Official Review: Diary Of A Displaced Dog by Lee Sherrill

Post by **bookowlie** » 01 Sep 2016, 14:02

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Diary Of A Displaced Dog" by Lee Sherrill.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Diary of a Displaced Dog: Millie's Story by Lee Sherrill is a Young Adult book about a rescue dog’s experiences while living with different owners. It is the first installment in a series about abused or neglected animals. Based on a true story, it is written from the dog’s perspective. When writing this book, the author speculated what his own dog’s life may have been like before he adopted her.

A young boy and his mother adopt a rescue puppy, Millie, and provide her with a happy home, for the most part. All goes well until the family loses their home and has to give Millie away to a man who has less than honorable intentions. Locked in a dog pen with several other dogs and not enough food and water, Millie is neglected and struggles to survive. When one of the dogs attacks the abusive owner through the fence, things take a turn for the worse. Will terrified Millie ever be able to find happiness again?

I loved this, at turns, heartwarming and heart-wrenching tale. The book is told as a series of diary entries written by Millie. It is an effective way for the story to unfold since I was easily able to understand the rollercoaster of the dog’s emotions.

The descriptions are vividly and realistically written, as Millie adjusts to a range of new experiences. The Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations are a joyous time for the young dog, even though she doesn’t quite understand why she is being given special food and gifts. On the other hand, the boy’s father is strict and Millie’s fears are conveyed well as he ties her up in the barn overnight after she has a potty accident in the house.

The book also includes several poems written from either Millie or the author’s point of view. As much as I loved the story, these poems were so moving that that I reread all of them after finishing the story. The author has a real talent for capturing the essence of a dog’s feelings.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I went through a whirlwind of emotions while reading and it is a story I won’t soon forget. I recommend this book to dog lovers, particularly those who own rescue dogs or work for animal rescue organizations. The story is categorized in the Young Adult genre. However, please note that there are a few graphic, violent scenes that may not be appropriate for younger teens. If you have ever wondered what rescue dogs might feel about the changes in their lives, read this book.

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Diary Of A Displaced Dog
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gali · Post by **gali** » 02 Sep 2016, 03:11

Sounds like a nice book. Thank you for another great review!

Post by **bookowlie** » 02 Sep 2016, 11:09

Thanks Gali! We adopted our rescue dog when she was 9 months old. She was an owner turn-in, according to the rescue organization. The family had a lot of young kids - I suspect the owners didn't have the patience for a puppy.

Post by **Kourtney Bradley** » 02 Sep 2016, 12:17

I love stories like this! My husband and I adopted a rescue German Shepherd, and he is completely part of the family now.

MsMartha · Post by **MsMartha** » 02 Sep 2016, 15:08

This sounds like a really nice book, and a nice potential series as well. I'm a cat lady who loves dogs, too, and I really appreciate stories that help people understand animals.

Post by **bookowlie** » 02 Sep 2016, 18:19

Thanks MsMartha for the feedback. After the end of the story, there is an excerpt from the next book in the series. I have a feeling it is based on another of the author's three dogs. I think the author also has a cat, so maybe there will be a cat story in a future installment!

TrishaAnn92 · Post by **TrishaAnn92** » 03 Sep 2016, 10:25

Awww, great review bookowlie!

Post by **bookowlie** » 03 Sep 2016, 12:20

Thanks TrishaAnn. It was a very enjoyable read, except for a few depressing parts.

AA1495 · Post by **AA1495** » 12 Oct 2016, 14:12

Oh this book sounds good! I love dogs!! Thank you for the great review!!

Wasif Ahmed · Post by **Wasif Ahmed** » 13 Oct 2016, 04:55

Sounds like a really great book for not just young adults but for all ages. Congratulations to the author for such a fabulous review.

StephThyng · Post by **StephThyng** » 15 Oct 2016, 09:19

This sounds like the type of book that is going to really pull at my heart strings and make me want to go and adopt all the animals at the shelter! I will have to look into this story! Great review!

Post by **bookowlie** » 15 Oct 2016, 09:26

Thanks for the nice feedback. I wish homes could be found for all of the animals in the shelters. They all deserve people who will love and take good care of them.

Dogluvr · Post by **Dogluvr** » 17 Oct 2016, 16:07

Oh my, this sounds like a book like "A Dog's Purpose". It finally came down to the point I had to get the audio version of the book because I couldn't read the book for crying. Seriously, I cried so much it was like I had lost a dear friend. My daughter in law has the book now and I warned her she may not want to read the book but she took it anyway. I was glad they have come out with the movie version but I'm almost reluctant to go see it. Although, this book sounds wonderful, it's almost like watching a car wreck for me. I identify too much with my canine friends. I may have to skip reading it but it sounds wonderful at the same time.

Post by **bookowlie** » 18 Oct 2016, 23:10

Dogluvr wrote:Oh my, this sounds like a book like "A Dog's Purpose". It finally came down to the point I had to get the audio version of the book because I couldn't read the book for crying. Seriously, I cried so much it was like I had lost a dear friend. My daughter in law has the book now and I warned her she may not want to read the book but she took it anyway. I was glad they have come out with the movie version but I'm almost reluctant to go see it. Although, this book sounds wonderful, it's almost like watching a car wreck for me. I identify too much with my canine friends. I may have to skip reading it but it sounds wonderful at the same time.

Actually, I was given A Dog's Purpose two years ago as a gift, but I thought it would be tough to read emotionally.