Raising Lumie

Starred review from May 11, 2020
A guide dog in training helps a grieving girl navigate a transitional year in Bauer’s tender middle grade novel. Following her plumber father’s death, 12-year-old Olive tries to keep her anxiety at bay when she must leave her familiar home and move to a new town with Maudie, the older half-sister she’s just met. Dog devotee Olive thinks a four-legged friend would help, but Maudie believes that a puppy—especially in their space within a New Jersey house share—would be one change too many. Things shift, however, when Olive lucks into the opportunity to raise a pup named Lumie to be a guide dog for the blind. Olive’s confidence grows with Lumie’s every achievement, but near the end of their time together, an incident at the park jeopardizes Lumie’s future. While imparting solid information about guide dogs and their work, Bauer (Soar) employs her well-honed skill at depicting believable, evolving relationships that are rooted in love and nurtured with encouragement. She balances Olive’s big emotions and funny, forthright narration with the light humor of secondary characters and a satisfying, big-hearted ending. Ages 10–up. Agent: Elizabeth Bewley, Sterling Lord Literistic.

Narrator Rachel Jacobs's youthful voice gives a strong sense of the vulnerability of 12-year-old Olive. Olive's adored father, a single parent, has just died of cancer, and she must move into a rooming house and begin life with Maudie, an older half-sister she barely knows. Jacobs portrays Maudie's deep caring, generous spirit, and creative ways of encouraging Olive. Olive experiences a new school, a new sister, and a new lifestyle, but what she wants most is a new dog. Training a guide dog meets her immediate needs, but does this mean Olive has one more goodbye in her future? This emotive dog-and-girl story features moments of resilience, caring, and adapting. Jacobs's emotional resonance ensures that these characters are endearing, intriguing, and believable. S.W. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine