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Ella at Eden #10
Puppy Rescue
Ella’s class are given a new opportunity to help the community through their Service-Learning project, and Ella is excited to be assisting at the Morningside Animal Shelter. She immediately bonds with a dog named Luna, and has a bunch of ideas for the shelter’s special adoption day. But when Ella overhears something that makes her fear for Luna’s future, she knows she must do whatever it takes to help Luna find her forever home.
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April 22, 2024
I was looking at reviews of books that I've read in the past year or so and stumbled upon this book, surprised to see it with less than 4 stars on average, but no review explaining the rhyme or reason behind it.
As I've mentioned before in a previous review of a book in this series, I am older than the target audience, by a large number of years, so anything that I am to say is to be taken with a grain of salt. The only reason I continue reading this series is because Ella has been one of the main protagonists in my childhood books (Ella & Olivia, Ella Diaries, etc.), and, I'll admit, I am struggling to let her go completely.
Also, I did notice that Laura Sieveking replied to my previous review. Laura Sieveking, if you are reading this, I just wanted to apologise for initially thinking that some points of the plot may have been taken from something else, and I also wanted to say that I think you are an inspiring author and hope that you continue to write.
Personally, I do agree with the average rating. I definitely did not think this was a very strong book in the series. When I compare the length of it to the other books in the series, it is thinner, and shorter.
To briefly cover the plot, 'Puppy Rescue' is about Ella, our protagonist, assisting at an animal shelter, and, upon bonding with a dog called Luna, immediately seeks to help her get adopted.
Some things that I liked about this book.
I thought Grace was a great character in this book. I loved seeing her growth throughout. I thought her adapting to her learning difficulties and persevering was really nice to see. I thought the service learning project was very sweet, and there were some really great conflicts explored throughout.
Here is why I think that the ratings of this book are not super high, based on my personal opinions.
Firstly, the main thing that I wasn't the biggest fan of was the plot in general. Compared to the other books, the plot felt rather forgettable. I don't think I was as invested into this story as I have been in some of the others.
Luna, the main puppy of the story, lacked a sort of depth that makes readers care a lot about her. I love her, just as I love any dog, but to me, she needed more of a personality, or she needed to do more in the story that really showcases why she's so special (just as any dog is), other than her backstory (which I found lovely) and her physical disability.
Something I found quite problematic about the book was Grace overcoming her fear of dogs. Based on the previous books, I think it has been well established that Grace has a phobia, or at least an aversion, to dogs. I myself have experienced phobias and aversions, so in this aspect I do relate to Grace, even if I don't fear dogs.
However, in this book, Grace starts out being terrified of dogs, but upon meeting Kojak, a dog at the animal shelter, almost immediately, they bond and Grace's initial fear of dogs becomes non-existent. I did not like this at all.
Firstly, phobias, aversions and fears are NOT that easy to overcome. It does not take one or two positive experiences to erase a deeply embedded fear. I would have found it a lot more satisfying if Grace took the length of the entire book to overcome her fear of dogs, rather than have her overcome it in the span of a few chapters.
Another thing that I would like to address is Ella herself. As Ella is the protagonist, it is natural to want every happiness and success for her. However, at times it does become rather unrealistic, dating back all the way to the first few books. Some of her successes are admittedly deserved or are required for the story to function. I liked her discovering the secret journal in the second book. I liked how she did well in her gymnastics competition. I liked how she got the scholarship to join the school in the first place.
But although she is a book character, she needs to be represented as human. A very good way Laura Sieveking has done this in the past is when Ella doesn't win the art competition in book 6. Of course, she does eventually get to go to London (which I feel like could have been explored through getting the journalists to write a piece, rather than deciding on a whim that Ella can go), but that kind of failure is needed in a book that children will read, at least occasionally.
Therefore, I thought the concept of Luna, the dog that Ella has bonded with most, being able to be at Eden College, Ella's school, was slightly unrealistic. I thought it could have been a cool idea if Kojak stayed at the school instead, and Luna got adopted.
Then again, Ella is a protagonist, so it does make sense if her fictional universe revolves around her, because it literally does.
Apologies if there are any inaccuracies in my review. It's been a while since I read this.
Thank you for taking the time to read my very long review. Maybe one day I'll stop obsessing over my childhood book protagonist. But for now, I'm happy with occasionally catching up with the Ella universe.
As I've mentioned before in a previous review of a book in this series, I am older than the target audience, by a large number of years, so anything that I am to say is to be taken with a grain of salt. The only reason I continue reading this series is because Ella has been one of the main protagonists in my childhood books (Ella & Olivia, Ella Diaries, etc.), and, I'll admit, I am struggling to let her go completely.
Also, I did notice that Laura Sieveking replied to my previous review. Laura Sieveking, if you are reading this, I just wanted to apologise for initially thinking that some points of the plot may have been taken from something else, and I also wanted to say that I think you are an inspiring author and hope that you continue to write.
Personally, I do agree with the average rating. I definitely did not think this was a very strong book in the series. When I compare the length of it to the other books in the series, it is thinner, and shorter.
To briefly cover the plot, 'Puppy Rescue' is about Ella, our protagonist, assisting at an animal shelter, and, upon bonding with a dog called Luna, immediately seeks to help her get adopted.
Some things that I liked about this book.
I thought Grace was a great character in this book. I loved seeing her growth throughout. I thought her adapting to her learning difficulties and persevering was really nice to see. I thought the service learning project was very sweet, and there were some really great conflicts explored throughout.
Here is why I think that the ratings of this book are not super high, based on my personal opinions.
Firstly, the main thing that I wasn't the biggest fan of was the plot in general. Compared to the other books, the plot felt rather forgettable. I don't think I was as invested into this story as I have been in some of the others.
Luna, the main puppy of the story, lacked a sort of depth that makes readers care a lot about her. I love her, just as I love any dog, but to me, she needed more of a personality, or she needed to do more in the story that really showcases why she's so special (just as any dog is), other than her backstory (which I found lovely) and her physical disability.
Something I found quite problematic about the book was Grace overcoming her fear of dogs. Based on the previous books, I think it has been well established that Grace has a phobia, or at least an aversion, to dogs. I myself have experienced phobias and aversions, so in this aspect I do relate to Grace, even if I don't fear dogs.
However, in this book, Grace starts out being terrified of dogs, but upon meeting Kojak, a dog at the animal shelter, almost immediately, they bond and Grace's initial fear of dogs becomes non-existent. I did not like this at all.
Firstly, phobias, aversions and fears are NOT that easy to overcome. It does not take one or two positive experiences to erase a deeply embedded fear. I would have found it a lot more satisfying if Grace took the length of the entire book to overcome her fear of dogs, rather than have her overcome it in the span of a few chapters.
Another thing that I would like to address is Ella herself. As Ella is the protagonist, it is natural to want every happiness and success for her. However, at times it does become rather unrealistic, dating back all the way to the first few books. Some of her successes are admittedly deserved or are required for the story to function. I liked her discovering the secret journal in the second book. I liked how she did well in her gymnastics competition. I liked how she got the scholarship to join the school in the first place.
But although she is a book character, she needs to be represented as human. A very good way Laura Sieveking has done this in the past is when Ella doesn't win the art competition in book 6. Of course, she does eventually get to go to London (which I feel like could have been explored through getting the journalists to write a piece, rather than deciding on a whim that Ella can go), but that kind of failure is needed in a book that children will read, at least occasionally.
Therefore, I thought the concept of Luna, the dog that Ella has bonded with most, being able to be at Eden College, Ella's school, was slightly unrealistic. I thought it could have been a cool idea if Kojak stayed at the school instead, and Luna got adopted.
Then again, Ella is a protagonist, so it does make sense if her fictional universe revolves around her, because it literally does.
Apologies if there are any inaccuracies in my review. It's been a while since I read this.
Thank you for taking the time to read my very long review. Maybe one day I'll stop obsessing over my childhood book protagonist. But for now, I'm happy with occasionally catching up with the Ella universe.
December 13, 2025
Ella and her friends were helping their classmate Grace with her homework. None of them wanted her to be kept down in Grade 7 rather than graduate.
The students were all excited about doing a 'Service Learning Project' in the last few weeks of year 7. Some of the opportunities were in 'Aged Care' homes, helping the oldies. Others were in the 'English as a Second Language' classes, assisting new immigrants to learn English. Grace wasn't a fan of dogs, but Ella decided to put down her third preference as an assistant in an Animal Shelter. She missed her dog, 'Bob', who lived at home while she was at boarding school.
When they went to the 'Morningside Animal Shelter', they were told about what they'd need to do, including, cleaning the Kennels, grooming the dogs, and training them too. There was a lot to learn.
Ella was paired with Luna, a cute and formerly trained dog with one eye. Soon she adored the little dog and was glad to be able to walk her and give her instructions. Grace had been paired with 'Kojak', who needed lots of exercise.
At the end of the student's time at the Kennel, they helped the staff prepare for 'Adoption Day' with an obstacle course and information leaflets. These explained each dogs, needs to match the family looking to adopt with the dogs.
Ella didn't know what would happen to the dogs that weren't adopted. She worried when she thought it was going to be an awful thing. When Ella discovered that it wasn't such a bad scenario, and that although Luna hadn't been adopted, she would be given another chance.
I enjoyed this book, and knowing it's part of a series, I will go back to book #1 and read the intervening instalments.
The students were all excited about doing a 'Service Learning Project' in the last few weeks of year 7. Some of the opportunities were in 'Aged Care' homes, helping the oldies. Others were in the 'English as a Second Language' classes, assisting new immigrants to learn English. Grace wasn't a fan of dogs, but Ella decided to put down her third preference as an assistant in an Animal Shelter. She missed her dog, 'Bob', who lived at home while she was at boarding school.
When they went to the 'Morningside Animal Shelter', they were told about what they'd need to do, including, cleaning the Kennels, grooming the dogs, and training them too. There was a lot to learn.
Ella was paired with Luna, a cute and formerly trained dog with one eye. Soon she adored the little dog and was glad to be able to walk her and give her instructions. Grace had been paired with 'Kojak', who needed lots of exercise.
At the end of the student's time at the Kennel, they helped the staff prepare for 'Adoption Day' with an obstacle course and information leaflets. These explained each dogs, needs to match the family looking to adopt with the dogs.
Ella didn't know what would happen to the dogs that weren't adopted. She worried when she thought it was going to be an awful thing. When Ella discovered that it wasn't such a bad scenario, and that although Luna hadn't been adopted, she would be given another chance.
I enjoyed this book, and knowing it's part of a series, I will go back to book #1 and read the intervening instalments.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews