Dianne Wolfer (text) and Tony Flowers (illustrator), Scout and The Rescue Dogs, Walker Books, June 2023, 224 pp., RRP $17.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760655860
Set against the backdrop of the bushfires of 2019-2020, Dianne Wolfer has created a riveting but warm-hearted story of one girl’s journey with her dad in his big rig, as they find their place in the world after the loss of her mum.
The story begins as Scout counts down the last day of the year at her boarding school. Her mission these holidays is to convince her dad to let her leave the school, so she can return to her old school. But this summer has other things in store. Before Scout’s mum died, she was promised a dog, and as a way of making up for that, her dad has volunteered to deliver donated dog food to animal shelters on the long road home. As they make their deliveries, Scout meets lots of dogs and their carers and comes up with ingenious ideas to help the abandoned pooches find new homes, including a very special dog called Molly.
At the same time, her teacher’s holiday assignment to write to specific classmates, leads to Scout making her first real boarding school friend. But as the bushfire worsens, Scout and her dad need to evacuate but the road to safety is blocked and they find themselves in terrible danger. This wonderful CBCA shortlisted book is a story of courage, kindness and the power of community to come together in a time of crisis.
Highly recommended.
Reviewed by Deborah Abela
