Kirby Larson

As World War II begins, eighteen-year-old Leo is going to ship out with the Marines, but not before traveling home to see his little sister, Billie, bringing with him a Navajo friend from basic training named Denny. Along the way home, Denny finds a wounded stray dog and brings him to Billie's house where he ends up staying. The dog, Bear, helps Billie through the loneliness as she corresponds with both Leo and Denny throughout the war. With the help...

In 1919, seventeen-year-old Hattie leaves the Montana prairie--and her sweetheart Charlie--to become a female reporter in San Francisco.

In 1944 Hobie Hanson's father is flying B-24s in Europe, so Hobie decides to donate his beloved German shepherd, Duke, to Dogs for Defense in the hope that it will help end the war sooner--but when he learns that Duke is being trained for combat he is shocked, frightened and determined to get his dog back.

In 1940s New Orleans, Fish Elliot is a polio-survivor with a knack for inventing and building things, and his African American neighbor Olympia is a girl with a talent for messing things up, but they are united in an effort to save a starving stray dog they call Liberty--and when Liberty is caged by a nasty farmer, they find an unlikely ally in a German prisoner of war, Erich, who is not much older than the two children.

Audacity Jones and her best friend, Bimmy, are on their way to New York City, with Cypher, who is now a detective in the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, and their assignment involves Harry Houdini and the illusion he is planning--and it will take all of Audie's skills, and the help of her clever cat Min, to prevent the performance from being sabotaged.

Thirteen-year-old Piper Davis records in her diary her experiences beginning in December 1941 when her brother joins the Navy, the United States goes to war, she attempts to document her life through photography, and her father--the pastor for a Japanese Baptist Church in Seattle--follows his congregants to an Idaho internment camp, taking her along with him. Includes historical notes.

"Nine-year-old Nanea Mitchell may be the youngest in her family, but she still wants to "dip her paddle in" and be useful. She knows she's grown-up enough to help in her grandparents' market. But before she can prove that she's ready for more responsibility, the unthinkable happens: Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, the naval base where her father works, and America is at war! With friends and family missing, and rumors of more attacks to come, Nanea worries...

"Nanea Mitchell had hoped that going back to school would make life seem normal again. But everything has changed since the war started, including Miss Smith's wonderful classroom. Nanea' dear friend Donna is gone, and now there's a new girl who seems to be getting all of Miss Smith's attention. There are also worries at home as Nanea' big brother talks about joining the Army. Nanea can't bear the thought of him leaving. In the swirl of changes, Nanea...

A collection of stories about the Pawley Rescue Center, where rescued dogs find their way into hearts and homes.