his age. She tries to think of things they can do together that won’t push him too hard and make things worse.
As time passes there isn’t much to worry about, until one day all of the drills they’d been through weren’t just drills. Pearl Harbor was being attacked. As families were being evacuated in the aftermath, including Jody’s, her father needed to stay. They return to the states, this time to San Francisco. It is hard on them all, but their mother seems to be taking it the hardest. The two girls are, essentially, left to fend for themselves.
This story is based on real people and places, and while Happy is not part of the original story it’s based on, I think Happy added a lot of comfort and charm to this story.
Pub Date: 02 Apr 2024
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Zonderkidz
May 20, 2024
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
Operation: Happy is an engaging and relaxing historical fiction audio book based on a true story.
We follow two POV; Jody whos twelve-years-old, and her dog Happy. Happy came to love with Jody and her family after being retired as a military dog. The family travel around alot due to her father being in the Marines. Set during the time of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, we follow this family through their experience of the attack and being narrated from two different points of view; a human and an animal, was really captivating and unique.
The first part of the book is their life before the attack, and the second part is the attack and the aftermath.
I thought it was fantastic at the beginning of the book that the author/narrator let's the listener know that Happy doesn't die as that would have been very traumatic for even myself as an adult to have read through. This was a beautifully told story and very eye opening to what the children, families and even animals were subjected to during this war.
***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
Operation: Happy is an engaging and relaxing historical fiction audio book based on a true story.
We follow two POV; Jody whos twelve-years-old, and her dog Happy. Happy came to love with Jody and her family after being retired as a military dog. The family travel around alot due to her father being in the Marines. Set during the time of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, we follow this family through their experience of the attack and being narrated from two different points of view; a human and an animal, was really captivating and unique.
The first part of the book is their life before the attack, and the second part is the attack and the aftermath.
I thought it was fantastic at the beginning of the book that the author/narrator let's the listener know that Happy doesn't die as that would have been very traumatic for even myself as an adult to have read through. This was a beautifully told story and very eye opening to what the children, families and even animals were subjected to during this war.
October 15, 2023
3.5 stars
Middle-grade historical fiction; this would be a great introduction to the events of Pearl Harbor and America’s entrance into WW2.
Jody and her sister are used to moving around to different places; that’s just part of life when your Dad is a Marine. This time, though, the girls really think they’ve lucked out. Their father has been stationed in Hawaii, at a place with such a beautiful name: Pearl Harbor. Jody and her dog Happy love running on the beach, eating lunch outside at school in the warm sun, even having “mango fights” with schoolmates! The war in Europe seems very far away, and all the battleships in the harbor are lined up and ready to keep America safe. Until December 7, 1941…
Middle-grade historical fiction; this would be a great introduction to the events of Pearl Harbor and America’s entrance into WW2.
Jody and her sister are used to moving around to different places; that’s just part of life when your Dad is a Marine. This time, though, the girls really think they’ve lucked out. Their father has been stationed in Hawaii, at a place with such a beautiful name: Pearl Harbor. Jody and her dog Happy love running on the beach, eating lunch outside at school in the warm sun, even having “mango fights” with schoolmates! The war in Europe seems very far away, and all the battleships in the harbor are lined up and ready to keep America safe. Until December 7, 1941…
May 1, 2024
This kid’s novel is based on a true story and memoir from a girl who lived through Pearl Harbor. Very unique as you don’t hear war stories from a kid’s perspective very often.
The audio was well done with chapters going back and forth between Jody and her dog. I really wish the dog’s POV was in 1st person though like Jody’s. I feel like it would have added so much to the story!
The story brings out important facts like Pearl Harbor was already preparing for war and a possible attack, how Japanese-Americans were treated, etc. Her journey takes her back to California to be safer while they wait for their dad. The author delicately handles a mom who is in shock and not caring for her children. I presume this is all true to the real story.
I plan to listen again with my kids maybe in the next year. There are some heavier themes, but I think this will initiate some great conversations. I also believe knowing this history is so important!!
Overall 4 🌟
Recommend for ages 10-12+
⚠️One moment of possible assault, but Jody steps in.
⚠️ Couple mild slang words.
Thank you to NetGalley for access to this audiobook!
The audio was well done with chapters going back and forth between Jody and her dog. I really wish the dog’s POV was in 1st person though like Jody’s. I feel like it would have added so much to the story!
The story brings out important facts like Pearl Harbor was already preparing for war and a possible attack, how Japanese-Americans were treated, etc. Her journey takes her back to California to be safer while they wait for their dad. The author delicately handles a mom who is in shock and not caring for her children. I presume this is all true to the real story.
I plan to listen again with my kids maybe in the next year. There are some heavier themes, but I think this will initiate some great conversations. I also believe knowing this history is so important!!
Overall 4 🌟
Recommend for ages 10-12+
⚠️One moment of possible assault, but Jody steps in.
⚠️ Couple mild slang words.
Thank you to NetGalley for access to this audiobook!
April 24, 2024
"And you don't realize others are noticing, but they are."
It is difficult to pinpoint how I feel about the book.
It is a short, quick and easy read. The audiobook is about 5 hours long, and the two narrators did their job well. And the story was fine.
But the characters?
With the exception of the dog, I didn't really care about the main family.
Jody, the main protagonist, felt unbelievable for her age. Peggy, her older sister, seemed more real with her actions and speech. The military dad does his best. But the mother? Eh, let's just say she shouldn't be a mother and leave it at that.
In fact, when it came to Jody's friend, Sarah, I found myself wanting to know more about her story than Jody's. She seemed more realistic in her personality and speech, and I wanted to know more about her.
Overall, in my opinion, it's decently average. Maybe if I was the target audience, I would have really been taken with it. I'll still recommend it to certain family members who are middle grade age, though.
It is difficult to pinpoint how I feel about the book.
It is a short, quick and easy read. The audiobook is about 5 hours long, and the two narrators did their job well. And the story was fine.
But the characters?
With the exception of the dog, I didn't really care about the main family.
Jody, the main protagonist, felt unbelievable for her age. Peggy, her older sister, seemed more real with her actions and speech. The military dad does his best. But the mother? Eh, let's just say she shouldn't be a mother and leave it at that.
In fact, when it came to Jody's friend, Sarah, I found myself wanting to know more about her story than Jody's. She seemed more realistic in her personality and speech, and I wanted to know more about her.
Overall, in my opinion, it's decently average. Maybe if I was the target audience, I would have really been taken with it. I'll still recommend it to certain family members who are middle grade age, though.
October 21, 2024
This book was a delight to read! I read it with my 6th and 7th grade class. The author was kind enough to send an immersive reading experience for them. We had so much fun reading the story and opening gifts! The story was suspenseful and I loved discussing it with them as we read!
July 6, 2025
This is a hard yet sweet story. I did find that it lacked focus on the focal point of the story. If it were longer or even broken up into multiple books, I feel this story could have been more seamless but I would have preferred more in depth time spent in Pearl Harbor and dealing with its aftermath. The relationship between Happy and his girl was very sweet and a great plot to compliment such a dark setting.
Rating: 2.5
Rating: 2.5
April 18, 2024
So he stared straight ahead, not looking back, and trusted that his girl would be okay. And that this was only the beginning of their true Happy List together.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ // 5
Twelve-year-old Jody Zuber loves to make lists. And for her top one, she wished for a dog. On her birthday, that is what she gets. A big, fluffy, husky mix named Happy. But another reason she loves to make lists? It helps to have ten things she loves about every place she lives, considering that her family moved a lot. However, her peaceful and serenity life ends abruptly when her dad, a Marine, is sent to Honolulu, Hawaii and they go with him.
That’s when the bombs happened in December 1941. Suddenly, Jody, her older sister by one year—Peggy, Happy, and their mom are sent to a safer place in San Francisco. But her dad stays behind, serving as part of the U.S. Military after they announced to enter the war. But after so many changes, how can Jody cope? When his dad asked for her to lead team Zuber? And most importantly, as team Zuber is slowly falling apart?
Full of richness and powerful messages, this realistic historical novel will make an impact for readers of all ages. And, of course, it’s simply perfect for dog or animal lovers, history fans, and anyone who needs a reminder that although there might be difficult times, you will always be able to push through it.
P.S. I listened to the audiobook version so my reaction might not be the same if I were to read it!
Things I loved:
★ Happy’s POV - Realistic, adorable, yet empowering. Reminds us yet again that sometimes we don’t deserve animals!
★ Peggy - Although her and Jody’s sister relationship is full of flaws, it was yet again realistic and smooth. There is a visible change of arc and she’s such a morally-gray and relatable character—just like all the other characters.
★ Reference from real Pearl Harbour survivor, Joan Zuber Earle - Make this book so authentic and easy for me to imagine. My heart was really pounding when they were being attacked and sent away! The historical events are also very realistically portrayed.
★ Fast-paced - Although it might be occasionally slow, it is still very enjoyable, especially in audiobook format.
★ Jody’s first-person-POV - I often don’t enjoy first-person, especially in Middle Grade novels. However, Jody’s POV was so engaging and after just a few pages she advanced as a relatable, morally-gray, and a round character. I got to become her and experience and see things through her lenses, which makes this book even better.
★ Tension and emotion - Tension builds off so well and it’s all so immersive yet satisfying. And even though we knew from history what is yet to come, it was still nerve-wracking in a way!
★ The Fountain of Youth - Raises questions and adds intrigue. An awesome way for readers to take a little break from all the World War II things going on. And we really get worried about Happy, too, and if he is really going to stop aging after the drink.
★ Good themes explored - Such as friendship, sistership, family, and dealing with scary times (in the world and at home)!
★ Representation of diverse perspectives - At first, Jody was reluctant when she and Peggy were staying with another family, since their maid was Japanese—and it was the Japanese who bombed Pearl Harbour. However, she came to realize that the maid, Hana, wasn’t scary at all like she feared. Instead, she is very nice and keeps her secret about Happy. Moreover, when she returns to school in San Francisco, there’s a Japanese classmate whom she feels bad for, since she got sent to a camp. Which also makes us learn to not stereotype—whether it’s for the Japanese or any other!
★ Operation Happy - Another reminder to treasure your pet, for they will not live forever! And, of course, to spend as much time as you can. Perhaps, the list will help both you and your dog cope with a difficult time as well!
★ Narration - And, of course, the narration! I thoroughly enjoyed it, which I didn’t expect. This is actually my first time listening to a full-length audiobook
There is little that didn’t work quite as well for me, and they were all related to the writing. The story and characters are honestly so fun to read about, and my time is definitely put into good use. Especially when I can listen when I’m doing other things such as taking a walk or simply eating lunch.
Anyway, something that could’ve been better was, first, like I mentioned before, I loved Jody’s first-person perspective. However, Happy’s point-of-view is actually in third person, even though I, personally, would love for it to be first-person. Also, the narrative starts off pretty repetitive, and sometimes transitions are pretty rough. Lastly, there lacked 1940s aspects, since it felt really like a modern time except the war element.
But overall, I really enjoyed it. I’m excited to read some more historical fiction like this, and I will always think back on Happy and Jody’s adventures! :)
Thank you to NetGalley and Zonderkidz for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 15, 2025
4.5 So good! The dog was great but all the characters were done well. Although it is a Pearl Harbor story, half of it takes place in San Francisco while they are healing from the event. Such a wonderful story based on a real life memoir.
April 3, 2024
This book was incredible! This book is for all ages. I was inspired by Jody and her perseverance. What she went through, and knowing it was based on a real story that I immediately looked up during the author note
Christmas a few years prior to the main part of the story, Jody got an amazing dog name Happy.
Jody is the younger daughter in a military family that just got moved to Pearl Harbor in 1940., Her mom was ansty and didn’t want to be there, she had a bad gut feeling and started to prepare in anyway she knew how. Pearl Harbor happened and the war started. Jody, her sister Peggy and Happy got moved around a lot sometimes with and sometimes without adults. Until they landed in a forever place but then had to handle the difficulty of not being on a battlefield anymore.
I honestly can’t think of anything that I didn’t like about this book.
Dog POV 5 stars
Sisters supporting each other 5 stars
Asking for help and being strong enough to accept it 5 stars
Thank you NetGalley, the publishers and Jenni L. Walsh for the arc!
Christmas a few years prior to the main part of the story, Jody got an amazing dog name Happy.
Jody is the younger daughter in a military family that just got moved to Pearl Harbor in 1940., Her mom was ansty and didn’t want to be there, she had a bad gut feeling and started to prepare in anyway she knew how. Pearl Harbor happened and the war started. Jody, her sister Peggy and Happy got moved around a lot sometimes with and sometimes without adults. Until they landed in a forever place but then had to handle the difficulty of not being on a battlefield anymore.
I honestly can’t think of anything that I didn’t like about this book.
Dog POV 5 stars
Sisters supporting each other 5 stars
Asking for help and being strong enough to accept it 5 stars
Thank you NetGalley, the publishers and Jenni L. Walsh for the arc!
October 28, 2023
A compelling histfic middle grade story told through the POVs of Jody, daughter of a Marine at Pearl Harbor during WWII, and her dog Happy, a retired Marine canine losing his sight. Readers 8-12 will learn about the war in a non-traumatizing way, buffered by Walsh’s thoughtful writing and the presence of a much-loved pet.
May 16, 2024
I read this as a read-aloud with my two daughters (11 & 9). Not only did they learn a lot about Pearl Harbor, but I learned new things too. I appreciated the way the author covered the struggles after Pearl Harbor from the perspective of a preteen.
September 18, 2024
This was so beautifully done - put you right into the feels of a girl grappling with impossibly stressful circumstances while remaining bubbly and page-turning and absolutely adorable and heart-warming at the same time.
August 18, 2025
As a youngest who had a huge dog who helped me through a lot, this book was like sunshine. Yes, a lot of sad things happened in the book, but it also had a lot of happy (pun intended) things to.
I loved it. <3
For all my fellow dog-lovers out there, this is a dog story with a happy ending. Not bittersweet, happy.
I loved it. <3
For all my fellow dog-lovers out there, this is a dog story with a happy ending. Not bittersweet, happy.
October 30, 2023
I received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not affected by the giveaway.
The Zuber family is a Marine family. They've moved around a lot, from place to place, always together but still with a lot of upheaval and uncertainty. What Jody really wants most in the world is a dog. A big hairy dog to take up space in her bed and always be there for her no matter where they move. Happy is a military dog. He served his handler well for many years, They're pals and partners. Now they're both getting older and it's time for Happy to retire. Happy is sent to live with Jody and her family. He vows never to let them down and to protect Jody with his life. He can smell when she's excited or scared even if his eyesight isn't too good. Jody is excited about the latest move - to Hawaii, Ford Island, with other Marines. She can't wait to explore the tropical paradise and teach Happy to surf. Jody makes a bucket list of things she wants to do on the island. However, her mother doesn't want to go and seems very anxious. Jody and her sister try to listen in on grown up conversation and as Jody's mother prepares herself for disaster, Jody and Happy do as well. On Sunday morning December 7, 1941, disaster strikes when the Japanese bomb the naval base and the island becomes unsafe. Happy sticks to Jody's side, getting her where she needs to go safely even if he doesn't understand what's going on. As the uncertain days go on, Jody, her sister Peggy and their mother are evacuated to San Francisco where Jody must navigate her first civilian school, mean girls, unsympathetic teachers, new friends and a mom who won't parent. It's up to Jody (and Happy) to lead Team Zuber until Dad can join them.
The first half of this book was pretty slow. It took too long to get to Dec. 7, 1941. Some chapters are told from Happy's point-of-view which was a little confusing at first. The writing style is a little simplistic and stilted even for this age group. I didn't feel emotionally invested in the story, not even when the bombs fell. The second half of the novel is much better and more original. It deals with some tough topics like mental health, sexual assault and orphanages. The plot is more cohesive and I couldn't stop reading until I found out what happened.
I was a little worried about Happy in the first section. He's cute or he tries to be anyway. He's big and hairy so people tend to be afraid of him. Happy is a devoted guardian of young Jody and once a Marine, always a Marine. He knows his duty and is determined to do it no matter what. I didn't connect with Jody even though I understand all too well how it feels to love an old dog and know, in your head, you have limited time together, but wanting forever. Jody is a tough kid. She was raised as a Marine and considers herself a Marine. She does her duty and rarely gets emotional. She takes all the responsibility on her own shoulders. Jody seems to have some anxiety though, especially in Hawaii. She's heard the talk of war even though Germany is so far away. She hears talk about the Japanese and is scared of the dungeon where everyone hides when air raid sirens go off. She works on her fears with Happy and together they are a strong team. Jody keeps it together when it counts though. She's just an unnatural, adult like child and I didn't love her. Jody's sister Peggy is older by a year and a half. She's not more mature though, just more normal. Peggy has crushes on boys and tries to keep up with her peers. She doesn't bear the responsibilities her younger sister does. Peggy works out her own anxieties in her diary but we don't get inside her head to know what she's really thinking or feeling.
The parents are just awful. Dad is career military. He doesn't have a choice but to move around. He's kind enough and wants what is best for his family while keeping them happy. He could be worse but he does place a lot of responsibility on Jody. She's barely 12 at the time of the attack! The mom seems to have mental health issues. She either had some kind of prophetic dream, has seen the future or knows more than anyone else because her fears about the island are all very real. Of course the reader will know that (hopefully) but the characters do not. Mrs. Zuber also seems to be depressed in the days, weeks and months following the attacks. It's very sad for the children because she can't function like a normal parent. She's terrified and lonely, missing her husband. I can't even imagine going through that and having anxiety and depression on top of that fear and loneliness. I think Dad could have left the family behind in San Diego in the first place. The girls would have their school routine and friends and Mom would be less anxious. Alternately, Mom would be more anxious worrying about Dad but she doesn't want to go to Ford Island. There's indication of family they can go to temporarily too.
In the second half of the novel, Jody makes a new friend. Sara knows life. She's had a tough time too and like Jody, is traumatized by life experiences. The teacher, Mrs. Myers, is not sympathetic and doesn't know how to help these girls. She simply doesn't know or understand what they've been through. Sara tells it like it is. She's trying to be a good friend and help Jody and her advice is good but Jody has more options and should have contacted Dad sooner.
The author's note says this book is based on a true story The Children of Battleship Row: Pearl Harbor 1940-41. I haven't read this non-fiction account. I have read a couple of books for this age group about Pearl Harbor and my favorite is Growing Up with Aloha: A Nanea Classic Volume 1. Nanea's story is unique because she's Hawaiian (native Hawaiian and American mix) and Hawaiian culture is woven throughout the story. With Jody's narrow focus of the military base, it lacked that charm and connection to Hawaii itself.
The Zuber family is a Marine family. They've moved around a lot, from place to place, always together but still with a lot of upheaval and uncertainty. What Jody really wants most in the world is a dog. A big hairy dog to take up space in her bed and always be there for her no matter where they move. Happy is a military dog. He served his handler well for many years, They're pals and partners. Now they're both getting older and it's time for Happy to retire. Happy is sent to live with Jody and her family. He vows never to let them down and to protect Jody with his life. He can smell when she's excited or scared even if his eyesight isn't too good. Jody is excited about the latest move - to Hawaii, Ford Island, with other Marines. She can't wait to explore the tropical paradise and teach Happy to surf. Jody makes a bucket list of things she wants to do on the island. However, her mother doesn't want to go and seems very anxious. Jody and her sister try to listen in on grown up conversation and as Jody's mother prepares herself for disaster, Jody and Happy do as well. On Sunday morning December 7, 1941, disaster strikes when the Japanese bomb the naval base and the island becomes unsafe. Happy sticks to Jody's side, getting her where she needs to go safely even if he doesn't understand what's going on. As the uncertain days go on, Jody, her sister Peggy and their mother are evacuated to San Francisco where Jody must navigate her first civilian school, mean girls, unsympathetic teachers, new friends and a mom who won't parent. It's up to Jody (and Happy) to lead Team Zuber until Dad can join them.
The first half of this book was pretty slow. It took too long to get to Dec. 7, 1941. Some chapters are told from Happy's point-of-view which was a little confusing at first. The writing style is a little simplistic and stilted even for this age group. I didn't feel emotionally invested in the story, not even when the bombs fell. The second half of the novel is much better and more original. It deals with some tough topics like mental health, sexual assault and orphanages. The plot is more cohesive and I couldn't stop reading until I found out what happened.
I was a little worried about Happy in the first section. He's cute or he tries to be anyway. He's big and hairy so people tend to be afraid of him. Happy is a devoted guardian of young Jody and once a Marine, always a Marine. He knows his duty and is determined to do it no matter what. I didn't connect with Jody even though I understand all too well how it feels to love an old dog and know, in your head, you have limited time together, but wanting forever. Jody is a tough kid. She was raised as a Marine and considers herself a Marine. She does her duty and rarely gets emotional. She takes all the responsibility on her own shoulders. Jody seems to have some anxiety though, especially in Hawaii. She's heard the talk of war even though Germany is so far away. She hears talk about the Japanese and is scared of the dungeon where everyone hides when air raid sirens go off. She works on her fears with Happy and together they are a strong team. Jody keeps it together when it counts though. She's just an unnatural, adult like child and I didn't love her. Jody's sister Peggy is older by a year and a half. She's not more mature though, just more normal. Peggy has crushes on boys and tries to keep up with her peers. She doesn't bear the responsibilities her younger sister does. Peggy works out her own anxieties in her diary but we don't get inside her head to know what she's really thinking or feeling.
The parents are just awful. Dad is career military. He doesn't have a choice but to move around. He's kind enough and wants what is best for his family while keeping them happy. He could be worse but he does place a lot of responsibility on Jody. She's barely 12 at the time of the attack! The mom seems to have mental health issues. She either had some kind of prophetic dream, has seen the future or knows more than anyone else because her fears about the island are all very real. Of course the reader will know that (hopefully) but the characters do not. Mrs. Zuber also seems to be depressed in the days, weeks and months following the attacks. It's very sad for the children because she can't function like a normal parent. She's terrified and lonely, missing her husband. I can't even imagine going through that and having anxiety and depression on top of that fear and loneliness. I think Dad could have left the family behind in San Diego in the first place. The girls would have their school routine and friends and Mom would be less anxious. Alternately, Mom would be more anxious worrying about Dad but she doesn't want to go to Ford Island. There's indication of family they can go to temporarily too.
In the second half of the novel, Jody makes a new friend. Sara knows life. She's had a tough time too and like Jody, is traumatized by life experiences. The teacher, Mrs. Myers, is not sympathetic and doesn't know how to help these girls. She simply doesn't know or understand what they've been through. Sara tells it like it is. She's trying to be a good friend and help Jody and her advice is good but Jody has more options and should have contacted Dad sooner.
The author's note says this book is based on a true story The Children of Battleship Row: Pearl Harbor 1940-41. I haven't read this non-fiction account. I have read a couple of books for this age group about Pearl Harbor and my favorite is Growing Up with Aloha: A Nanea Classic Volume 1. Nanea's story is unique because she's Hawaiian (native Hawaiian and American mix) and Hawaiian culture is woven throughout the story. With Jody's narrow focus of the military base, it lacked that charm and connection to Hawaii itself.
March 30, 2024
When I was younger I didn’t gravitate to middle grade HF. Now that I’m 38 I gobble them up! Books like Operation: Happy I could totally see my younger self being intrigued by… I mean come on chapter perspectives from a Dog! Yes! Please!
Jody and her military family move to Fort Island in Oahu. Jody feels safe especially when her friend/dog Happy is by her side. She notices her mom is acting out of character, almost nervous. Jody starts to get worried when they start training on the island in case of an event. Once the bombing takes place… Jody is prepared… but not for what’s to come after the fact.
I really enjoyed getting the perspective of a Marines daughter (Jody) and her pup (Happy) The author didn’t shy away from the tragedy families went through… constantly moving around, war, being split up from family members, and the heartache it brings. With the sadness she was able to give the reader hope and a few laughs which I think with this type of a novel is a skill.
The authors note shares that Operation: Happy is loosely based on true experiences. Which makes the story even more impactful!
Thank you Zonderkidz
Releases 4/2
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
Jody and her military family move to Fort Island in Oahu. Jody feels safe especially when her friend/dog Happy is by her side. She notices her mom is acting out of character, almost nervous. Jody starts to get worried when they start training on the island in case of an event. Once the bombing takes place… Jody is prepared… but not for what’s to come after the fact.
I really enjoyed getting the perspective of a Marines daughter (Jody) and her pup (Happy) The author didn’t shy away from the tragedy families went through… constantly moving around, war, being split up from family members, and the heartache it brings. With the sadness she was able to give the reader hope and a few laughs which I think with this type of a novel is a skill.
The authors note shares that Operation: Happy is loosely based on true experiences. Which makes the story even more impactful!
Thank you Zonderkidz
Releases 4/2
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
July 10, 2024
A Sweet, Educational YA Novel That Will Warm Your Heart!
Note: I’m a homeschooling mama and preview-read for my first grade daughter. I read both the hardcover and listened to the audiobook, both of which I recommend.
WHAT I LOVED:
I found this story to be adorable and loved it deeply! I enjoyed the alternating POVs between 12YO Jody, the daughter of a military family stationed on Ford Island, HI at the time of Pearl Harbor's bombing, and Happy, Jody's retired-military dog. Jody's POV is often more serious, as she experiences and shares about details of her family’s life during the time of WWII, while Happy's POV offers a sometimes more lighthearted, humorous take on what Jody is experiencing. I thought it was cute how he identified certain emotions she was feeling through smell and compared them to the scents of different foods (nervousness = stinky broccoli, happiness = vanilla, etc).
This novel had emotion, heart and was historically accurate. With strong threads of patriotism, perseverance, courage, family, love, and hope, I thought the book was well-written and offered an excellent first-hand account about the perils of war and how it impacted families both far and wide. It was emotional, gripping and still ended HAPPY!
PARENT NOTES:
I did expect this novel to be faith-based, however it was not. It reads as a secular novel. There are some mentions of church/Sunday school but the content and motivations are not faith driven. There is an instance of Jody’s father saying “My God,” but it is not specified whether this is a prayer or taking God’s name in vain which is how the phrase comes across (it is spoken at the time of utter horror and devastation). Jody’s mother is noted as having dreams that frighten her surrounding the family’s move to HI, as well as the fact that she later experiences clinical depression as a result of the experiences and strain on the military family. Jody’s sister is cornered by an unknown male who clearly has ill-intent however Jody and Happy save her before anything happens. There are, of course, details surrounding the bombing of Pearl Harbor, mentions of blood, injuries, death, guns, bullets, sunken ships and fright. Racism surrounding the Japanese people is also touched on as well as being orphaned. At one point, the girls help by reloading guns and machinery, only to have those same items take down an American plane that evening with friendly-fire which causes Jody distress. I personally felt each of things to be lightly touched on and handled delicately (not dwelt on long), but caution should be exercised in previewing for sensitive readers.
As for me, I intend to wait and read this WITH my daughter in third or fourth grade. I feel that is an emotionally appropriate time to read the book and absorb its details.
OTHER NOTES:
I was disheartened to see the low reviews on this novel and felt some readers did not take into account the fact that this novel is based on the true-story of a woman's real life experiences in her childhood, therefore it does not shy away from the struggle Jody’s mother had with depression, nor the responsibility the sisters took on themselves. People often suffered from mental health issues silently and privately in those days as there wasn’t the openness, therapy and options that there are now. Yet, clinical depression was as much a reality then as now. It’s also helpful to remember America in 1940's was vastly different than our modern day culture and children often had more responsibility, independence and freedom.
SUMMARY:
Overall, an educational, heartwarming novel that is valuable, excellent resource for a first-hand account of the bombing at Pearl Harbor and life as a military family during WWII, which will spark many conversations and deeper historic research. Appropriate for both boys and girls ages 8-12 or slightly older/younger. Parents should preview the book for younger readers and as always, exercise their own judgment based on the maturity of their reader. I recommend this book and am happy to have it on our homeschool shelf!
* I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
Note: I’m a homeschooling mama and preview-read for my first grade daughter. I read both the hardcover and listened to the audiobook, both of which I recommend.
WHAT I LOVED:
I found this story to be adorable and loved it deeply! I enjoyed the alternating POVs between 12YO Jody, the daughter of a military family stationed on Ford Island, HI at the time of Pearl Harbor's bombing, and Happy, Jody's retired-military dog. Jody's POV is often more serious, as she experiences and shares about details of her family’s life during the time of WWII, while Happy's POV offers a sometimes more lighthearted, humorous take on what Jody is experiencing. I thought it was cute how he identified certain emotions she was feeling through smell and compared them to the scents of different foods (nervousness = stinky broccoli, happiness = vanilla, etc).
This novel had emotion, heart and was historically accurate. With strong threads of patriotism, perseverance, courage, family, love, and hope, I thought the book was well-written and offered an excellent first-hand account about the perils of war and how it impacted families both far and wide. It was emotional, gripping and still ended HAPPY!
PARENT NOTES:
I did expect this novel to be faith-based, however it was not. It reads as a secular novel. There are some mentions of church/Sunday school but the content and motivations are not faith driven. There is an instance of Jody’s father saying “My God,” but it is not specified whether this is a prayer or taking God’s name in vain which is how the phrase comes across (it is spoken at the time of utter horror and devastation). Jody’s mother is noted as having dreams that frighten her surrounding the family’s move to HI, as well as the fact that she later experiences clinical depression as a result of the experiences and strain on the military family. Jody’s sister is cornered by an unknown male who clearly has ill-intent however Jody and Happy save her before anything happens. There are, of course, details surrounding the bombing of Pearl Harbor, mentions of blood, injuries, death, guns, bullets, sunken ships and fright. Racism surrounding the Japanese people is also touched on as well as being orphaned. At one point, the girls help by reloading guns and machinery, only to have those same items take down an American plane that evening with friendly-fire which causes Jody distress. I personally felt each of things to be lightly touched on and handled delicately (not dwelt on long), but caution should be exercised in previewing for sensitive readers.
As for me, I intend to wait and read this WITH my daughter in third or fourth grade. I feel that is an emotionally appropriate time to read the book and absorb its details.
OTHER NOTES:
I was disheartened to see the low reviews on this novel and felt some readers did not take into account the fact that this novel is based on the true-story of a woman's real life experiences in her childhood, therefore it does not shy away from the struggle Jody’s mother had with depression, nor the responsibility the sisters took on themselves. People often suffered from mental health issues silently and privately in those days as there wasn’t the openness, therapy and options that there are now. Yet, clinical depression was as much a reality then as now. It’s also helpful to remember America in 1940's was vastly different than our modern day culture and children often had more responsibility, independence and freedom.
SUMMARY:
Overall, an educational, heartwarming novel that is valuable, excellent resource for a first-hand account of the bombing at Pearl Harbor and life as a military family during WWII, which will spark many conversations and deeper historic research. Appropriate for both boys and girls ages 8-12 or slightly older/younger. Parents should preview the book for younger readers and as always, exercise their own judgment based on the maturity of their reader. I recommend this book and am happy to have it on our homeschool shelf!
* I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
August 14, 2024
Jody anticipates the eventual loss of her beloved dog, so she creates fun memories for them. Meanwhile, her family experiences the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The dog part of the story felt like a bit of an afterthought added as a product differentiator among many WW2 books. I’d be happy to let my kids read it, but it won’t be the first book I recommend.
The dog part of the story felt like a bit of an afterthought added as a product differentiator among many WW2 books. I’d be happy to let my kids read it, but it won’t be the first book I recommend.
April 18, 2024
Riveting historical fiction age appropriate for middle school but historically accurate. My ten-year-old son loved it.
April 29, 2024
A quick listen !
A great book for middle schoolers! Learn some history , has a dog as a main character and two sweet sisters!
A great book for middle schoolers! Learn some history , has a dog as a main character and two sweet sisters!
August 11, 2025
Operation Happy
I think this book does a lot of things well, it reads well, helps kids understand emotions, helps see how others react to the same event, and is in general a good read. I do think that the material is in general a heavier topic than the targeted ages of kids standardly read, but you know what, kids younger lived through the events and has to find a way to cope.
One thing I did not like was that I found the third person to start chapters that moved into first person was weird. I also found that the end kind of just left the story hanging, but who knows maybe we will get more stories about Happy.
I think this book does a lot of things well, it reads well, helps kids understand emotions, helps see how others react to the same event, and is in general a good read. I do think that the material is in general a heavier topic than the targeted ages of kids standardly read, but you know what, kids younger lived through the events and has to find a way to cope.
One thing I did not like was that I found the third person to start chapters that moved into first person was weird. I also found that the end kind of just left the story hanging, but who knows maybe we will get more stories about Happy.
August 5, 2025
This is coming from my 11 year old, who was assigned this reading as we are learning about Pearl Harbor/WW2 in our homeschool.
Him-“is there a second book to Operation Happy?”
Me- No bud. It’s a stand alone book.
Him- every time I find a book I like they don’t have a second! (Total exaggeration, he just prefers to read series)
So, in other words, he loved it and wanted more. Then today as I was reading our history text book, he would stop me to tell me how it lined up with things in the book. I personally love historical fiction, I love seeing him enjoy it as well!
Him-“is there a second book to Operation Happy?”
Me- No bud. It’s a stand alone book.
Him- every time I find a book I like they don’t have a second! (Total exaggeration, he just prefers to read series)
So, in other words, he loved it and wanted more. Then today as I was reading our history text book, he would stop me to tell me how it lined up with things in the book. I personally love historical fiction, I love seeing him enjoy it as well!
April 25, 2024
This is a good middle grade historical fiction that is mostly set in Pearl Harbor, HI. We have a young girl, Jody and her dog who go through the traumatic experience of being bombed. Jody and her family were displaced after the attack and Jody's mother seemed to suffer from depression/PTSD. Jody and her dog Happy work together to keep their family going and intact. This is based off a true experience. The audiobook was a great listen.
April 6, 2024
Operation: Happy is the heartwarming middle-grade story of Jody, her dog, and her family as Pearl Harbor survivors.
It’s 1940 and Jody and her military family (including “Happy”) have just moved to a naval base in Hawaii where her dad is stationed. Jody enjoys the company of her dog, Happy, and works diligently on her top ten list of things she likes best about her new home. Jody’s mom is stressed and worried about the war being fought in Europe. One day, Pearl Harbor is attacked and Jody and her mom and sister are evacuated to San Francisco. The family misses Dad, Mom experiences depression, and Jody finds school a difficult adjustment. Out of desperation, Jody comes up with a plan to help her family.
Jody is a creative and optimistic girl who loves her dog and making top-ten lists. Because she is part of a military family, she moves around frequently. In each place, she makes a list of ten things she loves about her new home. When she find out that her dog is getting older and is slowing down, she makes a list of things that she can do with Happy that will bring him joy. Told mostly from Jody’s perspective, this story is enjoyable for middle-grade readers because we occasionally hear from Happy’s perspective! If you’ve ever had a loyal, protective dog, you will relate to Happy’s “thoughts and feelings.”
Note: Nothing tragic happens to the dog in this story!
I love historical fiction for children because a story can introduce a difficult or complicated topic in a gentle way. This story will generate discussion and might inspire additional research about the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Middle-grade literature is known for its themes of hope and family. This poignant story shows how a family can struggle when one of the parents has a job that requires long periods of separation or when one parent experiences a mental health challenge. The story also explores how children might feel responsible for the family and the ways they might assume responsibility for adult problems. Other relatable themes include friendship and bullying, I always love a hopeful ending and this is where middle-grade lit shines!
Thanks #NetGalley @Zonderkidz for a complimentary e ARC of #OperationHappy upon my request. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews visit my blog www.ReadingLadies.com where this review was first published.
It’s 1940 and Jody and her military family (including “Happy”) have just moved to a naval base in Hawaii where her dad is stationed. Jody enjoys the company of her dog, Happy, and works diligently on her top ten list of things she likes best about her new home. Jody’s mom is stressed and worried about the war being fought in Europe. One day, Pearl Harbor is attacked and Jody and her mom and sister are evacuated to San Francisco. The family misses Dad, Mom experiences depression, and Jody finds school a difficult adjustment. Out of desperation, Jody comes up with a plan to help her family.
Jody is a creative and optimistic girl who loves her dog and making top-ten lists. Because she is part of a military family, she moves around frequently. In each place, she makes a list of ten things she loves about her new home. When she find out that her dog is getting older and is slowing down, she makes a list of things that she can do with Happy that will bring him joy. Told mostly from Jody’s perspective, this story is enjoyable for middle-grade readers because we occasionally hear from Happy’s perspective! If you’ve ever had a loyal, protective dog, you will relate to Happy’s “thoughts and feelings.”
Note: Nothing tragic happens to the dog in this story!
I love historical fiction for children because a story can introduce a difficult or complicated topic in a gentle way. This story will generate discussion and might inspire additional research about the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Middle-grade literature is known for its themes of hope and family. This poignant story shows how a family can struggle when one of the parents has a job that requires long periods of separation or when one parent experiences a mental health challenge. The story also explores how children might feel responsible for the family and the ways they might assume responsibility for adult problems. Other relatable themes include friendship and bullying, I always love a hopeful ending and this is where middle-grade lit shines!
Thanks #NetGalley @Zonderkidz for a complimentary e ARC of #OperationHappy upon my request. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews visit my blog www.ReadingLadies.com where this review was first published.
April 25, 2024
Thank you Zonderkidz and NetGalley for providing me with this audiobook arc in exchange for my honest review.
I think it will mean a lot to many kids, that the author lets us know, before the story starts, that we don’t have to worry, Happy is going to be okay. I loved that and the amazing narration!! I strongly believe that the incredible narration made this story even better. I wanted to start listening again from the start after finishing my incredible journey with Jody, her family and their unforgettable dog Happy! Especially the way you could hear Jody (trying to) stay positive, hopeful and happy by the tone of her voice, lifted this story up for me.
This is a historical fiction and a World War 2 story.
It’s 1938 and Jody (10 years old) gets a dog for Christmas!! Happy is a former sentry dog and his eyesight is a little off but he’s honestly the best dog ever… He loves her, makes her smile, protects her and makes her feel less alone during hard times and he’s always ready to go on any adventure with her.
Not only Jody but Happy gets a POV too in this story, which made it even better.
2 years after getting happy, Jody and her family move to Hawaii (Pearl Harbor). There’s a war going on in Europe, tensions with Japan are rising and this transfer is very sudden. Jody is used to moving because her dad is a commanding officer in the marines, but her mom doesn’t want to go.
Jody loves the island life but her mom remains nervous. It was nice to read about the situation slowly getting more worrisome, threatening and even dangerous from Jody and happy’s perspective. We get to read about how Jody makes a list of things she loves at her new home and a list of fun things to do with Happy while there’s an increasing amount of drills. Eventually real attacks, hiding and even an evacuation to San Francisco happen (without their dad who’s staying behind).
When Jody, her older sister Peggy, their mom and Happy move into an apartment there, it’s even clearer how strong and positive Jody is. Their mom sinks into a depression and the kids have to fend for themselves until things get really out off hand and that’s when they all learn an important lesson, it’s okay to ask for help!
I will never forget this story and although nothing bad happened to Happy, the ending did make me emotional with tears of relief and joy!
I think it will mean a lot to many kids, that the author lets us know, before the story starts, that we don’t have to worry, Happy is going to be okay. I loved that and the amazing narration!! I strongly believe that the incredible narration made this story even better. I wanted to start listening again from the start after finishing my incredible journey with Jody, her family and their unforgettable dog Happy! Especially the way you could hear Jody (trying to) stay positive, hopeful and happy by the tone of her voice, lifted this story up for me.
This is a historical fiction and a World War 2 story.
It’s 1938 and Jody (10 years old) gets a dog for Christmas!! Happy is a former sentry dog and his eyesight is a little off but he’s honestly the best dog ever… He loves her, makes her smile, protects her and makes her feel less alone during hard times and he’s always ready to go on any adventure with her.
Not only Jody but Happy gets a POV too in this story, which made it even better.
2 years after getting happy, Jody and her family move to Hawaii (Pearl Harbor). There’s a war going on in Europe, tensions with Japan are rising and this transfer is very sudden. Jody is used to moving because her dad is a commanding officer in the marines, but her mom doesn’t want to go.
Jody loves the island life but her mom remains nervous. It was nice to read about the situation slowly getting more worrisome, threatening and even dangerous from Jody and happy’s perspective. We get to read about how Jody makes a list of things she loves at her new home and a list of fun things to do with Happy while there’s an increasing amount of drills. Eventually real attacks, hiding and even an evacuation to San Francisco happen (without their dad who’s staying behind).
When Jody, her older sister Peggy, their mom and Happy move into an apartment there, it’s even clearer how strong and positive Jody is. Their mom sinks into a depression and the kids have to fend for themselves until things get really out off hand and that’s when they all learn an important lesson, it’s okay to ask for help!
I will never forget this story and although nothing bad happened to Happy, the ending did make me emotional with tears of relief and joy!
April 7, 2024
Operation: Happy
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.71/10 overall
Characters - 7
The characters in this book were fine, but none of them really stood out to me. They were relatable enough and had some personality, but not to the extent of memorability for me personally.
Atmosphere - 6
The atmosphere felt a bit lacking; I would've liked some more description throughout the story. Aside from some vague landscape glimpses, it was hard to distinguish what exactly the buildings Judy and Happy went to really looked like, especially in context to their surroundings.
Writing - 7
The writing in this book was decent. It moved the story along and was understandable. However, parts of it felt notably dry and dull.
Plot - 6
The plot was interesting. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the constantly changing situations that Jody and Happy had to go through. Where the first part felt action-packed though, the second part felt much slower. Part of that might be purposeful mood-setting, but the first half had plenty of somber moments without dragging down the pace.
Intrigue - 7
I was intrigued by the cover and title from the get-go. I'm not usually someone who reads historical fiction, but I was pleasantly surprised by that aspect of the book. The historical element was a highlight for me. I liked the connections that the story made and those features made the story feel more realistic. My intrigued was dampened by the twists and turns of the plot though. I couldn't quite tell where the story was going and the ending felt rather off.
Logic - 7
This story was reasonably logical. The logic was certainly aided by the historical elements, but it could still work without that context/setting.
Enjoyment - 7
I enjoyed parts of this book. I was especially delighted by Jody and Happy's relationship. They really had a close-knit bond that helped them through a lot of tough circumstances.
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.71/10 overall
Characters - 7
The characters in this book were fine, but none of them really stood out to me. They were relatable enough and had some personality, but not to the extent of memorability for me personally.
Atmosphere - 6
The atmosphere felt a bit lacking; I would've liked some more description throughout the story. Aside from some vague landscape glimpses, it was hard to distinguish what exactly the buildings Judy and Happy went to really looked like, especially in context to their surroundings.
Writing - 7
The writing in this book was decent. It moved the story along and was understandable. However, parts of it felt notably dry and dull.
Plot - 6
The plot was interesting. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the constantly changing situations that Jody and Happy had to go through. Where the first part felt action-packed though, the second part felt much slower. Part of that might be purposeful mood-setting, but the first half had plenty of somber moments without dragging down the pace.
Intrigue - 7
I was intrigued by the cover and title from the get-go. I'm not usually someone who reads historical fiction, but I was pleasantly surprised by that aspect of the book. The historical element was a highlight for me. I liked the connections that the story made and those features made the story feel more realistic. My intrigued was dampened by the twists and turns of the plot though. I couldn't quite tell where the story was going and the ending felt rather off.
Logic - 7
This story was reasonably logical. The logic was certainly aided by the historical elements, but it could still work without that context/setting.
Enjoyment - 7
I enjoyed parts of this book. I was especially delighted by Jody and Happy's relationship. They really had a close-knit bond that helped them through a lot of tough circumstances.
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