Fearless - by Kristin F Johnson (Paperback)

About the Book

When a girl steals a dog from a puppy mill, an adventure ensues.

Book Synopsis

A heart-warming tale about a girl who rescues a dog from a puppy mill.

It's 2010 and the War in the Middle East is raging. But back home in Minnesota, Jessie Nelson wouldn't pay the war much mind except that her mom is over there fighting. Jessie's dad moves them to Grandpa's tornado-torn town in Southern Minnesota for the summer. But the town has its own troubles having suffered loss from a historic tornado and loss of local war veterans, some having died and some living with PTSD.

Ever since Mom's letters from Afghanistan stopped coming, Jessie has been afraid something terrible has happened. Wanting to escape these tragic thoughts, Jessie bikes off.

She quickly makes two new friends: shy Oscar from a family of military veterans and Nicky, an outrageous theater-kid. While biking along a quiet country road, the sound of terrified howling leads the kids astray. In a backwoods barn, the kids discover a puppy mill with dozens of malnourished, neglected dogs.

Against the boys' protests, Jessie insists they have to do something.

While Jessie knows she can't save all the dogs, she can save one. Using a rickety wheelbarrow, Jessie and the boys cart an older yellow Labrador home. But Jessie soon discovers stealing a skittish dog from two bad dudes proves downright dangerous.

If you loved Wish by Barbara O'Connor, Stay by Bobbie Pyron, Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, or Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, then you'll love Fearless.

Kristin F. Johnson is a former elementary media specialist and librarian. She has won two Minnesota State Arts Board grants for her middle grade stories. This is her tenth book for kids.

Will Jessie be able to bond with a damaged dog? Will Dad let Jessie keep the dog? Will Mom make it home from the war? Can the town survive another tornado? Read Fearless and find out.

Review Quotes

Finalist for MiPA Awards 2023

St. Paul Pioneer Press, 4 New books for young adult and middle grade readers, 2023

KEYC's Kato Living, TV Feature

"Johnson has written an adventure story with depth and heart - not too sad, but just enough tension to keep your eight- to ten-year-old (boy or girl) reading." --Superior Reads

"She wove three types of PTSD into the book--a town struggling with PTSD from a tornado; war veterans, young and older, with PTSD from serving their country... and finally the resulting PTSD that dogs develop from being neglected and mistreated in puppy mills." --Nicollet County Ledger

"Picked this up tonight, and I can't put it down. Sleep Maybe I'll just stay up...." --Jennifer H., #bookposse

"FEARLESS gives middle grade readers action, warmth and, hopefully, the encouragement to try new things and to take action when needed despite being afraid." -- Melanie D., #BookAllies

"A sweet story of family, friendship, and what it means to be FEARLESS. Fans of [Erin Soderberg's] Controlled Burn will enjoy this middle grade novel." --Rachel S., #BookAllies

"Have your tissues ready!!" --From Twitter, Book in Hand Stacy, #BookPosse

"You'll love this sweet story of Jessie & Dusty the dog she rescues! I will tug at your heartstrings as Jessie & her family endure loss, separation & her mom's deployment." --Patti B., #BookPosse

"Wow! This one had me hooked right from the get go! Short chap. & only 218 pages, not a ton of characters & an easy to follow but exciting story line! I'm thinking about those students that we try to find a page turner for! They will care about Jessie!" --Cindy S., #BookPosse

"What a great book!" --Candice, #BookPosse

Praise for Kristin F. Johnson's "Day of Disaster" series books

Black Blizzard

Wall of Water

Deep Freeze

"...absorbing reading...." - Kirkus Reviews

"... relatable characters and fast-paced plots...."
- School Library Journal

"... adrenaline-fueled and tightly paced...." -- Booklist