Strongheart

November 1, 2017

Gr 4-6-Fleming and Rohmann (Bulldozer's Big Day; Oh No!; and Giant Squid) team up on a new book based on the true story of Strongheart, a vicious police dog turned lovable silent movie star. A puppy named Etzel is taken from his family and trained to act against his gentle instincts. Meanwhile, Larry Trimble and Jane Murfin, movie producer and screenwriter, respectively, are searching for a canine who can actually act. When Larry discovers Etzel, he renames him Strongheart and sets out to make him a silent movie star. He becomes a Hollywood sensation, able to convey emotions on-screen and sniff out the bad guys in real life. Rohmann's illustrations largely consist of Strongheart in various situations (at police dog training, on his first movie set, meeting orphan boys), with very few drawings of the human characters. The subject matter, coupled with the illustrations, make Strongheart ideal for reluctant readers, particularly animal lovers. The back matter (which includes photos of Strongheart and his on-and-off-screen partner, Lady Jule) is extensive enough to satisfy curiosity about the real Strongheart and illuminate the sections of the book that are Fleming's speculation, such as those parts of the story told from Strongheart's perspective. VERDICT This fictionalized account of true events provides a look into the life of a little-known historical figure, and makes an excellent choice for general purchase.-Jessica Ko, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2017
Before Rin Tin Tin and Lassie there was Strongheart, the first canine movie star, whose real-life career serves as the basis of this fast-paced, dramatic story from Fleming and Rohmann. In the silent-film era of the 1920s, director Larry Trimble decides his next big movie star will be a dog and in Berlin finds what he is looking for: a thoroughly trained, 3-year-old, male German shepherd with a fierce disposition named Etzel. Renamed Strongheart, Trimble's find becomes an instant superstar with the release of his first film, The Silent Call, in 1921. Strongheart has an off-screen romance with his leading lady in the appropriately titled The Love Master, resulting in a litter of puppies. The climax of the story is a dramatic courtroom trial in which Strongheart stands accused of attacking and killing 6-year-old Sofie Bedard, but boys from an orphanage produce Sofie in court at the last moment. Strongheart is vindicated when it's discovered Sofie's parents orchestrated her disappearance for an extortion scheme. Like a silent movie plot, Fleming's narrative is full of adventure, romance, and suspense. An author's note explains the facts behind the story. Rohmann's expressive illustrations beautifully capture Strongheart's personality; their integration into the book's design is striking. Particularly notable are three two-page spreads depicting the dog contemplating and then stealing a doughnut.A touching, playful, and satisfying tale of a silver-screen wonder dog. (photos, bibliography, notes) (Historical fiction. 8-12)

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December 4, 2017
Based on a true story, this absorbing novel from the duo behind Giant Squid and other books introduces Strongheart, a German shepherd that worked as a police dog in Germany until his discovery by Hollywood director Larry Trimble in the early 1920s. Trimble had long been searching for a “smart, expressive, dramatic dog” to star in a silent film; after traveling all the way to Europe to find the right dog, he knew that Strongheart fit the bill. Rohmann’s arresting oil paintings (like Strongheart’s movies, they’re in black and white) are a vibrant part of the storytelling, illuminating Strongheart’s expressiveness and intelligence; in one sequence, Rohmann brings readers into a darkened theater to witness Strongheart’s on-screen heroics in his first film, The Last Call, which became a box-office hit and catapulted the dog to superstardom. The collaborators also spotlight a softer side of Strongheart as he befriends orphaned boys and starts a family with his canine leading lady. An excellent afterword delves into greater detail about Strongheart’s life, including the fact that only one of his films survived. Ages 8–12. Agent: Ethan Ellenberg, Ethan Ellenberg Agency.

Starred review from November 1, 2017
Grades 3-5 *Starred Review* Young animal-lovers will be enthralled by this dynamic tale of unlikely silent film star (and German shepard!) Strongheart. Though fictionalized, Fleming's novel is based on the true story of the dog that stole the hearts of America during the 1920s with his dramatic presence on the big screen. The book opens with Strongheart's early life in Germany, where he was selected as a puppy to be a police dog. Sensitive readers may be upset by the cruel training methods to which Strongheart is subjected, but the narrative quickly moves to his discovery and adoption by Hollywood director Larry Trimble, who treats the dog with patience and kindness. With the help of screenwriter Jane Murfin, Larry teaches the rigidly trained pup how to play and be affectionate, though Strongheart never loses his instinct for sniffing out wrongdoersa habit that gets him into trouble on more than one occasion. Throughout, Rohmann's black-and-white illustrations bestow a cinematic quality on the book, utilizing sequences of panels and double-page spreads to truly show Strongheart in action. When he graces the screen in his first picture, The Silent Call, readers will be as swept up by his performance as the moviegoers. With the story's most incredible plot developments based on fact, this fascinating and heartwarming piece of historical fiction will be met with wonder.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)