Customer Reviews

Twiggy Story of a Greyhound: Story of a Greyhound

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just finished reading this delightful story about Twiggy and the family she adopts, again. My children love hearing Twiggy's story over and over. When they saw the author's latest book, "Snowflake, Another Greyhound's Story" in the bookstore, they had to have it. They love the sequel every bit as much as the original. I'm hoping there will be a third book in the series.

I was disappointed in reading Twiggy. Yes, it presents an important message. Yes, it presents some good information.

But from a literary standpoint, I don't think it was well done. It was obviously written to carry a message. It's a message dressed up in a story, rather than a good story which happens to convey a message.

Also Twiggy the greyhound is highly anthropomorphized. Twiggy worries about the future. She knows she'll be retired (and perhaps killed) if she doesn't run fast enough. Twiggy thinks complicated thoughts. She wonders if her trainer will miss her as much as she'll miss him, after all he's trained so many dogs. Twiggy understands English. She understands the human conversations around her. And so it goes.

Most greyhound rescue groups will tell people that retired racers should never be off lead unless in a fenced area. A greyhound can reach speeds over 40 mph. They can easily be hit by a car, become lost, etc. Yet on Twiggy's first day with her new family, Twiggy is left off lead to race with a German Shepherd.

This last item is a small thing, but at the beginning of the book, the reader is told that 18 states allow greyhound racing. Yet the note at the end of the book only lists 16 states.

The book Twiggy is okay, and if you're looking specifically for greyhound books, you might want this book. But overall, I can't recommend the book. If it weren't that I feel strongly about finding good homes for retired racing greyhounds, I would have given Twiggy only one star.

One of the most heart-warming stories I've read in a long time. I am sure this was written for children, however, it draws the young at heart to the plight of the greyhound. The artwork was charming. I am looking forward to more from this insightful author.

I purchased and read this book to my niece's 3rd grade class. They all loved it, and were very interested in Greyhounds. I took my own grey in to the class when I read the book to them. They enjoyed it so much, I was asked to leave the sequel "Snowflake, Another Greyhound's Story" with them for the teacher to read another day. They learned alot about greyhounds and asked alot of questions. I will probably be invited back next year for a whole new class.

I am just writing this, although I have read the book years ago. I love the book, and it is very real to life, because I know the people associated with the book. So, also then, I would like to just quickly respond to the person who wrote negatively about "Twiggy", though you are entitled to an opinion, as all people are, do not be so quick to judge, and claim the story untrue, for alot of the events in the book did occur... But then also, need I even mention this... it is a children's storybook, so why must you bash the wonderful creativity of this first-time writer. I found myself moved after I read it, part being that I am close to those involved, but also, because I wish there had been more books like this when I was growing up. I am also happy that there is such a book about such a beautiful animal, and more personally, such a wonderful dog...