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Bring Jade Home: The True Story of a Dog Lost in Yellowstone and the People Who Searched for Her
Set against the magnificent backdrop of the Yellowstone National Park wilderness, Bring Jade Home is a gripping true tale of loss, the bond between people and animals, and the power of redeeming love.
David Sowers and Laura Gillice are seriously injured in a head-on collision while vacationing in the Park with their dogs. When they are ambulanced away, David’s fifteen-month-old Australian shepherd, Jade, bolts into the over two-million-acre wilderness and disappears. The young dog faces the threats of starvation, predators, and the hostile landscape of Yellowstone itself.
The day after the wreck, critically injured David leaves the Trauma Center in a desperate effort to find his beloved dog. Eventually an enormous search effort is launched, spearheaded by Park employee Kat Brekken and fueled by social media. Previously, the longest a dog was lost and found alive in Yellowstone was two weeks. As each passing day breaks that record, Jade is occasionally spotted. Against all the odds, the young Aussie is alive.
Bring Jade Home is a heartwarming tale of a dog whose trials bring out the generosity of spirt and the best in people.
David Sowers and Laura Gillice are seriously injured in a head-on collision while vacationing in the Park with their dogs. When they are ambulanced away, David’s fifteen-month-old Australian shepherd, Jade, bolts into the over two-million-acre wilderness and disappears. The young dog faces the threats of starvation, predators, and the hostile landscape of Yellowstone itself.
The day after the wreck, critically injured David leaves the Trauma Center in a desperate effort to find his beloved dog. Eventually an enormous search effort is launched, spearheaded by Park employee Kat Brekken and fueled by social media. Previously, the longest a dog was lost and found alive in Yellowstone was two weeks. As each passing day breaks that record, Jade is occasionally spotted. Against all the odds, the young Aussie is alive.
Bring Jade Home is a heartwarming tale of a dog whose trials bring out the generosity of spirt and the best in people.
- GenresNonfictionDogsAnimals
226 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2017
170 people are currently reading
824 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
May 12, 2019
I cannot write a non-biased review of this book. I know Laura, my Aussies have both run under her as an agility judge, for which the agility community Laura speaks of, I am a part of, and it is an amazing group of people, I have met Laila many times, and well, I have Aussies! I saw the story of Jade throughout the ordeal on FB and always shuddered about the thought of one of my dogs being lost, especially in the vast wilderness of Yellowstone. I picked up this book from Laura's booth at the ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America) Nationals last September, it's signed by David with Jade's paw print and Laura signed it to Duncan and Maci, my beloved Aussies.
I had no idea how bad the car accident was until I saw the picture in the back of the book. This is one of those books that yes, I knew Jade was eventually found, but it doesn't matter when you are reading it, and feeling the same emotions as the owners and are uplifted by all the volunteers that looked for Jade those 44 days she was missing. It truly is remarkable that she survived. Aussies are really smart, and Jade's disadvantage in being skittish and not coming to people as soon as she escaped probably also fueled her survival. I would like to think my dogs would come to people, but after a such a bad wreck, you never know. I do encourage people to read this book, it's quick and easy to read, and I also encourage people to make safe travel options for their dogs in cars. Jade was in a crate, but it was badly damaged, yet, I am sure it saved her life. Even though Yellowstone is close to me, I have yet to go, but really want to visit. I loved reading the great descriptions of the park too. I am just so glad that Jade was found and reunited with her family.
I had no idea how bad the car accident was until I saw the picture in the back of the book. This is one of those books that yes, I knew Jade was eventually found, but it doesn't matter when you are reading it, and feeling the same emotions as the owners and are uplifted by all the volunteers that looked for Jade those 44 days she was missing. It truly is remarkable that she survived. Aussies are really smart, and Jade's disadvantage in being skittish and not coming to people as soon as she escaped probably also fueled her survival. I would like to think my dogs would come to people, but after a such a bad wreck, you never know. I do encourage people to read this book, it's quick and easy to read, and I also encourage people to make safe travel options for their dogs in cars. Jade was in a crate, but it was badly damaged, yet, I am sure it saved her life. Even though Yellowstone is close to me, I have yet to go, but really want to visit. I loved reading the great descriptions of the park too. I am just so glad that Jade was found and reunited with her family.
January 15, 2020
I have to be honest, I didn't enjoy reading this book. I generally love animal-related books, and, since I lived out close to Yellowstone National Park for a year and I LOVE that area, I really thought I'd love this book. It was hard for me to get "into" this book. I think it's a great story - I just don't think it was told very well. My apologies to the author - truly. This is just MY opinion. There were just too many "filler" details at the beginning of this book....some really pointless stuff that neither set the stage for what was to happen, nor moved the story along. It didn't help to "flesh out" the people the book was portraying either. I never really felt any connection to them and, honestly, I never LIKED them at all. I was rooting for them to find the dog, not for their own sakes, but for the dog's sake. These are REAL people, but they just seemed so flat and unlikeable to me.... Again, please understand, I'm not judging the people this book is about - I'm saying that the writing was just not great. I hesitated to even write this review because I really don't want to upset anyone or hurt anyone's feelings. I'm glad I finished the book -(at one point I truly thought about just chucking it without finishing it....) but it will not stay on my bookshelf. This is NOT a book I'll ever read again.
June 3, 2018
Bring Home Jade is one of those books that you might pass up because you don’t like sad dog stories. Well, this is not one of those books. Jade and the people who loved and searched for her in Yellowstone is one of the most engaging stories anyone could desire. Not only are the characters alive on the page, (a credit to the exquisite writing of author Michelle Caffrey) but the whole subtext of our human experience, our losses and passions, and our relationship to the natural wonders of this planet we live on. are thought-provoking and endearing. It’s a wonderful read, and you’ll thank yourself for it. It's nothing short of excellent.
May 16, 2022
Really enjoyed the book. I got chocked up at times, which is what you want. No Kleenex needed at the end.
November 6, 2021
A violent head-on car wreck in Yellowstone National Park. The travel crate for Jade, a young Australian Shepherd, is split open. In a panic, Jade escapes into the wilds of Yellowstone, home to bears, wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions. And where non-predators such as bison, elk and moose are just as deadly.
David and Laura are hospitalized and a park ranger houses Laura’s dog, Laila. Although David’s injuries are serious enough to require surgery, he checks himself out of the hospital when they learn that Jade is missing. David and Laura make the three-hour drive back to Yellowstone to begin the search. Stopping at the West ranger station, they picked up Laura’s dog, Laila.
A ranger had seen Jade that morning near the site of the wreck, but Jade ran off when approached. David and Laura ask other visitors if they have seen Jade and word quickly spreads. They are able to get a room in Yellowstone but can only stay several days since David needs surgery and to tend to his small business. Leaving blankets, Jade’s dog bowl, and other items around the crash site hoping she will smell them and stay nearby, they make the 10-hour drive home.
Kat, a Yellowstone Park reservationist, posted Jade’s plight on Facebook and it is widely shared. Scott and Angie, David’s son and daughter, likewise posted her plight on social media then drive to Yellowstone to continue the search.
Three weeks missing. Construction workers see Jade, and when David was notified, he and Laura made the 10-hour drive to Yellowstone with renewed hope. Returning to the location she was last seen, they scatter clothing and blankets in the area hoping their scent will draw her in. However, after a week of searching, David and Laura were once again forced to return to Colorado.
Four weeks missing. Kat contacts Laura for permission to continue the search, then follows up with articles in local newspapers and Facebook postings. One of those responding to the post was Sandy, who had rescued a dog in Michigan and is familiar with rescue techniques. Another was Kevin, a park employee trained in search and rescue. By now, hundreds of people have volunteered to join in the search and Kat assembles a search team.
Kat then came up with an innovative idea: record David’s voice calling Jade and broadcast it. Kevin figured out how to record David and broadcast it through external speakers attached to vehicles and, as long as nobody complained, they could drive along the roads in Yellowstone broadcasting David’s voice.
Thirty-seven days missing. Confirmed sightings continue coming in, and tension within the family increases. David and Laura returned to Yellowstone one last time, setting Labor Day as their final day of searching. While searching, they turn onto a service road and drive through an open gate, not knowing that it led to a carcass dump for animals killed by vehicles. An area frequented by bears and wolves.
Thirty-eight days missing. Laura rose early and was surprised to find so many visitors at such an early hour, many with dogs. As it turned out, they were all volunteers searching for Jade. Once again, David and Laura took the service road to the carcass dump, but this time accompanied by two rangers, one of which was armed.
Arriving at the carcass dump, they see movement in the brush and hoping it was Jade, David gets out of the vehicle and calls. Instead, it’s a grizzly bear. The bear charges and chases the vehicle for a period of time before finally giving up. The same time they were searching in the area of the carcass dump, Jade was seen near the lodge where they were staying.
Forty-two days missing. David comments that he feels like Jade is watching him, and then, out of the long grass pops her black and white head. David calls and Jade bolts in the opposite direction. Devastated that Jade ran away and believing she has become wild, David gives up all hope and decides to return home the next morning.
Kat tries encouraging them with possible reasons that Jade ran off, such as not recognizing David, needing time to adjust, or was startled when David called her name. Regardless, David was giving up the search and returning home the next day.
Day 44. Rising early, Laura takes her dog Laila, for a walk. Suddenly she sees Jade in the distance and Laura entices Laila to bark. Jade, hearing Laila’s barking and seeing Laura, races into her arms.
Laila doesn’t accept Jade’s return, and Laura is afraid that her aggressive behavior will chase Jade away. Steve, who had been helping with her rescue, takes Laila and gives Laura a shoestring for a leash. A small crowd gathers as Laura returns with Jade, then word quickly spreads and employees spilled out of the dorms. The crowd breaks out in spontaneous applause.
The story of Jade continues as the family returns to their normal life, and the book ends with photos of the crash site and those who played the largest role in Jade’s safe return.
Michelle Caffrey takes the reader on a masterfully scripted, emotional roller coaster from page 1. I found myself intimately sharing in the fears, frustrations, hopes, and despair experienced not only by David and Laura, but everyone involved.
Bring Jade Home illustrates the strength of the human spirit, persistence in the face of impossible odds, and the loyalty of love. So many people sacrificed time and money, but none more than Dave and Laura who persevered through debilitating pain from their injuries.
To use a timeworn phrase, Bring Jade Home is heartwarming. I found the story of this lost dog inspiring. This little Australian Shepherd who affected so many lives and brought healing to the park’s staff, dispirited by recent tragedies. I highly recommend Bring Jade Home.
David and Laura are hospitalized and a park ranger houses Laura’s dog, Laila. Although David’s injuries are serious enough to require surgery, he checks himself out of the hospital when they learn that Jade is missing. David and Laura make the three-hour drive back to Yellowstone to begin the search. Stopping at the West ranger station, they picked up Laura’s dog, Laila.
A ranger had seen Jade that morning near the site of the wreck, but Jade ran off when approached. David and Laura ask other visitors if they have seen Jade and word quickly spreads. They are able to get a room in Yellowstone but can only stay several days since David needs surgery and to tend to his small business. Leaving blankets, Jade’s dog bowl, and other items around the crash site hoping she will smell them and stay nearby, they make the 10-hour drive home.
Kat, a Yellowstone Park reservationist, posted Jade’s plight on Facebook and it is widely shared. Scott and Angie, David’s son and daughter, likewise posted her plight on social media then drive to Yellowstone to continue the search.
Three weeks missing. Construction workers see Jade, and when David was notified, he and Laura made the 10-hour drive to Yellowstone with renewed hope. Returning to the location she was last seen, they scatter clothing and blankets in the area hoping their scent will draw her in. However, after a week of searching, David and Laura were once again forced to return to Colorado.
Four weeks missing. Kat contacts Laura for permission to continue the search, then follows up with articles in local newspapers and Facebook postings. One of those responding to the post was Sandy, who had rescued a dog in Michigan and is familiar with rescue techniques. Another was Kevin, a park employee trained in search and rescue. By now, hundreds of people have volunteered to join in the search and Kat assembles a search team.
Kat then came up with an innovative idea: record David’s voice calling Jade and broadcast it. Kevin figured out how to record David and broadcast it through external speakers attached to vehicles and, as long as nobody complained, they could drive along the roads in Yellowstone broadcasting David’s voice.
Thirty-seven days missing. Confirmed sightings continue coming in, and tension within the family increases. David and Laura returned to Yellowstone one last time, setting Labor Day as their final day of searching. While searching, they turn onto a service road and drive through an open gate, not knowing that it led to a carcass dump for animals killed by vehicles. An area frequented by bears and wolves.
Thirty-eight days missing. Laura rose early and was surprised to find so many visitors at such an early hour, many with dogs. As it turned out, they were all volunteers searching for Jade. Once again, David and Laura took the service road to the carcass dump, but this time accompanied by two rangers, one of which was armed.
Arriving at the carcass dump, they see movement in the brush and hoping it was Jade, David gets out of the vehicle and calls. Instead, it’s a grizzly bear. The bear charges and chases the vehicle for a period of time before finally giving up. The same time they were searching in the area of the carcass dump, Jade was seen near the lodge where they were staying.
Forty-two days missing. David comments that he feels like Jade is watching him, and then, out of the long grass pops her black and white head. David calls and Jade bolts in the opposite direction. Devastated that Jade ran away and believing she has become wild, David gives up all hope and decides to return home the next morning.
Kat tries encouraging them with possible reasons that Jade ran off, such as not recognizing David, needing time to adjust, or was startled when David called her name. Regardless, David was giving up the search and returning home the next day.
Day 44. Rising early, Laura takes her dog Laila, for a walk. Suddenly she sees Jade in the distance and Laura entices Laila to bark. Jade, hearing Laila’s barking and seeing Laura, races into her arms.
Laila doesn’t accept Jade’s return, and Laura is afraid that her aggressive behavior will chase Jade away. Steve, who had been helping with her rescue, takes Laila and gives Laura a shoestring for a leash. A small crowd gathers as Laura returns with Jade, then word quickly spreads and employees spilled out of the dorms. The crowd breaks out in spontaneous applause.
The story of Jade continues as the family returns to their normal life, and the book ends with photos of the crash site and those who played the largest role in Jade’s safe return.
Michelle Caffrey takes the reader on a masterfully scripted, emotional roller coaster from page 1. I found myself intimately sharing in the fears, frustrations, hopes, and despair experienced not only by David and Laura, but everyone involved.
Bring Jade Home illustrates the strength of the human spirit, persistence in the face of impossible odds, and the loyalty of love. So many people sacrificed time and money, but none more than Dave and Laura who persevered through debilitating pain from their injuries.
To use a timeworn phrase, Bring Jade Home is heartwarming. I found the story of this lost dog inspiring. This little Australian Shepherd who affected so many lives and brought healing to the park’s staff, dispirited by recent tragedies. I highly recommend Bring Jade Home.
December 31, 2025
2.5 stars ⭐ Sweet and straightforward.
October 15, 2021
Don’t know what I was expecting…but it was more than this. Too long for the way the story was told. After about 25% I realized that the dog wasn’t going to be found until well into the 90% range, so whatever the various people did (pretty much the same thing over and over), it wouldn’t work for 60% of the book. I slogged through the book, but the happy ending wasn’t worth it for me.
I guess what I really wanted was a fictionalized version of the story where we get part of it from the the dog’s POV. So that’s on me, not the author.
I guess what I really wanted was a fictionalized version of the story where we get part of it from the the dog’s POV. So that’s on me, not the author.
December 4, 2020
This is such a touching story, I cried so many times! I have an aussie myself that is always mistaken for a border collie, so the cover caught my attention and I read the synopsis and ordered it right away. I love stories about the bond between humans and their pets, this book did not disappoint!! Plus Yellowstone is one of my favorite places to be so I also got to read about places I've seen, smelled and felt!
December 10, 2022
Reading the back of this book in a Yellowstone store, brought tears to my eyes. I have an Aussie that my family adores and I could not imagine him lost in Yellowstone. I was glad I read it and she was safely returned to her family, thanks to all the tourists and rangers, and volunteers who helped.
July 26, 2022
Loved this book, easy read, even though you believe you know it has a happy ending you are so tense like you are with the owners in the moment. Educational about dogs, search and rescue, kindness of strangers, even some Native beliefs. Great read
October 12, 2021
We bought this book in Yellowstone after seeing it in several gift shops, and I read it aloud to my kids (9, 14, and 18) after we returned home. We loved reading about the places we’d seen and Jade’s survival. The writing wasn’t very interesting, though, and at times the book plodded slowly. My oldest daughter summed it up when she said she would have rather read the book from Jade’s point of view.
June 11, 2024
Picked this up in the Yellowstone gift shop, I couldn't help myself. What a fantastic, heart warming story!
June 26, 2019
I was drawn to this book for several reasons. 1. It’s about a dog. 2. It takes place in a National Park. 3. The author is from Naples, Florida. Most dog books are sad, but this one had a happy ending. The author did a great job. It was a really sweet book. Now my husband is begging to read it next.
June 19, 2019
Happy Ending
If you love dogs and happy endings, read this book. You will fall in love with Jade and her family and everyone else who helped find her.
If you love dogs and happy endings, read this book. You will fall in love with Jade and her family and everyone else who helped find her.
November 17, 2017
I followed Jades story in the news when it was happening and when Michelle, an old friend, said she’d been chosen to tell the story I couldn’t wait to read it. I was then lucky enough to get a “beta copy”. I expected to enjoy the story but I was completely absorbed by it. I read the book in one day because I didn’t want to put it down.
Michelle weaves facts about Yellowstone and the perils Jade faced expertly into the story of Jade and her family. Laura and Dave and their stories touched my heart. We come to know them well in a short time and understand how much Jade meant to them and why. I loved the stories of the Yellowstone employees and volunteers who all took Jade and her family into their hearts and spent countless hours helping find her. I never knew a lot about Yellowstone so it was interesting to read some of the background and to realize just how huge it is and realize how smart Jade was to be able to survive that long.
Just a great story, told beautifully!
Michelle weaves facts about Yellowstone and the perils Jade faced expertly into the story of Jade and her family. Laura and Dave and their stories touched my heart. We come to know them well in a short time and understand how much Jade meant to them and why. I loved the stories of the Yellowstone employees and volunteers who all took Jade and her family into their hearts and spent countless hours helping find her. I never knew a lot about Yellowstone so it was interesting to read some of the background and to realize just how huge it is and realize how smart Jade was to be able to survive that long.
Just a great story, told beautifully!
October 27, 2021
Just finished reading this wonderful book yesterday. I have a black and white Aussie that looks a lot like Jade. My dog has a similar temperament - very independent like Jade. But back to the book... I liked how the author gave details about not just one or two of the main characters, but several. And there was absolutely no foul language! That's a rare treat these days. Don't we hear enough of that at work, or school, or in just talking to neighbors. It seems 'trendy' to use the 'f' word and beyond. So thank you, Michelle, for leaving that out.
You got the dog's behavioral explanations down quite well. Think like a dog, was one phase used by one of the them, perhaps Kat? And when David and Jades eyes met in that one moment in time.... and she still ran off.... that was so disheartening!
Great book. Well written. Happy ending. Thank God! Lol
Highly recommend this excellent, excellent book.
You got the dog's behavioral explanations down quite well. Think like a dog, was one phase used by one of the them, perhaps Kat? And when David and Jades eyes met in that one moment in time.... and she still ran off.... that was so disheartening!
Great book. Well written. Happy ending. Thank God! Lol
Highly recommend this excellent, excellent book.
September 11, 2022
I loved this book. As a pet owner and animal lover myself, this book was right up my alley. Losing a pet and not knowing where they are is such a heartbreaking feeling. It's difficult to describe that kind of emptiness unless you're telling someone who loves animals just as much. Reading about the despair this family went through definitely tugged at my heart. The help and support they received from all the people who volunteered their time helping to find Jade, without knowing the family made my heart happy. When people pull together during a situation like a lost pet, it really shows how awesome some people really are. I'm definitely looking up Jade's story some more. Such a beautiful, smart pup. ♡ I recommend this book to, well anyone. It's a great, true story.
May 20, 2022
Too much dialogue and kind of boring, other than the parts written about the accident. (Now on the other hand, if dogs could talk... )
The last 25 pages are good and I did check out the Facebook page, Bring Jade Home. It's nice.
Also, see page 208: I'm AM interested in reading the author's other book about her ten adventure-filled years cruising the European waterways. I think I might really like that one.
The last 25 pages are good and I did check out the Facebook page, Bring Jade Home. It's nice.
Also, see page 208: I'm AM interested in reading the author's other book about her ten adventure-filled years cruising the European waterways. I think I might really like that one.
October 21, 2020
“I have to find my pup!” Imagine not only sustaining severe injuries and surviving a horrible crash with a pickup truck inside Yellowstone National Park on your way home from a vacation, but to also be awakened from a cell phone call in the hospital after 11:00 that night from the park ranger telling you your beloved dog—a dog that had mended your broken heart—bolted out of its broken plastic crate from the back of your destroyed SUV and then disappeared into the wilderness, refusing to come when called as the rangers tried to retrieve and care for your pair of Aussie Shepherds, Jade and Laila, for the night while you received treatment from your injuries. Imagine knowing that your beloved Jade is only 15 months old—too young to survive in the woods. Imagine being aware of the imminent dangers that could easily kill Jade the longer she’s lost—ferocious bears, coyotes, starvation. Imagine the mounting despair as each day passes and she’s still missing.
Michelle Caffrey’s "Bring Jade Home, The True Story of a Dog Lost in Yellowstone" is an incredible tale of owners Laura and David’s heartbreaking journey to try and find their Aussie Shepherd pup, Jade, who is lost and alone in a wild environment she’s never encountered before. Wonderfully written, Caffrey’s words will immediately capture your attention and have you turning pages until the end to discover Jade's fate. Ride along on the emotional roller coaster with Laura and David as they skyrocket with hope one minute when someone calls to say they saw Jade in Yellowstone Park and then plunge into despair when it’s a false report. Join forces as “Team Jade” is created by a few strangers connected to Yellowstone Park and are experienced in rescue missions along with their cast of volunteers who are all determined to work together to find Jade and bring her home before the odds of her surviving in the wilderness stack up against her. The constant question that lingers in the forefront of everyone’s minds is: will they find her in time? It also gives an in-depth look into the natural ecosystems of Yellowstone Park and how efforts are being made to keep the wildlife and visitors safe from each other. A wonderful book for dog, animal, and nature lovers. Recommended for young adult and adult readers.
Michelle Caffrey’s "Bring Jade Home, The True Story of a Dog Lost in Yellowstone" is an incredible tale of owners Laura and David’s heartbreaking journey to try and find their Aussie Shepherd pup, Jade, who is lost and alone in a wild environment she’s never encountered before. Wonderfully written, Caffrey’s words will immediately capture your attention and have you turning pages until the end to discover Jade's fate. Ride along on the emotional roller coaster with Laura and David as they skyrocket with hope one minute when someone calls to say they saw Jade in Yellowstone Park and then plunge into despair when it’s a false report. Join forces as “Team Jade” is created by a few strangers connected to Yellowstone Park and are experienced in rescue missions along with their cast of volunteers who are all determined to work together to find Jade and bring her home before the odds of her surviving in the wilderness stack up against her. The constant question that lingers in the forefront of everyone’s minds is: will they find her in time? It also gives an in-depth look into the natural ecosystems of Yellowstone Park and how efforts are being made to keep the wildlife and visitors safe from each other. A wonderful book for dog, animal, and nature lovers. Recommended for young adult and adult readers.
August 31, 2019
Even though I love dogs, I am not a fan of people taking their dogs into national parks. Nevertheless, these dog owners did so, even envisioning it as a vacation ‘for the dogs’. But, at least the owners were doing everything right. Their two dogs were crated in their car and under strict supervision on leashes when they were out. However, when their vehicle was struck by another car, Jade’s airline crate ‘shattered like an egg’ and Jade disappeared into the wilderness.
However improbable it is that a dog could survive over six weeks among predators, thermal features and yes, even the Yellowstone traffic, it’s a dog story that you can read with the confidence that your heart won’t be torn out at the end.
The writing style is a bit jerky and it’s not great literature. But if you are an admirer of Yellowstone National Park or a dog lover, you might well enjoy this book. It’s a good summer read.
It’s hard to rate this one. Story – 4 stars. Writing style – 3 stars. Would I read it again? Yes. Would I give as a gift to someone who needs a bit of uplifting? Yes. 3.7 stars.
However improbable it is that a dog could survive over six weeks among predators, thermal features and yes, even the Yellowstone traffic, it’s a dog story that you can read with the confidence that your heart won’t be torn out at the end.
The writing style is a bit jerky and it’s not great literature. But if you are an admirer of Yellowstone National Park or a dog lover, you might well enjoy this book. It’s a good summer read.
It’s hard to rate this one. Story – 4 stars. Writing style – 3 stars. Would I read it again? Yes. Would I give as a gift to someone who needs a bit of uplifting? Yes. 3.7 stars.
December 9, 2020
Bring Jade Home, by Michelle Caffrey, is the true story about a dog lost in Yellowstone National Park. The book starts off with David and Laura, who have just recently started dating, going on a trip to Yellowstone with their dogs Jade and Laila. After a day or two of sight seeing, they end up in a devastating car crash. David is severely injured, and they are both lucky to be alive. After being driven to the nearest hospital, they find out that Jade’s carrier had shattered, and still being traumatized from the accident, she had fled into the depths of Yellowstone, where many predators lurked in the shadows. This launches a huge effort, on social media, and in Yellowstone, to bring Jade home.
I would definitely recommend this book as it is an amazing story of compassion and what people will do to help each other, including strangers they don’t even know. It also teaches you a lot about the nature and beauty of Yellowstone. Overall, Bring Jade Home is a powerful and well-written book about the true story of a dog lost in Yellowstone.
I would definitely recommend this book as it is an amazing story of compassion and what people will do to help each other, including strangers they don’t even know. It also teaches you a lot about the nature and beauty of Yellowstone. Overall, Bring Jade Home is a powerful and well-written book about the true story of a dog lost in Yellowstone.
December 12, 2017
As a dog and nature lover this book was one I couldn’t put down until I finished it. The author, Michelle Caffrey, does such a wonderful job developing the characters that you will feel every emotion and tear that the owner David Sowers and his girlfriend, Laura Gillice, felt as they were given a journey of a lifetime that they did not ask for. It was heart wrenching to read of the struggles and pain they endured not just physically from the accident but emotionally as they dealt with searching for Jade. Michelle totally draws you into to the majesty of Yellowstone as well as into the lives of the park rangers and others there that helped look for Jade. I could envision the places, animals and dangers that Jade had to face and my heart ached for her and everyone involved. I hope this will be made into a movie soon. Oh…don’t forget to have your box of tissues near by as you travel through this journey of bringing Jade home.
January 14, 2018
Caffrey has transformed a true story of a long and exhausting search into an engaging, page-turner of a plot that will restore your faith in humanity. Beautiful visual imagery of Yellowstone National Park is interspersed with expert character development of real life human beings with their own extraordinary stories. This is not just a story about finding a dog. It reaches out into the lives of all the people involved, touching on themes of life, illness, death, and love. At times heart-warming and heart-wrenching but with moments of hilarious irony, this book is a must read for anyone. It exemplifies the power of dogs to bring human beings together and create community, and that even when we believe we are the rescuers, the truth is that dogs are saving us. (Same review as I posted on Amazon.)
June 29, 2025
In July 2015, David and Laura were traveling with their two Australian Shepherds to Yellowstone National Park when an oncoming vehicle crossed lanes causing a severe accident.
One Aussie was in a plastic crate that fell apart when rescuers attempted to retrieve the dogs from the wreck. The dog was about one year old, so fairly young, and dashed away from accident. Her owner was seriously injured and unable to go after her at the moment.
The rest of the book is about some of the various people, and there were many, who searched for Jade the Aussie. Jade was loose and surviving for 44 days in serious wilderness areas with wolves, grizzly, bison, etc. The longest she was expected to survive was two weeks.
As the title states, this book is an account of the human side of the search with some personal details of people involved, not a book of the dog's experience.
One Aussie was in a plastic crate that fell apart when rescuers attempted to retrieve the dogs from the wreck. The dog was about one year old, so fairly young, and dashed away from accident. Her owner was seriously injured and unable to go after her at the moment.
The rest of the book is about some of the various people, and there were many, who searched for Jade the Aussie. Jade was loose and surviving for 44 days in serious wilderness areas with wolves, grizzly, bison, etc. The longest she was expected to survive was two weeks.
As the title states, this book is an account of the human side of the search with some personal details of people involved, not a book of the dog's experience.
September 2, 2025
I have an Australian Shepherd that I love dearly, but this book was not very exciting because it took too long to get to the rescue you knew would happen. Over and over again the book tells us how much the dog's owners miss him and then give up hope while other people keep searching over the same landscape.
Perhaps this would have been better as a short story or if we could have somehow gotten into the dog's head. It's tough for a book to succeed when the reader can't get into the main character’s head. We also never hear why the dog's owners think this dog is so wonderful, and the ending is very anticlimactic. There is no dramatic rescue. The dog just walks up after a month in the wilderness.
Perhaps this would have been better as a short story or if we could have somehow gotten into the dog's head. It's tough for a book to succeed when the reader can't get into the main character’s head. We also never hear why the dog's owners think this dog is so wonderful, and the ending is very anticlimactic. There is no dramatic rescue. The dog just walks up after a month in the wilderness.
December 29, 2019
Knowing this book has a happy ending is the only way I could read it. I followed the story that summer. As a Yellowstone historian I have a couple of issues with some of the descriptions of the places in the park but that does not make the book less enjoyable. It is an uplifting story. If it were to be released in an updated version, make sure to use the correct form of words. Elk, single or plural, are still elk, not elks. President Roosevelt had little to do with the establishment of Yellowstone as it was set aside by President Grant in 1872. Roosevelt did not visit the area until near.y 30 years after that.
I would recommend this to anyone.
I would recommend this to anyone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2019
Loved this book about the Aussie lost in Yellowstone. We were in Yellowstone when I purchased the book. Reading the descriptions of the area and wildlife were just like what we had just seen on our trip. I love dog stories and this one is a great reminder of how much we love our pets and the sacrifices we are willing to make to bring them home. I had lost my A8 month old Sheltie in Charleston, SC 5 yrs ago, she was only gone for 4 days, but it was all consuming of each day looking for her. My heart was aching for this family over the length of time they searched for Jade.
October 22, 2024
I read this for our book club. For some reason it made me think of the childhood classic The Journey of Natty Gan. It was an easy flowing read, but rather stretched out. It was a book that could've easily been a short story in a magazine like Reader's Digest. It's not a book I would have picked up on my own. If you are a true pet lover, then you will probably connect with the story in a deeper way than I did. It was a beautiful and miraculous story, and quite unrealistic in some ways. You certainly will find yourself rooting for Jade and all the search team.
April 5, 2023
The first questionable moment in the beginning of the book was when the guy broke his knee cap in numerous different places and needed to see an orthopedic surgeon right away (which he postponed due to his priority of finding his dog) however managed to walk out of the hospital just fine. Huh? Listen, I love that he put finding his dog first. My kind of person. But how do you walk on a seriously broken, urgently needing surgery knee cap just fine?
January 8, 2018
I read this book after seeing a review in the Naples Daily News. It was written by a local author. I was interested because it is about an Australian Shepherd lost in Yellowstone. My family has just visited Yellowstone and also has a Mini Australian Shepherd. I read it in less than 24 hours. I was able to imagine many of the scenes because I had just been to Yellowstone.
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