Darling, Mercy Dog of World War I (Dog Chronicles)

Love this book!

Really good historical fiction. This is a quality-written story that takes place during World War I, as seen through the eyes of Darling, a sheep-herding dog.The story is an emotional roller-coaster for me... it starts with some happy moments of Darling living it up at home... followed by her summons to the war front. There are hard events she has to live through in the war, but she's being trained to help the soldiers, and actually learns how to save their lives. She is one smart doggie.Honestly, (and I'm in my twenties, and also I'm reading about history all the time, yet...) I had never before heard of Mercy Dogs being used in World War I. I also didn't know that there was a Dog Tax imposed on people on the home front, if they wanted to keep their dogs at home. There are actually so many ways that the military put these dogs to work, it's incredible.Overall? I love this story. I'm glad I picked it up, and that I wasn't put off by it being a "just a kid's book". It's heart-warming, and you may just learn a new thing or two about history. Definitely recommend.

Darling, a mischievous collie, must leave the children she loves, and who love her, to become a soldier for the British. The tax on dogs rose once again and the family could no longer afford to feed her. The military will train Darling as either a messenger dog or a sentry dog, depending upon her skills. Darling’s best skill is her ability to run away. She likes to meet up with her friend Rags, who is a stray living alone in the chalk pits to avoid the dogcatcher who wants to send him to Battlesea Dog's Home, and the farmer out to shoot both dogs for trying to herd his sheep.The first chance she had to run back home she would. Darling got that chance several weeks later at a final test, but turned around when she heard her handler and knew he was hurt. She failed the test, but a new position had been established and Darling seemed a perfect fit. The mercy dog worked on the front line--in "no man's land." The dogs were sent into the battlefield to find wounded soldiers. The dogs would return and then lead the medics out to the injured man. They brought the injured back on stretchers, following the dog to get back.Darling worked the front lines magnificently, until she was hit with a bullet, several times. She was taken to the vet clinic set up back at the base camp. But if Darling did not get better, if she grew lame, if she could no longer perform the duty she was trained for, the military would reward her previously courageous acts that saved many men by shooting her. This happened to the horses as well. Rather than returning the dog to its owner. This is the saddest reality that many of the more than 7000 dogs that served in British military in WWI.Mesmerized by Darling’s story from the first time she ran off to play with Rags I could not put the book down. There were no other dogs in a village that had many before the First World War and the subsequent dog tax families had to pay in order to keep a dog. Most could hardly afford to feed their dog. The police shot all strays they came upon. The dogcatcher put the dogs in the Battersea Dog Home, a place Darling does not describe with endearing terms. Nearly every dog put into the home were recruited into the War Dog School.This is new to me. I had no idea dogs played such a crucial role in the war. Considering the dogs’ vital roles as messengers, mercy dogs, and sentries, how could they not be in our children’s history books? Darling, Mercy Dog of World War I is the book to supplement history texts. Narrated by Darling, her point of view is much less harsh than any human’s would have been, making it easier to present this material to kids. The war and all its horrors are still in the story, mainly from Darling’s less graphic perspective. After Darling’s story, the author wrote down some of the history of military dogs, describes a soldiers life in the field, some “Cool Facts," and more about the Battle of Messines Ridge in 1917, on which this story is based. Darling is an amazing dog who never forgot about the two children she loved, and who loved her. This historical fiction book should be on every required reading list for kids age eight and up.

Title: Darling, Mercy Dog of World War 1 - Dog Chronicles Book 1Author: Allison HartIllustrator: Michael G MontgomeryPublisher: Peachtree PublishersPublished: 9-16-2013Pages: 160Genre: HistorySub-Genre: Dogs; Europe; Military Wars; Children's FictionISBN: 9781561457052Reviewed For NetGalley and Peachtree PublishersReviewer: DelAnneRating: 5 starsTold from Darling's POV, this is a delightful read for preteen readers. Paired with adorable illustrations to suit the easy to understand text. Young readers will enjoy the story from beginning to end. Set in the WWI time period, readers will not realize they are learning as they read.My rating of Darling, Mercy Dog of World War 1 is r out of 5 stars. Share it the enjoyment with others.

A very enjoyable way to teach children about World War I. I loved that the story was told from the perspective of the service dog. I would highly recommend this book for any child old enough to understand a little about the horrors of war, also for adults like me who love dogs and want to learn more about their loyal and devoted service to humans.I received a free digital copy of this book through Net Galley for the purpose of reviewing

I was reading this book with my 7 year old nephew during my visit and we BOTH loved it. Typically I do not like kid's chapter books. I loved it so much in fact that I read ahead because I thought I'd have to leave before we could finish it and I needed to know the outcome of Darling. Not only did he enjoy it but I learned a lot about history. The pictures along the way are moving and helped keep our imaginations in check. Now this is a gift for every child I buy gifts for!!! Keep them coming please!!!!

I loved this new book by Alison Hart, which sheds light on the use of dogs in World War 1. Just as War Horse informed us of the plight of horses during this long war, Darling, Mercy Dog of World War 1 talks about the training and use of dogs for scouts, messengers, and mercy dogs to tend the wounded.Told from the dog's point of view, Darling explains how she is sent away from her family in England for training, ultimately to serve in the trenches of the war in Europe. Although this book obviously is about a horrific war, it does not dwell excessively on these facts, but mostly details Darling's story: her struggles and triumphs, and the human connections she makes along the way. Because of this, author Alison Hart not only makes this story palatable to elementary readers, but it also tugged at a few heartstrings in this animal-loving grown-up. (Yes, I teared up at the end.)Small Spoiler Alert: it has a happy, although not perfect, ending. One of a series of new dog books from Peachtree called Dog Chronicles, this one is especially good for dog and animal lovers.

I can't get in to this book did not feel real to me

My daughter loved it