The Mountain Rescue Dog

Everything changes for Clova after her mother, part of the Glenstrome search and rescue team in the Scottish mountains, dies during a rescue mission. Her grieving father withdraws into himself, becoming overly protective of his daughter and it is thanks to the efforts of her grandfather that the family hotel is still running. Feeling lonely and lost, Clova is struggling until she meets Tatty, a nervous collie stray, who helps her find purpose again as she begins to train him as a rescue dog. When two young boys are lost, Tatty and Clova track them down; her father is furious and vows to send Tatty away, leaving Clova heartbroken. However, when her father is lost on the mountain and heavy snow causes an avalanche, Clova and her faithful dog prove that they belong together and save the day.

Anyone who has had a dog will instantly recognise the remarkable bond that can form with a much loved companion. Juliette Forrest captures this perfectly, making ‘The Mountain Rescue Dog’ a great read for anyone with a canine pal. However, there is so much more to this fabulous story of grief, courage and adventure.

The incredible work of mountain rescue teams and their Search and Rescue dogs is really celebrated through the book, giving the reader a glimpse of the work which the dogs, their handlers and the teams do and the lengths which they go to, at great personal risk, to save those in need. In her author note at the end of the book, Juliette says, ‘Scottish Mountain Rescue have 850 team volunteers, who will respond at a moment’s notice 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year.’ Through highlighting their amazing dedication and the essential work they do, the story also acts as a reminder of the dangers and fickle nature of mountains, encouraging readers (should they wish to!) to explore them safely. The patience and commitment needed to train a rescue dog and the love and kindness used to do this is beautifully explored as Clova trains Tatty with guidance from her grandfather, who offers many useful tips to consider when training any dog!

Deeply poignant in places, the story also explores loss and the overwhelming nature of grief. Clova is devastated by her mother’s death and keenly feels the secondary loss of her father who has lost himself in his sorrow. His frantic desire to protect his daughter- to try to keep her safe- results in a lack of communication and a loss of understanding as each struggles to come to terms with what has happened. The story also touches on her grandfather’s grief as he sees his daughter in Clova, comforting her as he acknowledges her sadness, sharing his feelings with her in a way her father is not ready to.

‘…everywhere you go a fresh memory pops up you had forgotten about. Even though you can see them as clear as day as if they’re right in front of you - you know they are not coming back.’

With each of her books, Juliette Forrest offers something different, but strong characters and vivid settings are sure to feature whatever the focus. In ‘The Mountain Rescue Dog’, she has created a heart-warming tail (sorry- couldn’t help myself!) of loss, love and understanding which is sure to become a firm favourite for teachers to read to their class as well as for enjoying independently.

The Mountain Rescue Dog Juliette Forrest

Scholastic ISBN: 978-0702313646

Published 1st September 2022