Published: 2022
Author: Kristin Johnson
Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Adventure
Audience: Grades 3–6
Number of Stars: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Goodreads Link: Fearless
Content Warnings: Mentions of war/deployment, animal neglect (puppy mill), and PTSD.
Publisher’s Summary
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 to find out.
Full Review
Fearless is a heart-warming and exciting tale that motivates young readers to show bravery even when they feel small or alone. The story centers on Jessie, who is struggling with intense anxiety because her mother’s letters from Afghanistan have stopped coming. Carrying a “Fearless” t-shirt as a symbol of strength from her mom, Jessie finds a new sense of purpose when she discovers a puppy mill.
The bond between Jessie and her rescued dog, Dusty, is the emotional anchor of the book. The plot blends the tension of a rescue mission with the lighthearted comedy of sneaking a puppy into her grandfather’s house. I especially appreciated how the author drew parallels between Jessie’s struggles in Minnesota and the hardships her mother might be facing abroad. It’s a “feel-good” story that tackles serious themes like military deployment and animal welfare with empathy and hope. My student and I both loved the cliffhanger chapters—it’s the kind of book that makes you say, “Just one more chapter!”
🌪️ Understanding PTSD and Anxiety
The book touches on how both people and animals can experience trauma. In the story, characters deal with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and high anxiety due to war and natural disasters.
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- ELA (Poetry & Journaling): Jessie often writes poems in her journal.
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Activity Idea: Have students write a “Two-Voice Poem” representing Jessie and her mother. One side expresses the daughter’s worries in Minnesota, while the other expresses the mother’s thoughts in Afghanistan.
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- Social Studies (Global Awareness): Conduct a mini-research project on Afghanistan or the life of military families.
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Activity Idea: Write a “Letter Home” from the perspective of a deployed parent, incorporating facts about the geography or daily life in a military camp to build empathy and context.
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- Science (Natural Disasters): Since a tornado plays a major role in the plot, students can study the science behind extreme weather.
- Social-Emotional Learning (Anxiety Tools): > Activity Idea: Create “Glitter Jars” (or Mindfulness Jars) like the ones mentioned in the review. Discuss how the settling glitter represents a mind calming down after a “storm” of anxiety.
- Art & Design: Have students design their own “Motivational T-shirts.” What is their “power word”? (e.g., Brave, Kind, Resilient).
