Darby's Story: The Life of an Adopted Dog Paperback – September 14, 2009

I received this book as an ARC.Darby was a dog that the Steward family rescued from a shelter because Martha and her son felt that they needed to expand their family. Her son was six years old which gave having a dog the perfect opportunity to teach him some responsibilities. The entire book is pretty much a listing of their favorite memories of their fifteen years with Darby and ends with the unfortunate end to Darby's life. It is an inspirational story about how a family can grow to love a pet as an actual member of the family (which I can completely relate to). The story ends with some helpful tips from the author on how to handle grief and loss of a loved one (human or animal) which can be very useful to anyone of any age. I enjoyed the story. The only complaint I have is that the transitions between memories are somewhat lacking within the different sections. Every memory in a chapter is related to the chapter title, but I felt like when one memory ended and another began in a new paragraph, it could have been better conveyed by simply adding a space between the paragraphs. reviews at Identity Discovery Blog. Read more

When I received this book to review, I was immediately drawn towards this wonderful story about Darby, an adopted dog who finds his home with Martha Steward and her family. I was especially interested because my mom's boss trains guide dog puppies and brings them into work. So, often times when my mom comes home she will bring home wonderful and adorable stories of the dog at work (the latest one is named Ruffle, by the way!)And so being able to read a close account of the life of this particular dog was a joy to me. And I must tell you...Anytime a book makes me cry, it's a good sign. As another reviewer put it on Amazon.com, I felt like I was part of the family. I felt like I knew Darby and could reach inside the pages and pet him myself. And this definitely makes me want to go out and adopt a dog.It's considered a "gentle" chapter book and Martha does a wonderful job of showing Darby's personality in every heartwarming page about him. My only wish was for their to be more pictures.I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Darby's Story by Martha Steward is a genuinely heartfelt story of a family's love for their dog and the happiness he brought to their lives.Drew and his mom decide to open their hearts and home to a new family member and visit a local shelter. From the moment they meet Darby they know he is the perfect addition to their family. Darby in turn is grateful to have found a loving family to call his own. It doesn't take long before he fits into the family's routine even going as far as to mimic their morning greetings. Darby is a loyal companion who lives a long happy life bringing joy to those who love him. Wh?en the times comes how will his family be able to say good-byeDarby's Story is a heartwarming and inspiring true story about the love and friendship that can be found when we open our hearts.I recommend reading Darby's Story.

As an advocate of pet adoption and welfare, I love to find books on the subject that engage kids. Darby is adorable. You can't help but fall in love with him. Steward's prose are clean and accessible for children and adults of all ages. This book will enhance any library and would be a good resource of school projects.

I'm 22 years old, and it seems like everywhere I look, things take a negative spin.. If you see animals in print, for the most part, it's a PETA commercial and you see nothing but abused, neglected animals. With all the wars and negative things happening in the world, it's so refreshing to read a positive story. Don't be put off by the fact that the cover doesn't scream adventure, this book pulled me in from page one. I felt like I was part of the family, witnessing the story as it unfolded. A great book that I'd recommend to anyone old enough to read or be read to.