Review of Stella by McCall Hoyle

 

Read for: Requested Review/ Netgalley/ Middle Grade March

Synopsis: "Even dogs deserve a second chance.

Ever since she was a puppy, Stella was trained to use her powerful beagle nose to sniff out dangerous chemicals and help her handler keep people safe. But during a routine security inspection, Stella misses the scent of an explosive. The sound of the blast is loud and scary. Unable to go back to work because of her anxiety, Stella is retired as a working dog.

When a young girl named Cloe wants to adopt Stella, the beagle knows this is her last chance to prove her worth. But how? When Stella smells a strange chemical inside Cloe’s body, a scent that surges just before the girl has a seizure, Stella’s nose makes the connection. But how can Stella warn her new family without them thinking she’s having an anxiety attack? How can she convince others that she can be a new kind of service dog and hopefully save Cloe’s life?

Told from Stella’s perspective, this story is about a special dog who must find the courage to overcome her fears in order to help save a young girl with epilepsy."

My Review:  Being an animal lover and a rescue dog lover, I could not resist this book. This was a much more emotional journey I ever expected, especially being told from Stella, the dog's, point of view. Poor Stella goes through quite a bit in her little life, but she never looses that love of people and that wanting to be a good dog. I also love the way Hoyle was able to bring in a bit of diversity with a character with epilepsy into the story, some young readers will really be able to connect with her. We also get a bit of a connection with mental health issues through Stella herself, another wonderful way to connect to readers in a different way. This was really a beautiful story and I hope so many other readers will give it a chance and pick it up, young and old alike.

My Rating: I really enjoyed this book and can't recommend it enough, it hits you with all the feelings and gives such hope.  I give it a rating of Four Paws!

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley, the above is my honest review and opinion.

You can find out more about McCall Hoyle and their books on their Goodreads Page or Website.

Stella was released in March so you can obtain your own copy now in print or digital format from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or request it at your local bookstore or library.