Storm Dog

by L.M. Elliott

A story of the American South, the love of a dog, and the power of music.

Whip-smart Ariel doesn’t fit in. Only in the winds of the Blue Ridge Mountains and spring storms that mirror the unhappiness she feels at home.

Her brother understands her, but he’s in Afghanistan. Her father hasn't been the same since George deployed. Her mother focuses on Ariel’s gorgeous sister. When Gloria is selected to be an Apple Blossom Parade princess, Ariel feels even more the outsider and takes to the hills.

There, during a raging storm, Ariel finds a lost dog who leads her to the safety of a cabin and Sergeant Josie, a former Army K-9 handler. Together—with music, dog-dancing, and a storm-child-crazy plan—the three outcasts find themselves.

Genres: Middle Grade, Dogs, Fiction, Childrens, Young Adult, Juvenile, Realistic Fiction

Audible Audio

First published August 18, 2020

About the author

L. M. Elliott was an award-winning magazine journalist for 20 years before becoming a New York Times bestselling author of historical and biographical novels. Three-time finalist for the National Magazine Award and winner of multiple Dateline Awards, Elliott focused primarily on women's issues. Her groundbreaking profile of a domestic violence survivor, wife of a high-level federal government appointee, was one of the first to discuss "white-collar" violence against women and the psychological/emotional control intrinsic to the abuse. Elliott’s extensive reporting experience on such topics informed and enriched the themes and characters of TRUTH, LIES, AND THE QUESTIONS IN BETWEEN. It is her third docudrama-novel exploring a fraught political era and the dangers of disinformation, unchecked power, hate-rhetoric, and censorship.

Her 14 novels cover a variety of era--–the Cold War, WWII, the Great Depression, American Revolution, and the Italian Renaissance–--and are for a variety of readerships, ages middle grade to adult. Her works have been honored with the Scott O'Dell, VLA Cardinal Cup, and Grateful American prizes for historical fiction; been named NCSS/CBC Notables, Bank Street College of Education Bests, Kirkus Bests, Capitol Choices, and to the TXLA Tayshas HS Reading Lists; as well as named finalists for state awards in VA, MD, PA, UT, ME, VT, KS, IA, and SC.

She holds a BA from Wake Forest University and a MA in journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Reviews

[Jessica Partlow]

I am glad I read this aloud to my 7 and 9 year old daughters instead of letting them read solo. How is this rated juvenile fiction and not young adult? So many instances of foul language (badass, jackasses, written s**thole, damn), slurs (calling a Puerto Rican “taco-head” or people trailer trash), political statements where you don’t even have to guess what the author feels about the war in Afghanistan, presidents she doesn’t agree with regarding illegal immigrant policies, and such unkindness between the mother and daughter. At one point she’s calling her a disgrace in front of a crowd and asking an office to arrest her because she prefers her pretty daughter over her less-pretty daughter. Not to mention all the times she says she’s either going to h-e-double hockey sticks or that it’s about to break out.

There could have been so much less of all that and still been a good book about a girl who begins to believe in herself by helping a hurting animal recover through music and dance. But, it just became unpleasant to read. I’m a very experienced read-aloud parent, and I was left stammering and rewording sentences to make it appropriate.

[Patti Sabik]

I'm not sure if I would have read this book on my own if it had not been for a colleague of mine handing it to me and strongly recommending I put it at the top of my TBR pile. A disgruntled sister...been there; cover...meh; dancing dogs...no thanks! I ended up really liking everything about this book - even the cover made so much more sense and I appreciate the illustrator's subtly immensely now.
Living in the shadow of a beautiful and/or talented sibling can be more than challenging and this story delves into the complexities of dealing with being in the shadows of a star. I've read reviews dismissing the protagonist as obnoxious and irritating, I honestly applaud her ability to rise above the abuse and neglect from her parents and sister. As a middle school teacher, I've seen this situation boil over from resentment to pretty serious issues in high school so I think finding a voice is important. And, in this book, it did get her father to notice her. All-in-all this is an often overlooked issue that was honestly, realistically, and (with regards to dancing dogs) uniquely addressed.

[Ginni]

Ariel is Not Like the Other Girls. She has music in her soul, she reads grown-up books, and no one compliments her on her looks like they do her obnoxious older sister and mother. The only person who really seems to get her is her brother George, who's currently deployed in Afghanistan. Improbably, she happens to run into a traumatized ex-military dog and an unrelated traumatized ex-military sergeant, both of whom become her fast friends and give her a chance to shine by...stealthily entering the town parade with a float of dancing dogs?

I can already hear people saying I'm being too hard on Storm Dog. It's a kids' book! Kids won't care! But I was a kid, and I cared. Heck, Ariel rattles off entire lists of books written for young people that are among the finest literature of all time (and also Divergent). So I expected more. Storm Dog tries too hard and falls flat. Everything is too on-the-nose, too forced, weirdly political, and one-dimensional.

(I received this book for free through a Goodreads giveaway.)

[Jacqueline]

Beautiful story! I immediately connected with Ariel, a young girl who feels neglected by her family, living in the shadow of an older sister. I loved the way current events, such as the war in Afghanistan and discrimination against immigrants were woven into the story. I also enjoyed learning more about Military Working Dogs and shelter dogs. Storm Dog is an engrossing story of a young girl coming of age in a small town and learning what she wants in life.

Favorite quote: p.223 "Now that I've imagined and created my own melody, people not understanding me or mistakenly labeling me just doesn't hurt as much. I know who I am."

[Cyndi]

I enjoyed this book and it was a wonderful story line with lessons to be learned. I only gave it 3 stars as the author injected her own political opinion which I felt took something away from the story.

[Margie]

Dog dancing in a parade Will this help Ariel to get back at her family who totally ignore her. Her beloved brother is serving overseas and she has no one till she meets a stray dog and a army vet. How will this all come together in the end. Enjoyable book.

[Megan]

A funny and moving coming-of-age story with a terrific and diverse cast of characters. Ariel, the main character, will resonate with any girl who has struggled to "fit in."

[Jessie]

I was incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to read an ARC of STORM DOG, and I was gripped by Ariel’s story from the beginning. Ariel’s story is one I believe will resonate with anyone, and especially any reader who has ever felt like they didn’t fit in somewhere. Ariel isn’t like her mother or sister, and feels a distance from her father that made my heart ache. Her brother, who is the only family member to fully understand and accept her as she is, is fighting in the war in Afghanistan. The music her brother introduced her to and books sustain Ariel through the loneliness and isolation she feels in the wake of her brother’s absence. It’s when a dog finds her in a storm and leads her to a cabin in the woods where Sergeant Josie is staying that Ariel begins her journey of finding herself... A journey that will eventually include dog dancing (which you do not want to miss!). I don’t want to give away any plot points so you can go on Ariel’s journey with her like I did, but I do want to say how much this book impacted me. It made me laugh at times, and at others I couldn’t help but cry. I was so invested in Ariel’s story that the world around me faded away and I was entirely in her world, in her shoes. From the way her voice is written, to the descriptions of the Virginia landscape around her, you’ll find yourself completely drawn into Ariel’s world, too. Ariel’s journey to find her own path and embrace her creativity is an emotional road for both her and the reader. You can’t help but root for her. You need to set aside some time to join Ariel on her journey of finding herself and defining herself on her own terms—not those set by everyone around her.

[Melanie Dulaney]

Great story about a smart, tall, not particularly pretty tween who doesn’t fit in at home or at school. Ariel and her brother are two peas in a pod, despite a large age difference, but George is fighting in Afghanistan. Ariel is certain that her dad loves her, but he’s over-shadowed by his beautiful, strong-willed wife and high school daughter who both put her down constantly so he tends to bury himself in a newspaper rather than support his younger child. Ariel is determined to find her place and with the help of a war veteran suffering from PTSD, her sister’s ex-boyfriend, and a stray dog who dances, she just might do it. Author L.M. Elliott ends this uplifting and entertaining novel with great information about Military Working Dogs, music, and those serving in the U.S. military and keeps her book free of violence and sexual content. There is a bit of almost profanity such as the phrase “H-E double toothpicks” and similar, but it is not likely going to be offensive to many students in the target age group of grades 4-7 or their parents. Thanks for the dARC, Edelweiss.

[Bethe]

10 day #bookaday summer reading sprint: 5th dog book
Ariel is a nerdy loner at school, big sister is beauty queen loved by mom who is second wife from trailer trash side of town, dad is older, a public defender, from old money
She loves George, her older half brother who is in the army in Afghanistan. She chases a lose German shepherd dog in storm on hike and comes upon sergeant Josie who was dog handler in army and has ptsd and lost her dog in war doesn’t want another dog but wants to show her how to train the dog to help dog overcome his possible ptsd, perhaps from being in the military. Ariel finds dog dancing videos and wants to help the dog by learning how to dance.
Ode to reading, classics and contemporary, ode to music, dog training, community. Great ending.

[Summer Reading]

3.5
I loved the writing in this book. The descriptions of nature and the figurative language were superb. I appreciated the PTSD and military representation. I loved all the references to books and music. Ariel's unhappy relations with her family were heartbreaking. The dogs were great, though oddly well-behaved, when the plot needed them to be. Emma, George, and Marcus were delightful side characters, and I loved Sergeant Josie.

Unfortunately, with all that going for it, the plot dragged somewhat until the parade, and then it was action after action in almost unbelievably quick succession. I also wish Marcus had more page time. For having such a strong impact on our protagonist, he's not in the book very long.

[May]

This is a wonderful middle grade novel about a girl figuring out who she is in her own right, and about the people (and dogs!) of her Shenandoah town. L.M. Elliott is known for her historical fiction, and this contemporary story benefits from those strengths - a real sense of a place and of time, and an effortless way of threading together different stories and characters. I definitely recognized my younger self in this story - the audacity and the vulnerability of Ariel are what really brought this book home for me.

[Peter]

An absolutely fantastic novel by L.M. Elliott. I've always been an enormous fan of her work, and this one was yet another home run! Featuring a quirky, altogether Southern, and beautifully lyrical voice, Elliott's prose, dialogue, and characters really sing in this coming-of-age tale. The tone of the book utterly transported me into the delightfully off-center world of dog-dancing, self-discovery, and rural Virginia. Highly recommend!

[Karen Troutman]

I know L.M.Elliot from her historical fiction novels. I read this on the recommendation of a friend.
I think it will speak to young middle-grade readers who feel left out or abused. The companionship of her "dancing" dog was a touching point for me.
It wasn't my favorite novel but may talk to outspoken young girls trying to find their voice.
The mother and sister were abusive. I'm glad her father paid attention to her at the end.

4 star

[Michael Beyer]

This is a lovely coming-of-age story about a girl with stormy behavior who, on a stormy night, finds a dog with stormy behavior and a female Afghanistan veteran with PTSD who may have a clue to where the dog's behavior came from. What follows is a story about an imperiously princess-y sister, dancing dogs in a parade, a dog pound jailbreak, and learning the truth about yourself when you need to be brave, creative, and forgiving. A superior tale that I strongly recommend.

[LS Johnson]

Actually a 4.5 star book. The ending fell short for me. After developing such great characters and giving the relationships so much depth, it felt very rushed at the end. But I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will be recommending it.

[Lindsey]

Great new middle grade!!

[Gemma]

A sweet kids book about dogs, dancing and being a bit of a misfit.

[Jean-Marie]

I thought a couple of the political references and quips were unnecessary but otherwise, I loved this book. Another completely engrossing, wonderful story by L.M. Elliott.

[Madelyn]

What a sweet story. I'm a sucker for dogs and veterans. Ariel's mother and sister are straight out of Cinderella with their evil.

[Molly]

Rounded up to 3.5. A good story about a young girl working on finding her place.

[Dominike]

DNF @ like Chapter 3?

Idk, it’s been years and I’m finally getting it off my shelves.

[Joye]

Super quick easy read. Kinda cute if you are dog lover. Simple subject good for a day’s read.

[Big]

Wow! There is so much packed into this book it’s difficult to know where to start. Although a bit too coincidental overall, I still found myself drawn to and interested in the main characters. Ariel’s voice is strong and Ms. Elliott’s writing poetic. I’m hopeful the future will bring a stronger, more straightforward storyline that has depth. This one was entertaining yet felt like it was written to appeal to gifted and talented students. A fight where racial slurs were used as well as some unresolved family angst muddied a complicated story.

[Río]

I wanted to like this book. child + dog stories can be great! unfortunately, this one is not. I can forgive rough writing, but there were so many false assumptions and foolish decisions that I ended up having to force myself to finish it

I was originally going to give it two stars, but then I wrote 500 words on my original review draft (with nine specific areas this story needed work) and realized I had to drop it down to one

perhaps later I will find the energy to sort through all of those words and give a more detailed review, but for now, know this:
- the time setting of this book is kind of an uncanny valley, like someone wanted to write about their childhood in the 80s but decided to set it in the 2010's to be "relatable"
- a book is not innately more interesting just because a kid breaks a law, especially when they did not even need to break the law in the first place (why didn't she just work with the shelter to train the dogs there?)
- the core premise is literally smart sister vs. pretty sister which I thought we had moved beyond. literally at one point the main character has to tell herself to not assume all pretty people are mean&dumb
- the main character did not evolve and mature because of the story, rather she "matured" and the story followed along

ok, apparently my irritation with this book is enough that I will *make* time for the review now (though not enough to refine it, so be prepared for some ranting)
so, still in no particular order, here are other things I disliked and questions I had about this book:
- you know the add age "Show, don't tell"? well, this author doesn't. rather than explaining what the character is feeling, we get a more meta description of the "real" underlying cause of said emotions
- the author gets distracted by things that show up, taking time to comment on things around them. this is ok in theory, but these side comments (e.g. discussing National Geographic magazines) took up so much time that the main plot almost becomes secondary
- why in god's name would a child meet a dog that clearly has PTSD and think that training it to do complex obedience in a loud, busy parade setting would be a good idea?
- why did she steal only the girl dogs? are boy dogs not good enough for riding in a float? gendering people can be unnecessary, doing it to dogs is downright ridiculous
- speaking of the dogs, it is absurd they they were all so perfectly behaved in every single situation ..until the one scene there the main character had space to work with them, then they became a little rowdy

I do not tend to just bash on books for fun, but this one has too many sloppy elements. If it was like an early-reader or maybe even a picture book I could maybe allow some of the over-simplified, nonsense plots, but this is supposed to be a full chapter book. readers at this level deserve better writing than this

overall, not a terrible core idea (girl finds dog, sets goal, overcomes insecurities) but poor means if executing. it should have been revised and refined. children do silly things, yes. they use logic different from that of adults, but that does not mean that a) anything goes and b) there should be no consequences

I have to go, but I will try to edit this review later for clarity and whatnot. in the meantime, save yourself the hassle and read a different book

[Jessie]

I was incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to read an ARC of STORM DOG, and I was gripped by Ariel’s story from the beginning. Ariel’s story is one I believe will resonate with anyone, and especially any reader who has ever felt like they didn’t fit in somewhere. Ariel isn’t like her mother or sister, and feels a distance from her father that made my heart ache. Her brother, who is the only family member to fully understand and accept her as she is, is fighting in the war in Afghanistan. The music her brother introduced her to and books sustain Ariel through the loneliness and isolation she feels in the wake of her brother’s absence. It’s when a dog finds her in a storm and leads her to a cabin in the woods where Sergeant Josie is staying that Ariel begins her journey of finding herself... A journey that will eventually include dog dancing (which you do not want to miss!). I don’t want to give away any plot points so you can go on Ariel’s journey with her like I did, but I do want to say how much this book impacted me. It made me laugh at times, and at others I couldn’t help but cry. I was so invested in Ariel’s story that the world around me faded away and I was entirely in her world, in her shoes. From the way her voice is written, to the descriptions of the Virginia landscape around her, you’ll find yourself completely drawn into Ariel’s world, too. Ariel’s journey to find her own path and embrace her creativity is an emotional road for both her and the reader. You can’t help but root for her. You need to set aside some time to join Ariel on her journey of finding herself and defining herself on her own terms—not those set by everyone around her.