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Spud #3
Pup
When Kylie and her mother leave the farm taking Spud and Chips with them, only one dog is left behind. Pup is that dog.
At heart, Pup is bright and energetic. However, his spirit has been all but broken by the cruelty of his owner. It takes the love and bravery of a boy called Jack to bring this young kelpie back to his happy self.
Pup is the third book in the popular series by award-winning author John Heffernan.
Children’s Book Council of Australia 2003 Notable Australian Children’s Book: Younger Readers
At heart, Pup is bright and energetic. However, his spirit has been all but broken by the cruelty of his owner. It takes the love and bravery of a boy called Jack to bring this young kelpie back to his happy self.
Pup is the third book in the popular series by award-winning author John Heffernan.
Children’s Book Council of Australia 2003 Notable Australian Children’s Book: Younger Readers
140 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
39 people want to read
About the author
John Heffernan
23 books9 followersJohn Heffernan lives on a farm at the end of a dirt road. The farm is nestled in a beautiful little valley at the edge of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales. John's early training as a teacher has been invaluable in both his writing and in establishing a relationship with young readers.
John has written more than thirty books for older readers and younger readers, on a range of subjects, in a range of styles and genres. Picture books, chapter books, YA novels, reality to fantasy; he likes to dabble in them all!
John has written more than thirty books for older readers and younger readers, on a range of subjects, in a range of styles and genres. Picture books, chapter books, YA novels, reality to fantasy; he likes to dabble in them all!
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 24, 2023
It’s a fun read about a boy wanting a dog and a dog being abused. Their paths cross, and the boy fights for the dog. They are a champion pair good for each other.
Jack didn’t like school much, and reading was boring. He hadn’t finished a book yet, but wanting to train a dog turned his reading around. Keen to be the best trainer, Jack sucked up every word in the books, even reading one twice.
Dad challenges Jack to enter the local show with his dog, but Jack’s old nerves return. He’s not sure he’s good enough. Can he show his dog’s skills in front of the whole town?
I enjoyed the realism and the dog.
Recommended for readers eight years and older, including reluctant readers. This short chapter book will hold most readers.
Jack didn’t like school much, and reading was boring. He hadn’t finished a book yet, but wanting to train a dog turned his reading around. Keen to be the best trainer, Jack sucked up every word in the books, even reading one twice.
Dad challenges Jack to enter the local show with his dog, but Jack’s old nerves return. He’s not sure he’s good enough. Can he show his dog’s skills in front of the whole town?
I enjoyed the realism and the dog.
Recommended for readers eight years and older, including reluctant readers. This short chapter book will hold most readers.
July 26, 2015
Spoilers.
I read this book for the first time when I was in primary school. I must have been about ten years old, and before I read it again this year, all I remembered from it was that I loved the story, and it made me want to buy a kelpie.
So I bought the book, in order to see how I would like it at the age I am now.
Firstly, there were some very mature themes in this book. For example, alcoholism, cutting off lambs' tails, dog poisoning, hit and runs, and domestic violence. I was quite shocked, since this is a children's novel. I would not recommend this book to young children.
As I read through it, though, I remembered why I wanted a kelpie. Pup is a sweet dog that was abused by his first owner. In the end, the saves this owner's life. I like that; that even though this dog was terrified of the man who had hit him, and nearly killed him, he saved him anyway. I think that's why I wanted to buy a kelpie after reading this book when I was ten.
I love the relationship between Jack and Pup, as it is true to life that animals can bring people such joy and comfort.
To be honest, I would have preferred more of the book to be from Pup's point of view, for those were the parts I enjoyed the most.
Although I did not love this book as I remembered doing so when I was younger, it was quite a touching story, and I liked it.
I read this book for the first time when I was in primary school. I must have been about ten years old, and before I read it again this year, all I remembered from it was that I loved the story, and it made me want to buy a kelpie.
So I bought the book, in order to see how I would like it at the age I am now.
Firstly, there were some very mature themes in this book. For example, alcoholism, cutting off lambs' tails, dog poisoning, hit and runs, and domestic violence. I was quite shocked, since this is a children's novel. I would not recommend this book to young children.
As I read through it, though, I remembered why I wanted a kelpie. Pup is a sweet dog that was abused by his first owner. In the end, the saves this owner's life. I like that; that even though this dog was terrified of the man who had hit him, and nearly killed him, he saved him anyway. I think that's why I wanted to buy a kelpie after reading this book when I was ten.
I love the relationship between Jack and Pup, as it is true to life that animals can bring people such joy and comfort.
To be honest, I would have preferred more of the book to be from Pup's point of view, for those were the parts I enjoyed the most.
Although I did not love this book as I remembered doing so when I was younger, it was quite a touching story, and I liked it.
April 15, 2014
For Pup, not for #3
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews