Ruby

Service Dog #1

by Jack Heape

Sometimes to come in first, you must put yourself last
Sixteen-year-old Toby Durham knows his way around a show ring. As one of the youngest handlers on the professional dog show circuit, he and his champion Irish Setter Ruby have their sights set on qualifying for Westminster. But when a family move brings them to a new town, they discover that sometimes life has different plans for champions.
Behind a curtained window lives Rachel Parker, a girl whose epilepsy has kept her watching the world from a distance. When Ruby mysteriously begins alerting to Rachel's seizures before they happen, Toby faces an impossible pursue the show ring glory he's always dreamed of, or help Ruby become the service dog Rachel desperately needs.
With the help of a retired judge who tends his garden with the same precision he once used in court, a determined mother working night shifts at the hospital, and a community that learns to rally around one of their own, Toby and Ruby embark on an extraordinary journey that will challenge everything they know about what it means to be a champion.
But can one dog really serve two callings? As Ruby excels both in the show ring and as Rachel's lifeline to the world, Toby learns that sometimes the biggest victories don't come with ribbons, and that true champions aren't defined by their titles, but by the lives they touch.
A heartwarming story about friendship, sacrifice, and finding your true purpose, Ruby reminds us that our greatest gifts often come from being exactly who we're meant to be.
Perfect for fans of Because of Winn-Dixie and Rain Reign, this uplifting novel will capture the hearts of young readers and dog lovers alike.

133 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 24, 2024

Reviews

[Scuffed Granny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby is a lovely book in every aspect. It has a message but its educational purpose does not overshadow the storytelling so it's not preachy: it is a tale of friendship and courage and how with the right support, great things are possible even though they seem insurmountable at first.

Heape has assembled a cast of good people in his novel and it is an uplifting tale because of this. Toby is a teenage boy who, with his dog Ruby, competes at dog shows, with Ruby's ownership shared by Madeleine Fulbright, a lady intent on producing dog show champions. With this in mind, ambitions are high for Ruby; she has the making of a champion but this is soon to be changed when Toby and his family move house with Toby's dad's work and encounter Judge Walker and Rachel Parker.

It soon becomes apparent that Ruby is a pretty special dog when she is able to anticipate Rachel's seizures, Rachel being an epileptic. This happens quite by accident but it soon becomes clear that Ruby could change Rachel's life, providing her with independence and the freedom that she has never experienced up until now.

And so, the dilemma is presented: can Ruby be both? Show dog and service dog? And what will the practicalities be for her training and also being shared between Toby and
Rachel? And how will Madeleine Fulbright feel about this too as Ruby's shared owner?

Heape takes us through these questions, providing answers through the action of his book, showing his characters as they discuss the ramifications of Ruby's role diversification and how this will work practically to provide improvement in Rachel's life. Rachel is faced with the chance of no longer being limited: she can go for a walk, head off to the mall and the biggest change and challenge of all, go to high school.

This is a positive book, showing what can be achieved when people come together and are prepared to step up to help others. There are no shocks here but it is well-crafted, nicely told with optimism and some additional information about issues covered in the book at the end.

A warm read, well-told.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational and informative story of Ruby and Toby’s journey from show ring to service dog.

Ruby is the inaugural book in author Jack Heape’s new middle-grade series about service dogs, telling the inspirational story of a budding champion show dog and her young handler who discover another calling in their lives as a service dog and a service dog trainer. Readers of all ages will surely find the story informative and heartwarming.

Toby Durham developed a passion for handling dogs in the show ring early and became one of the youngest and most successful handlers in competition. He longs to start and finish his own champion, and he gets that chance with owner/breeder Madeleine Fulbright and a young Irish Setter puppy named Ruby. The story details much of the behind-the-scenes work and commitment involved in pursuing his dream, including the considerations and accommodations his family and parents make to help him realize it.

While this aspect of the plot is awesome on its own, it’s not the only storyline. When Toby’s family moves for his father’s job, one of Toby’s new neighbors is Rachel Parker, a girl about his own age who experiences seizures of such an unpredictable nature that she is literally restricted to her own home. A chance meeting and Ruby’s instinctive actions, which appear to warn Rachel of an impending seizure, changes life for everyone.

Ruby, Toby, and Rachel’s story is inspirational reading and chock-full of dog care, dog and handler training, and the amazing collaboration between one incredible dog and the humans in her life. I recommend RUBY for readers of middle-grade fiction, especially those who love books about dogs.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from Reedsy Discovery.