Bonded By Battle: The Powerful

Other military dog books tell only half the story. Discover the little-known history of how humans learned to unlock the life-saving powers of their K9 buddies.

Dogs are renowned for their exceptional smell, hearing, and heart. When they followed the soldiers they loved into combat, their devotion brought out the best in human and dog. In Bonded By Battle, Nancy Roe Pimm tells the stories of 13 remarkable dog teams that changed how the U.S. military keeps us safe.

Since the Civil War, dog teams have warned others of approaching enemies and chemicals, uncovered booby traps and IEDs in Iraq, with accuracy that cutting-edge technology still can't match. Pimm, a distinguished author of nonfiction for all ages, tells this story with humor and heart. In a new preface to the paperback edition, Pimm joins a group of dedicated veterans as they unveil a powerful memorial to the K9 warriors who saved 10,000 lives in Vietnam -- only to be tragically left behind.

Gr 5 Up—Students of military history and dog lovers rejoice. Pimm presents a brief but informative examination of canines' role in the military, going back as far as 4,000 BCE. The author briefly mentions dogs in the Napoleonic Wars before moving on to 19th- and 20th-century conflicts in which the United States has been involved. Pimm points out that animals associated with military units were usually mascots (e.g., Old Abe). The Great War's Sergeant Stubby started out as a mascot but became a decorated military working dog. A chapter on "war refugee" Rin Tin Tin is also included. The author explores the U.S. Military Working Dog program by focusing on how different dog/handler pairs participated in various wars. An interesting discussion on whether animals should receive service awards and medals is featured. The text reads well, and footnotes are plentiful. An author's note and back matter conclude the work. Pair this with Rebecca Frankel's War Dogs: Tales of Canine Heroism, History, and Love or Ace Collins's Man's Best Hero: True Stories of Great American Dogs. VERDICT A sure bet wherever military and canine titles are popular.—Eldon Younce, Anthony Public Library, KS