Review: Lara's Gift by Annemarie O'Brien

Lara's Gift by Annemarie O'Brien.

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2013
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780307931740

Review: Have you ever loved something so much you couldn't let go? Everyone experiences this feeling, even Lara, the main character of Lara's Gift. Lara's Gift is written by Annemarie O'Brien. The main character of Lara's Gift is Lara. She has something special that she just can't give up and won't give up. She will try her best to keep it, but there is a chance she might loos that one special thing she has.

Lara is a young girl who cares for dogs and loves them, but when her father tells her once she is grown up and married, she can't care for dogs any more because that is a job not fit for women. Lara is upset. She has a dog of her own and enjoys spending time with her dog Zar. Zar and Lara are inseparable. When Lara and her friend Alexander want Zar to go hunting, Lara's father won't let her until he's listened to her beg for so long that he gives in. After the trip, Lara's father announces that he wants to have a son, so that he can pass the dogs on to his son. This devastates Lara especially after her father's wishes come true. Over time, Lara's father sees how much Lara loves the dogs, and in the end he does something shocking that could surprise and impact Lara's future.

I liked Lara's Gift because it showed how one girl loved something special to her, and she got to keep it. I found it kind of ironic because there is a saying that's says, "If you love something let it go," and Lara doesn't let it go; she keeps it. Possibly a girl might enjoy this book more than a boy because it shows how one girl doesn't give up on trying to keep something she loved. It gives readers the courage to do something they have always wanted to do. But boys might also enjoy reading it. Lara's Gift is a good choice for a 2nd grader or a 3rd grader.

Review written by Danessa (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Lara's Gift for this review.

Have you read Lara's Gift? How would you rate it?