Dog Book and Dog Movie Review

     In today's post, I would like to review both a dog book and a dog movie.  The book is called, "A Dog For Life" written by L.S. Matthews.  This book tells the story of two brothers named Tom and John, a dog named Mouse and a journey that Mouse and John take across England.
     As the book begins, we learn that Tom and John live with their Mother in northern England.  The boy's Dad has passed away.  The two boys have a special relationship with Mouse the dog with whom they can communicate telepathically.
     Tom becomes gravely ill, and his doctor tells his Mom that Mouse will have to go because she might give Tom a disease.  The Mom decides to send Mouse to the pound, but Tom and John aren't about to go along with this.  They devise a plan for John and Mouse to travel to the south of England to find their Dad's brother.  They believe that he will take Mouse in and help them.
     Mouse and John embark on their journey.  Along the way, they have the chance to do a lot of good, and they have a grand adventure.  The section where John and Mouse attempt to rescue some horses and the section where they meet the the Gypsies are quite good.
     I don't want to reveal too much more about the plot lest I give away the ending.  I definitely recommend "A Dog For Life".  It is written for younger readers, but I think that anyone who enjoys a good dog story would really like the book.  Mouse is quite a dog.
     Now, on to the dog movie.  Yesterday, I finally got around to watching a movie I'd wanted to see for a long time.  The movie is called "Max".  "Max" is the story about a Belgian Malinois dog who is deployed with a soldier in Afghanistan.  Max's handler is killed in an IED explosion, and Max is lost.  He becomes unworkable, and he is sent back to the U.S.
     The only one that Max will respond to is his handler's younger brother.  Over the course of the movie, these two form a great relationship.
     After we realize that Max and Justin will be good friends the two find themselves in an adventure involving an ex-marine Justin's brother Kyle served with, a crooked policeman and a group of illegal gun runners.
     I thought that this was an excellent movie.  There is a lot of action and the dog does a lot in this movie.  The movie is rated PG, and there isn't really anything objectionable in the film.  It is rather violent, so keep that in mind if young children are going to watch it.
     A good dog book and a good dog movie help to make for a good week.