Strongheart
Based on a true story, this historical novel tells a fascinating story of a German shepherd raised as a fierce police dog in Berlin, Germany, that goes on to become an unlikely movie-star hero during the 1920s.
During Hollywood’s black and white silent film era, one man, Larry Trimble, envisions the potential appeal of having a dog act in the movies. Not any dog, but an intelligent dog that would be a leading character in the cinema story. However, Larry is not able to find an American dog that meets his criteria. On a trip to Germany, he discovers the German shepherd who will become known as Strongheart. The remainder of the story is how this dog went on to capture the hearts of American moviegoers through his six block-bluster movies and pave the way for other famous dogs like Rin-Tin-Tin and Lassie.
Written for middle-grade readers, this story will appeal to anyone who loves dogs. It is a charming tale, with heartwarming illustrations, and provides teachable moments for students to understand the amount of research needed for writing. Archival photos and a solid bibliography tailored to ages 7 to 10 accompany the text.
