Poppy (American Dog)

Hannah recently moved to California from Michigan. She has a giant birthmark down the side of her face. People assume that there is something wrong with her just because she has a visible birthmark. She knows exactly how it feels to be judged before someone knows her.

Poppy is a pit bull. Just because of Poppy’s breed, everyone assumes she is a vicious dog. Hannah’s neighbor, Mrs. Gilly, owns Poppy, and Poppy has way too much energy and needs to be trained. Otherwise, she will have to be returned to the animal shelter. Mrs. Gilly is a senior citizen and doesn’t have the energy to keep up with Poppy, so Hannah decides she will take on the task. Hannah wants to show everyone that Poppy can be a sweet girl, even though she is a pit bull.

I liked this book because it was so sweet how Poppy came to adore Hannah, who saw the good in her before anyone else did. I think this book encourages people to see the good in animals and other people, too, no matter what their outward appearance is.