Pet Tales

Eleven-year-old Penny Maxwell has anxiety and hates it. It stops her from speaking up in class and making friends, and sometimes even causes embarrassing panic attacks at the worst possible moments. Rather than hanging out with other kids after school, Penny volunteers at the local animal shelter,Eleven-year-old Penny Maxwell has anxiety and hates it. It stops her from speaking up in class and making friends, and sometimes even causes embarrassing panic attacks at the worst possible moments. Rather than hanging out with other kids after school, Penny volunteers at the local animal shelter, the local pet shop and animal shelter where she volunteers. When she is helping take care of the animals, Penny is at her best. She writes wonderful stories about the cats and dogs, imagining creative histories for each one. While she is there, she can almost forget about the social anxiety that makes other interactions so challenging for her.

 So when, near the start of Pet Tales by Heidi Tattrie Rushton, the owner of the store decides to close the animal shelter, Penny is devastated. When a girl who adopts one of the shelter cats comes up with a plan for the two of them to save the shelter, Penny is both excited and terrified. She is thrilled at the prospect of finally having a friend and working together to keep the shelter afloat, but how can someone like Penny, with her panic attacks and her tremendous fear and agitation in social situations, help raise awareness of their plight? Can she somehow find the courage to share her stories to help save the animals?

Penny is an earnest, likeable protagonist whose lifelong struggles with debilitating anxiety and paralysing fear in social situations are portrayed with compassion and candour. The authors descriptions of Pennys physical and emotional reactions are thoughtful and accessible, and will help young readers to empathize with and better understand those who live with anxiety and how it affects their daily lives and relationships.

The fact that Penny is able to open up to a few girls and make some friends who want to help and support her when they learn about her condition serves as a source of hope. And, while the story of a group of girls finding a way to save a much-needed pet shelter is heartwarming in and of itself, the fact that one of these girls has to overcome such major obstacles to do so makes it truly inspirational.

Lisa Doucet, Atlantic Books Today
(Co-Manager of Woozles Childrens Bookstore)

Pet Tales, is actually about much more than this. Penny, the novels heroine, is an 11-year-old girl with anxiety, something with which many young readers, as well as adult ones, can identify. Penny must find ways to work with her anxiety, learn to trust others, and build friendships with others to help save the animals. Even though it is hard, Penny models coping strategies, as she knows these pets depend on her. Pet Tales is a wonderful, creative story that demonstrates the power of accepting others and working together, and showing that it doesn't matter your size, age or mental healthyou can achieve!

Laura Churchill Duke, author of Two Crows Sorrow