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Raising Lumie
A poignant, hopeful story of a girl and her puppy.
Olive Hudson desperately wants a dog. But that doesn't seem to be a possibility right now. Newly orphaned, she's moving in with the half sister she hardly knows and their life is too chaotic to include a dog. But then something wonderful happens: Olive gets a chance to raise Lumie, a guide dog puppy. Discipline. Rules. Lots of hugs. Only the best of the best puppies continue on to become guide dogs, and of course Olive wants Lumie to be chosen. But if she is, that means that Olive will lose her. Once again, the incomparable Joan Bauer tells a touching story that is full of heart and warmth and unabashed idealism.
Olive Hudson desperately wants a dog. But that doesn't seem to be a possibility right now. Newly orphaned, she's moving in with the half sister she hardly knows and their life is too chaotic to include a dog. But then something wonderful happens: Olive gets a chance to raise Lumie, a guide dog puppy. Discipline. Rules. Lots of hugs. Only the best of the best puppies continue on to become guide dogs, and of course Olive wants Lumie to be chosen. But if she is, that means that Olive will lose her. Once again, the incomparable Joan Bauer tells a touching story that is full of heart and warmth and unabashed idealism.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published June 16, 2020
48 people are currently reading
550 people want to read
About the author
Joan Bauer
27 books886 followersFrom: http://www.joanbauer.com/jbbio.html
July 12, 1951 - I was born at eleven A.M., a most reasonable time, my mother often said, and when the nurse put me in my mother's arms for the first time I had both a nasty case of the hiccups and no discernible forehead (it's since grown in). I've always believed in comic entrances.
As I grew up in River Forest, Illinois, in the 1950's, I seem to remember an early fascination with things that were funny. I thought that people who could make other people laugh were terribly fortunate. While my friends made their career plans, declaring they would become doctors, nurses, and lawyers, inwardly I knew that I wanted to be involved somehow in comedy. This, however, was a difficult concept to get across in first grade. But I had a mother with a great comic sense (she was a high school English teacher) and a grandmother who had been a funny professional storyteller, so I figured the right genes were in there somewhere, although I didn't always laugh at what my friends laughed at and they rarely giggled at my jokes. That, and the fact that I was overweight and very tall, all made me feel quite different when I was growing up--a bit like a musk ox at a tea party.
My grandmother, who I called Nana, had the biggest influence on me creatively. She taught me the importance of stories and laughter. She never said, "Now I'm going to tell you a funny story," she'd just tell a story, and the humor would naturally flow from it because of who she was and how she and her characters saw the world. She showed me the difference between derisive laughter that hurts others and laughter that comes from the heart. She showed me, too, that stories help us understand ourselves at a deep level. She was a keen observer of people.
I kept a diary as a child, was always penning stories and poems. I played the flute heartily, taught myself the guitar, and wrote folk songs. For years I wanted to be a comedienne, then a comedy writer. I was a voracious reader, too, and can still remember the dark wood and the green leather chairs of the River Forest Public Library, can hear my shoes tapping on the stairs going down to the children's room, can feel my fingers sliding across rows and rows of books, looking through the card catalogs that seemed to house everything that anyone would ever need to know about in the entire world. My parents divorced when I was eight years old, and I was devastated at the loss of my father. I pull from that memory regularly as a writer. Every book I have written so far has dealt with complex father issues. My dad was an alcoholic and the pain of that was a shadow that followed me for years, but I've learned things from that experience that have made me resilient. I attempted to address those issues in Rules of the Road, and I took them even further in the companion book, Best Foot Forward. The theme that I try to carry into all of my writing is this: adversity, if we let it, will make us stronger.
In my twenties, I worked in sales and advertising for the Chicago Tribune, McGraw-Hill, WLS Radio, and Parade Magazine. I met my husband Evan, a computer engineer, while I was on vacation. Our courtship was simple. He asked me to dance; I said no. We got married five months later in August, 1981. But I was not happy in advertising sales, and I had a few ulcers to prove it. With Evan's loving support, I decided to try my hand at professional writing. I wish I could say that everything started falling into place, but it was a slow, slow build -- writing newspaper and magazine articles for not much money. My daughter Jean was born in July of '82. She had the soul of a writer even as a baby. I can remember sitting at my typewriter (I didn't have a computer back then) writing away with Jean on a blanket on the floor next to me. If my writing was bad that day, I'd tear that page out of the typewriter and hand it to her. "Bad paper," I'd say and Jean would r
July 12, 1951 - I was born at eleven A.M., a most reasonable time, my mother often said, and when the nurse put me in my mother's arms for the first time I had both a nasty case of the hiccups and no discernible forehead (it's since grown in). I've always believed in comic entrances.
As I grew up in River Forest, Illinois, in the 1950's, I seem to remember an early fascination with things that were funny. I thought that people who could make other people laugh were terribly fortunate. While my friends made their career plans, declaring they would become doctors, nurses, and lawyers, inwardly I knew that I wanted to be involved somehow in comedy. This, however, was a difficult concept to get across in first grade. But I had a mother with a great comic sense (she was a high school English teacher) and a grandmother who had been a funny professional storyteller, so I figured the right genes were in there somewhere, although I didn't always laugh at what my friends laughed at and they rarely giggled at my jokes. That, and the fact that I was overweight and very tall, all made me feel quite different when I was growing up--a bit like a musk ox at a tea party.
My grandmother, who I called Nana, had the biggest influence on me creatively. She taught me the importance of stories and laughter. She never said, "Now I'm going to tell you a funny story," she'd just tell a story, and the humor would naturally flow from it because of who she was and how she and her characters saw the world. She showed me the difference between derisive laughter that hurts others and laughter that comes from the heart. She showed me, too, that stories help us understand ourselves at a deep level. She was a keen observer of people.
I kept a diary as a child, was always penning stories and poems. I played the flute heartily, taught myself the guitar, and wrote folk songs. For years I wanted to be a comedienne, then a comedy writer. I was a voracious reader, too, and can still remember the dark wood and the green leather chairs of the River Forest Public Library, can hear my shoes tapping on the stairs going down to the children's room, can feel my fingers sliding across rows and rows of books, looking through the card catalogs that seemed to house everything that anyone would ever need to know about in the entire world. My parents divorced when I was eight years old, and I was devastated at the loss of my father. I pull from that memory regularly as a writer. Every book I have written so far has dealt with complex father issues. My dad was an alcoholic and the pain of that was a shadow that followed me for years, but I've learned things from that experience that have made me resilient. I attempted to address those issues in Rules of the Road, and I took them even further in the companion book, Best Foot Forward. The theme that I try to carry into all of my writing is this: adversity, if we let it, will make us stronger.
In my twenties, I worked in sales and advertising for the Chicago Tribune, McGraw-Hill, WLS Radio, and Parade Magazine. I met my husband Evan, a computer engineer, while I was on vacation. Our courtship was simple. He asked me to dance; I said no. We got married five months later in August, 1981. But I was not happy in advertising sales, and I had a few ulcers to prove it. With Evan's loving support, I decided to try my hand at professional writing. I wish I could say that everything started falling into place, but it was a slow, slow build -- writing newspaper and magazine articles for not much money. My daughter Jean was born in July of '82. She had the soul of a writer even as a baby. I can remember sitting at my typewriter (I didn't have a computer back then) writing away with Jean on a blanket on the floor next to me. If my writing was bad that day, I'd tear that page out of the typewriter and hand it to her. "Bad paper," I'd say and Jean would r
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
June 4, 2020
"Doing a good job is one of life's great feelings, and doing a bad job never feels right."
This is not just Lumie's story. It is also about the journey of 12-year-old Olive as she moves to a new town with her newly discovered half sister Maudie. Readers will not only learn about what it is like to foster a guide dog puppy, but also the heartaches and resilience that go along with losing your parents before you are a teenager. About remembering that special father and all the plumbing/life know-how he imparted into his young daughter. Filled with heart and wisdom, this new release will be irresistible with that adorable puppy on the cover.
Thank you to Viking Books (Penguin) and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
This is not just Lumie's story. It is also about the journey of 12-year-old Olive as she moves to a new town with her newly discovered half sister Maudie. Readers will not only learn about what it is like to foster a guide dog puppy, but also the heartaches and resilience that go along with losing your parents before you are a teenager. About remembering that special father and all the plumbing/life know-how he imparted into his young daughter. Filled with heart and wisdom, this new release will be irresistible with that adorable puppy on the cover.
Thank you to Viking Books (Penguin) and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2022
Have you ever wondered what it takes to raise a guide dog? If you have or are curious, you'll enjoy this story about Olive and her older sister Maudie who are chosen to raise Lumie, a future guide dog. Find out what the year is like for the two sisters as they connect over both Lumie and their recently deceased father.
January 12, 2020
“And it just hits me, how you can build a whole new life with love and broken pieces.” pg. 270, Raising Lumie, Joan Bauer. Olive Hudson’s life and heart are broken, but thanks to a big sister, a boarding house full of quirky residents, and a dog named Lumie, she is going to find a way to Live Large like the wall in their apartment declares to her every day. Readers of this book will be immersed into the world of guide dog training as two years pass in Olive’s journey after losing her father to cancer and moving in with a half-sister she has never known. Great book that made me laugh at Olive’s tendency to make lists and over-analyze everything (two of my own habits) and at Bunster the lop-eared bunny who also lives in the Stay Awhile house. I also got a little moist in the eye area towards the end. This is another winner from author Joan Bauer and is perfect for readers in grades 4-6 who love dogs and sad-happy heart-warmers that manage to gently teach a valuable life lesson that while bad things may happen, there is a way to find joy again. No sexual content, violence, or profanity. No physical descriptions detailed enough to determine race of any of the characters, but if diversity is a factor in book decisions, there are varying economic levels, the visually impaired are key players, and the make up of “family” is not typical. Thanks for the dARC, Edelweiss. I will be adding this one to my orders for both libraries.
July 19, 2020
Lots of tear and joy!
July 16, 2020
It's a truth in elementary school libraries there will never be enough dog books. This one has a ready-made audience.
January 23, 2021
Round up to 4.5 stars.This was a fast and enjoyable read. Admittedly I was a little skeptical going in because most authors who write about guide dogs often get it wrong. But this author clearly did her research.(I really appreciated that she spent time talking with both The Seeing Eye and Guiding Eyes, two great guy dog organizations to learn rather than making a Sumption's and going off of material from the Internet.)I really liked the main character and the relationship she had with her older sister... overall a good read for middle grade readers. I would have enjoyed this at age 12.
September 16, 2024
This book is literally my comfort read.
February 20, 2021
This book was beautiful. Every single page had some words of wisdom and I would put in some quotes if I could, but if I did I would basically be inserting the whole book. The cover was gorgeous and so was the story inside. 150% recommended and thank you Betsey for introducing this amazing novel to me.
December 23, 2021
Joan Bauer sure knows how to write a good story. I really didn't want to read a mushy puppy story, but it sucked me right in. I can see this story really helping some kids going through grief. And I can certainly see it being popular with puppy-loving girls. My only criticism is that I'm not sure it would appeal to most of the boys in my school.
Read
May 8, 2025Dnf
May 21, 2023
2.52
this book went by so slow and was boring for me. it is not a type i would normally read so maybe that's why. i personally think that it had no plot and to me it was saying the same things over and over again.
this book went by so slow and was boring for me. it is not a type i would normally read so maybe that's why. i personally think that it had no plot and to me it was saying the same things over and over again.
May 1, 2024
It was such an inspirational book, and kept me wanting to know what happened to Olive even after the book had ended. I would totally recommend for anyone who likes dogs.
January 7, 2026
Book (2/25) of the books I have in my home. To start with, I have to mention that this book is not mine; one of my cousins left it here when they came over for summer break. I believe this was an assignment for school. Nevertheless, it seemed like an easy read, so I picked it up.
This book had the potential to achieve so much. It had all the right elements to go off of, an emotional setting, but it fell short for many reasons.
To start with, the main character, whose name I already forgot, goes through something horrible as a kid. She becomes an orphan, with her mother dying when she was two and her dad dying when she was eleven, which is where the book starts. Now, this right here is a great premise. There are many ways for a children’s book to become a huge success, both within and outside the age range it’s written for, and one of them is adding emotional depth. Great examples of this are A Monster Calls, The Little Prince, or even The Giving Tree, which all have seemingly simple plots that become complex. This book attempts to do that from the very beginning.
The problem with the development of the story is that as soon as the main character gets her dog, it feels like the entire emotional side of the book is thrown out the window. Suddenly, the whole book becomes about the journey of this little girl training a service dog before the dog completes its exam. This would be fine, and it could have been a good idea to connect the girl’s healing journey to the dog’s development if it had been done right. The issue is that the story completely gets rid of its emotional complexity, as the girl’s life ends up revolving only around raising the dog, with her parents’ deaths being mentioned maybe once or twice throughout the rest of the book.
This made me feel like the author was trying to deal with two different storylines, desperately grasping at straws to connect them, but ultimately failing spectacularly.
At some point near the beginning, the main character gets into a fight with her cousin, who is clearly a character we are meant to dislike because of how little respect they show her. During this fight, the cousin says she’s glad the main character didn’t live with them. In response, we then get an ADULT telling the main character something along the lines of “that girl is more miserable than you’ll ever be,” which felt incredibly wrong and out of place for a grown person to say about a little kid who is very clearly struggling.
In the end, it felt more like I was reading a book about how to raise a service dog than a story about the emotional trauma in this little girl’s life. It almost felt as if all her problems and worries were magically solved by the acquisition of a dog. Even though the title of the book suggests this approach, I was hopeful there would be something deeper hidden within the story. I am completely sure I could search how to take care of a dog on Google and get a page of information, which makes the almost 300 pages this book has feel unnecessary.
This book had the potential to achieve so much. It had all the right elements to go off of, an emotional setting, but it fell short for many reasons.
To start with, the main character, whose name I already forgot, goes through something horrible as a kid. She becomes an orphan, with her mother dying when she was two and her dad dying when she was eleven, which is where the book starts. Now, this right here is a great premise. There are many ways for a children’s book to become a huge success, both within and outside the age range it’s written for, and one of them is adding emotional depth. Great examples of this are A Monster Calls, The Little Prince, or even The Giving Tree, which all have seemingly simple plots that become complex. This book attempts to do that from the very beginning.
The problem with the development of the story is that as soon as the main character gets her dog, it feels like the entire emotional side of the book is thrown out the window. Suddenly, the whole book becomes about the journey of this little girl training a service dog before the dog completes its exam. This would be fine, and it could have been a good idea to connect the girl’s healing journey to the dog’s development if it had been done right. The issue is that the story completely gets rid of its emotional complexity, as the girl’s life ends up revolving only around raising the dog, with her parents’ deaths being mentioned maybe once or twice throughout the rest of the book.
This made me feel like the author was trying to deal with two different storylines, desperately grasping at straws to connect them, but ultimately failing spectacularly.
At some point near the beginning, the main character gets into a fight with her cousin, who is clearly a character we are meant to dislike because of how little respect they show her. During this fight, the cousin says she’s glad the main character didn’t live with them. In response, we then get an ADULT telling the main character something along the lines of “that girl is more miserable than you’ll ever be,” which felt incredibly wrong and out of place for a grown person to say about a little kid who is very clearly struggling.
In the end, it felt more like I was reading a book about how to raise a service dog than a story about the emotional trauma in this little girl’s life. It almost felt as if all her problems and worries were magically solved by the acquisition of a dog. Even though the title of the book suggests this approach, I was hopeful there would be something deeper hidden within the story. I am completely sure I could search how to take care of a dog on Google and get a page of information, which makes the almost 300 pages this book has feel unnecessary.
January 25, 2021
Middle grade realistic fiction. Joan Bauer's books have a special place in my heart, and it was a joy to dive into this one over the weekend. Olive Hudson is going through a lot. Her father just died, and since her mother died when Olive was 2, she is now parent-less. Arrangements are made for her to live with her half-sister Maudie, who she barely knows. On top of that, the girls inherit a bit of debt, so they can't keep the house. They move to the Stay Awhile, a shared housing arrangement where they have their own room but share everything else. Maudie gets a job at an ad design company that has close ties to a seeing eye dog group. Olive immediately falls in love with one of the puppies and convinces Maudie and their housemates that she can raise a guide dog puppy. While Olive needs someone to love, she worries about what will happen when she has to let Lumie go to her future owner. How will she put so much of herself into raising this puppy and then say goodbye?
A heartwarming story about grief, love, and facing life's challenges. I love how the two sisters bond over music and start creating their own guitar songs. I love how Olive finds confidence in learning how to be strong for Lumie. I also loved learning about what goes into being a seeing eye dog-- I found it interesting that they are taught to always use the same spot outside for going to the bathroom, as people with limited vision are still expected to clean up after dogs and have to have an idea where to "look."
A heartwarming story about grief, love, and facing life's challenges. I love how the two sisters bond over music and start creating their own guitar songs. I love how Olive finds confidence in learning how to be strong for Lumie. I also loved learning about what goes into being a seeing eye dog-- I found it interesting that they are taught to always use the same spot outside for going to the bathroom, as people with limited vision are still expected to clean up after dogs and have to have an idea where to "look."
April 1, 2022
This is an uplifting book despite the fact it is about an orphan named Olive, a sixth-grader, who has to go and live with her step-sister after her father dies. She has deep grief to deal with and she also has to move away from her school. Her sister, Maddie, is a young adult who is a great example of someone who has been able to survive despite a difficult childhood. Because she wants to save money, Maddie moves Olive and herself into a house share. They share a large house with several adults and these people become a found family.
Maddie also had a new graphic artist job which has a boss who loves dogs. In fact, he is involved in a program to help raise puppies to be seeing-eye dogs. He invites Olive to come to work with Maddie and she meets the puppies and learns all about puppy raisers. She also meets 8th grader, Jordon who is a puppy raiser. He has an eye disease and may find himself blind in the future.
Olive gets the chance to be a puppy raiser and the reader gets to follow the journey of raising a puppy to the point where the dog can go to school to be a seeing-eye dog. This is a dream job for Olive because she has wanted a dog for a long time. She is determined to be very successful. Of course, it isn't always so perfect.
I loved all of the characters and who couldn't resist the puppy called Lumie. The cover of the book shows how stinkingly cute this puppy is. Animal lovers will adore this book. It is a quick read and packs a lot of story into a short book. I loved it and will be promoting this book to all animal lovers.
Maddie also had a new graphic artist job which has a boss who loves dogs. In fact, he is involved in a program to help raise puppies to be seeing-eye dogs. He invites Olive to come to work with Maddie and she meets the puppies and learns all about puppy raisers. She also meets 8th grader, Jordon who is a puppy raiser. He has an eye disease and may find himself blind in the future.
Olive gets the chance to be a puppy raiser and the reader gets to follow the journey of raising a puppy to the point where the dog can go to school to be a seeing-eye dog. This is a dream job for Olive because she has wanted a dog for a long time. She is determined to be very successful. Of course, it isn't always so perfect.
I loved all of the characters and who couldn't resist the puppy called Lumie. The cover of the book shows how stinkingly cute this puppy is. Animal lovers will adore this book. It is a quick read and packs a lot of story into a short book. I loved it and will be promoting this book to all animal lovers.
August 19, 2024
Warning: dog attack in this book. I think that’s why I only gave it three stars. It’s still too recent in my mind🤣🤣🫣
My god, that was traumatic. I get why it happened and when and what happened after, but dang. Listening to a dog attack being described out of nowhere is jarring! But the rest of the audiobook was great 😜👍
So a great book for animal lovers, IF they can get through those few pages around the dog attack. Not for everyone, so know your audience!
Lovely story about the sisters, very honest and open, and I really enjoyed the community they found at the Stay Awhile. The half sisters, don’t know each other, my mom told me our dad was shite, but I truly enjoyed her older sister and she is an amazing person. Great role model who listened immediately, always (stupid Roger and stupid Gina 👎) and put her sister first because she understood the assignment. Yay Maude! Also, olive kinda made me wish I was a plumber. Love it.
All around great realistic fiction for animal lovers who could probably withstand a described dog attack but don’t worry it’s a book for kids so it all ends up ok (except it’s like Disney and both of her parents are dead😩 - but that was how it started out so eh, we’re good 🤷♀️👍)
My god, that was traumatic. I get why it happened and when and what happened after, but dang. Listening to a dog attack being described out of nowhere is jarring! But the rest of the audiobook was great 😜👍
So a great book for animal lovers, IF they can get through those few pages around the dog attack. Not for everyone, so know your audience!
Lovely story about the sisters, very honest and open, and I really enjoyed the community they found at the Stay Awhile. The half sisters, don’t know each other, my mom told me our dad was shite, but I truly enjoyed her older sister and she is an amazing person. Great role model who listened immediately, always (stupid Roger and stupid Gina 👎) and put her sister first because she understood the assignment. Yay Maude! Also, olive kinda made me wish I was a plumber. Love it.
All around great realistic fiction for animal lovers who could probably withstand a described dog attack but don’t worry it’s a book for kids so it all ends up ok (except it’s like Disney and both of her parents are dead😩 - but that was how it started out so eh, we’re good 🤷♀️👍)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2022
“I wonder why puppies aren’t being sent to places where people are angry and don’t know how to talk to each other.”
Olive is having a difficult time. Her father has died and she is now living with a sister, Maudie, that she never really knew. To make matters worse, Olive has to move away from her home when Maudie gets a new job. They end up at the Stay Awhile, a kind of boarding house. How will Olive ever deal with all of this upheaval.
Then one day, Maudie’s boss, Brian, invites Olive in to see some puppies. Brian is connected with the Northeast Guide Dog Center, a place where dogs are trained to become guide dogs for the blind. When Olive sees Lumie, it is love at first sight. And when Lumie’s volunteer raiser can no longer do the job, Olive is asked to fill in. She jumps at the chance and takes the responsibility very seriously. And as Olive begins to focus on Lumie, some of her own problems seem to be taken care of, too. There are times when Olive is sure that Brian is going to take Lumie back because Olive has messed up, but Olive perseveres through the difficulties. The hardest test, though, will be when Olive has to give Lumie up.
My students are going to fall in love with this one. 😁
Olive is having a difficult time. Her father has died and she is now living with a sister, Maudie, that she never really knew. To make matters worse, Olive has to move away from her home when Maudie gets a new job. They end up at the Stay Awhile, a kind of boarding house. How will Olive ever deal with all of this upheaval.
Then one day, Maudie’s boss, Brian, invites Olive in to see some puppies. Brian is connected with the Northeast Guide Dog Center, a place where dogs are trained to become guide dogs for the blind. When Olive sees Lumie, it is love at first sight. And when Lumie’s volunteer raiser can no longer do the job, Olive is asked to fill in. She jumps at the chance and takes the responsibility very seriously. And as Olive begins to focus on Lumie, some of her own problems seem to be taken care of, too. There are times when Olive is sure that Brian is going to take Lumie back because Olive has messed up, but Olive perseveres through the difficulties. The hardest test, though, will be when Olive has to give Lumie up.
My students are going to fall in love with this one. 😁
September 16, 2020
After 13-year-old Olive Hudson’s wonderful plumber father passes away from cancer she’s taken in by her older half-sister Maudie, who moves them both into a shared house in New Jersey, where she’s starting a new job as a graphic designer. Maudie’s boss is also involved with an organization that raises and trains puppies to be guide dogs for the blind, and he introduces Olive to some of the puppies. Olive is intrigued by the idea of becoming a puppy raiser for the group and after some (not too much) begging, gets Maudie on board with the idea as well. This follows the story of how they care for Lumie the puppy and get her ready to begin her serious guide dog training while they also make new friends and new lives for themselves. A really lovely story that will get you right in the cockles of your heart (whatever those are). Dog/animal lovers will adore this, as will fans of Joan Bauer’s other novels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2021
Look at that little puppy! She is adorable!
12-year-old Olive Hudson loses her Dad at the beginning of this book, Her half-sister, Maudie, who is 16 years older than Olive, becomes Olive's guardian. The two meet at their father's sick bed.
Maudie discovers the debts left behind by their sick father. So the sisters' new living arrangements shrink to two rooms in a boarding home - a friendly boarding home, thank goodness.
There are romantic misadventures (Maudie's) and anxiety attacks (Olive's) and all kinds of adjustments.
Eventually, Olive and Maudie decide to raise a Guide Dog puppy.
I have not read a Joan Bauer book in several years. This book reminded me why I recommended her so often when I worked as a YS librarian. Her characters are believable. There is enough drama to keep the reader's interest. Solutions come in intriguing ways. Most of the characters are NICE - without being sappy.
Lovely book! Plus PUPPIES!
12-year-old Olive Hudson loses her Dad at the beginning of this book, Her half-sister, Maudie, who is 16 years older than Olive, becomes Olive's guardian. The two meet at their father's sick bed.
Maudie discovers the debts left behind by their sick father. So the sisters' new living arrangements shrink to two rooms in a boarding home - a friendly boarding home, thank goodness.
There are romantic misadventures (Maudie's) and anxiety attacks (Olive's) and all kinds of adjustments.
Eventually, Olive and Maudie decide to raise a Guide Dog puppy.
I have not read a Joan Bauer book in several years. This book reminded me why I recommended her so often when I worked as a YS librarian. Her characters are believable. There is enough drama to keep the reader's interest. Solutions come in intriguing ways. Most of the characters are NICE - without being sappy.
Lovely book! Plus PUPPIES!
February 12, 2022
First sentence: It's all about warmth right now. Warmth. Wiggling. And eating. There are seven of them in this L litter.
Premise/plot: Olive Hudson is having a rough time of it. Her dad has died. (Her mom died a LONG time ago). She's moving in with a much older half-sister whom she's just met. Not just moving in, but moving to a new city. She really, really, really, really, really wants a dog. But since they are living in a house share, it doesn't seem like it's the right time. But yet it may just be the right time to say yes to raising Lumie. Lumie--if she graduates--will be a guide dog.
My thoughts: There is a DOG ON THE COVER, I repeat a dog on the cover. There are some intense moments of this one. A few pages--if not a few chapters--where Lumie is in danger. So if you are the nervous/anxious sort you may want to know ahead of time.
I liked this one. I did. I am definitely glad I read it. (My sister recommended it.)
Premise/plot: Olive Hudson is having a rough time of it. Her dad has died. (Her mom died a LONG time ago). She's moving in with a much older half-sister whom she's just met. Not just moving in, but moving to a new city. She really, really, really, really, really wants a dog. But since they are living in a house share, it doesn't seem like it's the right time. But yet it may just be the right time to say yes to raising Lumie. Lumie--if she graduates--will be a guide dog.
My thoughts: There is a DOG ON THE COVER, I repeat a dog on the cover. There are some intense moments of this one. A few pages--if not a few chapters--where Lumie is in danger. So if you are the nervous/anxious sort you may want to know ahead of time.
I liked this one. I did. I am definitely glad I read it. (My sister recommended it.)
October 27, 2023
I did not think I'd love this book, but I did. I wanted to keep reading and I did get emotional by the end. Olive Hudson is a 12-year-old girl (although she seems to act younger at times) who lost her mom when she was a toddler and just lost her father. Her 28-year-old sister takes her in, but they have to move so that her sister can work at a full time job with benefits. They end up living in the Stay Awhile house with an interesting cast of characters.
Olive wants a dog and it doesn't seem possible until she is given the opportunity to raise a dog that will be used as a seeing eye dog. It was interesting to see how the dogs are trained and also see the process through the eyes of a middle school child.
I think this is great for upper elementary/middle school students. It's a sweet story with a lot of uplifting messages.
Olive wants a dog and it doesn't seem possible until she is given the opportunity to raise a dog that will be used as a seeing eye dog. It was interesting to see how the dogs are trained and also see the process through the eyes of a middle school child.
I think this is great for upper elementary/middle school students. It's a sweet story with a lot of uplifting messages.
October 28, 2022
I’m baffled by the reviews that don’t like this book. I read this book with my son as it was on a reading list for school and we both loved it. Warning though, I cried buckets of tears. This book is about a middle school girl and a newly assembled family as she walks the road of grief while volunteering to raise a guide dog puppy. I know grief well, and the author did such a great job of showing what grief looked like, how difficult it can be, and how it changes you and can make you stronger as you walk it’s road. There are so many great words of wisdom for your tweens to teenagers; and interesting information about raise guide dog puppies. Would definitely read this again (with tissues handy the next time).
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November 15, 2025My daughter read a book by Joan Bauer and loved it. So, I decided to read this one and I’m so glad it did! This is the story of a 12 year old girl processing through grief in the first year of losing her dad.
A lot of changes, emotions and growth take place alongside her year of training a leader dog. Moving, starting a new school and living with her sister, her growth and resilience is written beautifully alongside the growth of the service dog, providing a quiet and nuanced journey of grief and healing.
This would be a good recommendation for a girl around 10-15 who is dealing with the loss of a loved one or a major life transition. Very clean and deals with sensitive subject matter in a healthy and respectful way.
March 15, 2020
Olive Hudson is an emotionally intelligent 12 yo who has suffered a great deal of loss in her short life. An orphan, she moves to a new town with her older half sister Maudie to start a new life. There she is introduced to a program that raises dogs for the blind. She is lucky enough to be given a puppy named Lumie to raise. There is a lot of good info about raising a guide dog puppy but I found the number of difficult situations that Olive faces to be over the top. I am not the target audience, so perhaps 8-12 yos will appreciate Olive’s positive attitude and grit in spite of her sad situation. Thank you PRH for the ARC.
June 8, 2021
As a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind, I was reminded by reading this the idea that kids need mirrors to see themselves in books. That was my experience with this book. While our stories are very different, and for some of the plot I had to completely suspend reality because it wouldn't happen in my experience, I absolutely loved Olive and Lumie's story. Bonus: A dog book where the dog doesn't die! Yes, giving up a dog is really difficult, but I thought the story does such a great job of addressing what it is like to raise a dog to be a service dog. I also appreciated the human characters in the story and the complexity of their relationships. Highly recommend! #LitReviewCrew
April 21, 2022
Guide dogs, grief, anxiety, sister relationships, doing the right thing.
Olive just lost her dad to cancer, so when she gets a chance to raise a guide dog puppy named Lumie, she knows this is just the thing to pull her out of her grief. But raising a guide dog isn't like owning your own dog. You have to be confident, focused, and very disciplined. Worst of all, you have to give them up at the end of the year. Olive knows she is strong enough, but a tragic accident might prove to be too much for her and Lumie.
This wasn't my favorite dog story, but it did give an interesting peek into the world of guide dog raisers. I'd recommend to fans of Bruce Cameron.
Olive just lost her dad to cancer, so when she gets a chance to raise a guide dog puppy named Lumie, she knows this is just the thing to pull her out of her grief. But raising a guide dog isn't like owning your own dog. You have to be confident, focused, and very disciplined. Worst of all, you have to give them up at the end of the year. Olive knows she is strong enough, but a tragic accident might prove to be too much for her and Lumie.
This wasn't my favorite dog story, but it did give an interesting peek into the world of guide dog raisers. I'd recommend to fans of Bruce Cameron.
August 22, 2023
Sweet book about an orphaned girl starting over with a half-sister she hardly knows. She's got to make a lot of adjustments and if only she had a dog, she'd be all right. But a dog isn't in the cards until Olive gets the opportunity to raise a puppy for a guide dog school.
The year of raising Lumie gives Olive self confidence and helps her adjust to all the newness and loss in her life. But if she does a good job and Lumie becomes a guide dog, it will mean Olive is left alone again.
Not the most realistic book - for example, who would give an 11 year-old a guide dog puppy to raise without training or vetting - but it was enjoyable and the intended audience wouldn't mind.
The year of raising Lumie gives Olive self confidence and helps her adjust to all the newness and loss in her life. But if she does a good job and Lumie becomes a guide dog, it will mean Olive is left alone again.
Not the most realistic book - for example, who would give an 11 year-old a guide dog puppy to raise without training or vetting - but it was enjoyable and the intended audience wouldn't mind.
May 11, 2020
I absolutely loved this new story from Joan Bauer. It's about two sisters--one of whom is in her twenties--who raise a seeing eye dog. There's something so special about the way that the author describes the two girls and the dog, Lumie. I can't wait to read the book to my 7-year-old, who loved listening to me read BECAUSE OF WINN DIXIE aloud. This is a must-read for grade school age kids and their parents.
June 16, 2022
What a sweet book. I think my students will really enjoy it. Bauer writes with such heart. The characters are so believable that I feel I know most of them. Stay Awhile was a terrific back drop to set the sisters new life after the death of their father. I especially enjoyed Bunster the lop eared energetic house rabbit. I am a crazy bunny lady. Joan Bauer just never fails. All her books I have read have been solid. I am a fan!
September 18, 2022
Guys I only cried once! So that's as much of a spoiler as I'll give, but prepare yourselves... there were a few other times I came close though!!
Raising Lumie was a wonderfully written novel for middle grade fiction. The story elements fit together beautifully, and it felt like you were another sibling right in the Stay Awhile with Maudie and Olive!
I enjoyed reading this with my 11 year old at bedtime each night, and can definitely see why it is a Mark Twain nominee!
Raising Lumie was a wonderfully written novel for middle grade fiction. The story elements fit together beautifully, and it felt like you were another sibling right in the Stay Awhile with Maudie and Olive!
I enjoyed reading this with my 11 year old at bedtime each night, and can definitely see why it is a Mark Twain nominee!
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