Review of Molly's Pal

[Erin Dydek]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Molly's Pal" by Ellie Tomlinson.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Molly Hobart is eager to start summer vacation after finishing her third-grade year in 1941. The nine-year-old girl longs for a friend to explore the beaches of Marble Harbor with, but she never expects that friend to be the furry puppy that wiggles his way into her life. But even when her parents let her keep the dog, the responsibility may be more than Molly is prepared to handle. A new neighbor's complaints about the dog escalate as the rising tension of World War II creates unrest in the quiet harbor community. When the neighbor insists that Pal must be gotten rid of, the military's Dogs for Defense program may be the only option for the innocent pup, but how will Molly survive the rest of the war without her best friend?

Molly's Pal is a delightful children's historical fiction novel by Ellie Tomlinson. I loved Tomlinson's dedication to creating an educational story about a young girl growing up during World War II that was engaging and full of life lessons. I was impressed with the responsibilities that Molly came to accept and her determination to grow and adapt throughout the story. I enjoyed learning about period-specific chores and life changes that came about due to families' efforts during rationing and preparations for air raids. It was interesting to learn about raising chickens, growing victory gardens, and other new chores through the eyes of a young girl adapting to those changes.

Tomlinson planned out a perfect story in which the reader quickly becomes attached to Molly and Pal's friendship. As the tension with the grouchy neighbor grew, it was hard to put this short chapter book down. I appreciated how the author brought out the emotions of each incident with easy-to-follow dialogue and smooth writing that should make young readers as indignant as I was about the unfairness of Pal's situation. I was surprised to learn that this tale was based on a true story and further appreciated how the author stayed true to the story's heart while keeping the ending upbeat and satisfactory for young audiences.

I further adored the illustrations at the start of each chapter in this book. Readers aged 8-10 years will love this heart-warming and charmingly-illustrated tale. There was nothing that I disliked about this book. While I noticed a few minor errors, there were not enough to remove a star from my rating. Therefore, I gladly give Molly's Pal four out of four stars.

I would highly recommend this book to young readers who love dog stories. I would also recommend Molly's Pal to middle-grade teachers looking for historical fiction chapter books for their classroom libraries. The story is clean and educational, making it a great learning tool and a fantastic adventure about growing up and accepting change.

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Molly's Pal
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[QualityAndQuantity]

The story seems very wholesome to me. Molly's only friend, who's a puppy, has to go to the military leaving Molly in the midst of the war. I think I'll read it to my little brother and myself. Wonderful review.

[Mbenma Esther 080]

I believe that children should be taught about history because it makes them conversant a little about what is happening around them. Thanks for the review.

[Aisha Yakub]

I like that this children's read was set in historical times; this should be a fun way of learning. Great review.

[Walter R]

I've always loved the simplicity of Children's books. Great review.

[Ronnie Comendador 1]

I would love to read a dog stories like this and i think many kids also love to read it..great review..

[Sarah Sonbol]

A historical novel directed to children is a great idea. Children would love learning history this way. Thanks for the nice review.