A few weeks ago, I was looking through our neighborhood Little Lending Library. You know, the little enclosed box at the ballfield or along a country road with free books. I found several mid-grade novels by the same author. They had interesting titles with a dog and a boy on the front. “These must be good,” I thought. So I took one home. The profanity and the vulgar language in the first few pages rated this book a TC (trash can).

So what was I looking for? How about a book with:

• pets
• relationships with friends, boy/girl, parents, God
• multicultural
• adventure
• mystery
• medical issues
• blended families
• parent in jail
• child abuse

All of these are things middle schoolers care about, but does it all have to be in one book?

No, but it can be if you’re Colleen Coble, master storyteller, who can reach the hearts of kids with the Truth and the reality of the twenty-first century.

When I read Rock Harbor Search and Rescue I hoped – thought perhaps, my granddaughter who is thirteen, might enjoy it for her summer reading. Like all teens, she’s a tough sell. She devoured it! It was a book she could relate to. Even though she isn’t in all of the same situations (thankfully), she has friends who are.

So, what’s it about?

• pets – training a search and rescue puppy
• relationships with friends, boy/girl, parents, God – trust/mistrust
• multicultural – Native Americans and their superstitions/beliefs
• adventure – helping in a rescue
• mystery – who stole it and why am I being blamed
• medical issues – juvenile diabetes
• blended families – children of divorce and the baby from a new marriage
• parent in jail – mom
• child abuse – fears/nightmares in the aftermath of abuse

It’s a great girl book and I’m looking forward to reading more of Colleen’s novels, but first I’m on the hunt for a great mid-grade boy novel. I think I may have found one. Hopefully, I’ll be ready to share it in September.