Keisha Carter’s parents in the business of rescuing animals and the way they go about things, it’s a family affair. Keisha and her little brother Razi are allowed in on the action, and so are many of her friends. Their adventures include rescuing a crow, a skunk and a badly injured dog.
With multiple story lines and a wide array of diverse characters, this is one of the more complex books I’ve read from the animal rescue/kids’ animal book genre. It was therefore, unsurprisingly, one of the more interesting. I think it may be hard to follow for some students who are used to more basic books, but should definitely appeal to little animal lovers. Definitely a bonus that people from many races are represented throughout, also the environment is decidedly urban, something else that is often rare.
This will be most engaging for third and fourth grade students, although very advanced second graders may be able to tackle it, and fifth graders with an interest in the topic may also enjoy it.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – Grandma has a date. A girl has a boyfriend (not one of the young girls that’s a main character).
Profanity – Razi mentions rap music with bad words. “darned,”
Death, Violence and Gore – A old man in the neighborhood passed away prior to the start of the book. Crows eat dead things they find on the roadside. They find an injured dog. The dog’s leg may need amputation. Razi asks his father if he may shoot the gun, but he is referring to a staple gun.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.
