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A Home for Shimmer by Cathy Hopkins (view source)
Revision as of 12:01, 3 September 2020
, 12:01, 3 September 2020no edit summary
{{infoboxinfobox2
|title=A Home for Shimmer
|sort=Home for Shimmer, A
|publisher=Simon & Schuster Ltd
|date=January 2015
|amazonukaznuk=<amazonuk>1471117936</amazonuk>|amazonusaznus=1471117936|cover=<amazonus>1471117936</amazonus>
|website=http://cathyhopkins.com/books
|summary=Amy doesn't want to move into a cold farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, but when an adorable pup is abandoned on her doorstep, things start to take a turn for the better. Can the Westall family turn their dream of opening an animal rescue centre into a reality?
}}
Great cover-art is often a compelling factor in making a purchase decision, so who could resist the lure of a fluffy white retriever pup, with a shiny black nose and smiling eyes, beckoning readers to pick up the book and read her story? ''A Home for Shimmer'' is the story of a bond between a girl and her pup and the many obstacles that they must face to stay together.
The plot of the story reminded me of the recent BBC series, ''Our Zoo''. The Westall family arrive in the small Village village of Compton Truit and move into the dilapidated Silverbrook Farm, hoping to start a new life in the country. The young daughter of the family, Amy, soon has an idea to turn the farm into an animal rescue centre, but many obstacles seem to block their way, including the reserved locals, who seem aloof and distant toward the newcomers. The family also have financial problems and need to find a way to raise money quickly before their dream turns into a nightmare.
The quest to build and an animal rescue centre takes up the bulk of the storyline and despite the title, Shimmer's story is more of a side-plot, with the titular pup finally putting in her first appearance in chapter five. In truth, I found the title misleading, as there was hardly anything in the story about finding a new home for Shimmer.
What I did like about the story was the feeling of optimism and the message that you can achieve your dreams with dedication and hard work. This is a positive message for young readers and will hopefully inspire them to work hard at achieving their goals. The book also focused on relationships and I liked the way that Amy made friends with people with different backgrounds and personalities.
*Note to the book editors: Shimmer briefly changes sex from female to male at the beginning of chapter 12. Oops.
Bookbag loved the tearkjerker tearjerker [[The Hero Pup by Megan Rix]], about a boy and his pup. You might need your hankie at the ready... You might also appreciate [[Animal Rescue: The Unwanted Puppy by Tina Nolan]]. We also enjoyed [[The Valentine's Day Kitten by Cathy Hopkins]].
{{amazontext|amazon=1471117936}}