Review of Willa and Woof

“Mimi is Missing”

By Jacqueline Harvey

Like carrier pigeons with a critical mission, Willa and Woof set out to uncover the ultimate message of friendship in their search for Mimi. Willa, an 8-year-old girl, lives in a small seaside suburb of Australia. She has three friends: Woof, her family’s dog; Tae, a boy living across the street from Willa; and Frank, who resides in a nearby retirement village. Frank raised and raced pigeons in his younger days and keeps a pet pigeon, Mimi, in a cage at home. The mystery begins when Willa discovers that Mimi is not in her cage. Willa feels responsible for Mimi’s disappearance, and with the help of her friends and family, she begins to search for the bird. Willa’s mildly comic yet futile endeavors ensconce the book’s themes of family, friendship, resilience, and responsibility. They may also provide readers with a laugh.

The story’s plot and reading level make it suitable for children aged 6 to 9. My brief survey resulted in a response from a 3rd grader who had read the book and found it okay but a little bit boring. I found it charming and engaging but a little naive. The plot does take a few twists and turns. And although my track record is reasonably high for solving mysteries in novels and TV shows,  I did not guess the solution.

As a former school teacher, Jacqueline Harvey understands what will make a story viable as a class read-aloud. Mimi is Missing may have been purposely constructed to provide educators with opportunities to initiate class discussions regarding social and emotional learning. My survey respondent’s comment that the book was a bit boring might have been due to the author’s heavy focus on social themes rather than mystery or action.

Willa and Woof, “Mimi is Missing” by Jacqueline Harvey would make an engaging read-aloud in the hands of the right primary school teacher. The guidelines for lessons regarding social-emotional learning and literacy provided by  Penguin Publishers’ Teacher’s Notes create an even greater incentive for teachers to use this book.

I am not as eager to recommend this as a read-for-fun book. As with any book, it depends in part on the reader. A 6-year-old with above-grade-level reading ability who enjoys character-driven plots might enjoy this book. Children who like pets might also find this more enjoyable than those who don’t. On a personal note, I look forward to reading more about Willa’s adventures!