Written by Melanie Joy Mezzancello, Love Snaggs: A Little Dog’s Courageous Journey follows Snaggs, a Yorkie mix, as he sets out on an impossible journey to return to his family.
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Review
We all know that a dog is a man’s most loyal companion. A canine never betrays his master. For dog owners, their pets are like their children. Their fur babies are parts of their families. Similarly, a puppy considers his owners to be his parents. The loving relationship between dogs and their human parents is unfathomable for many
Love Snaggs: A Little Dog’s Courageous Journey by Melanie Joy Mezzancello is the story of such a cherished puppy. In 1997, a little Yorkie mix was born in a puppy mill. Sold to a pet store, he had little hope of finding a loving home. One day, the arrival of a young girl changed his life. The girl and her partner became the precocious little puppy’s human parents. Though officially christened Sir Robin of Loxly, the puppy came to be fondly named Snaggs. He had a grand life with his parents. As his mommy and daddy were pet lovers, their family eventually grew. The addition of Linus, Sasha, and Snoopy made Snaggs the alpha of his pack. As with every family, there were ups and downs. Nevertheless, they all remained together and happy at heart. Then came the inevitable time when Snaggs had to leave this world. His parents did everything to keep him with them to no avail. He fell into eternal sleep. Snaggs woke up to find himself in the Garden of Souls in Summerland. He was back in his prime and had the ability to speak and see. Randy, his mom’s old canine companion, told him that he had to wait for the arrival of his parents in this realm. However, Snaggs was in no mood to wait. He wanted to return to his family immediately. The little dog decided to brave the uncharted forests and mountains beyond the Garden of Souls. His only aim was to reunite with his family.
Would Snaggs be able to accomplish his mission? Would he be able to survive the harsh conditions? Would he be able to return to his family? Most importantly, would his family remember him?
Melanie Joy Mezzancello’s award-winning book, Love Snaggs: A Little Dog’s Courageous Journey, is truly “a creative blend of truth and fantasy.” This is a book that would soften even the most hard-hearted amongst us. Snaggs is one of those rare characters who is bound to touch everyone’s heart. He is little yet tenacious. His quest to make the impossible possible makes him beyond special. His unconditional love for his family and relentless efforts to meet them again will make you root for him from start to finish. The way he made unlikely friendships in Summerland is admirable. His interactions with Lenora, the lemur; Orin, the mountain lion; Billet and Millie, the mountain goats; Raptor, the pterodactyl; Shaman, the wise ram; and the dragons of Royal Volcano were a treat to read. I especially enjoyed Snaggs’ conversations with Orin and Raptor. Orin lived a solitary life when on Earth. Through Snaggs, he got to know the value of love, friendship, and family. Raptor was a dinosaur who lived in the Mesozoic Era. His time on Earth was vastly different from Snaggs’ lifetime. I learned a great deal about the height of the dinosaur era. I especially loved the references to Jurassic Park.
Mezzancello is a talented wordsmith. She uses vivid words to paint the milieu for us. Her words transport the reader to the picturesque Don Pedro Beach and the beautiful Garden of Souls. The harsh yet mesmerizing beauty of Spire Mountain and the forests of Summerland is brought to us as well. Mezzancello also makes the possibility of the land of dragons real for us. She gives us hope about a world beyond this one. The notion of multiple realms is made tantalizing by her.
Overall, Love Snaggs: A Little Dog’s Courageous Journey by Melanie Joy Mezzancello is a heartwarming read that is bound to be loved by everyone who reads it. There are snippets of knowledge about dogs, dinosaurs, dragons, lemurs, lions, and goats that are amazingly interspersed with the storyline. The book is well-edited to boot. This would make it a great read for children. I highly recommend this delightful novel to pet lovers. People who enjoy adventure stories would love this book as well.
Book Details
- Title: Love Snaggs: A Little Dog’s Courageous Journey
- Author: Melanie Joy Mezzancello
- Genre: Children’s Book
- Theme: Dog, Family, Adventure
- Publication Date: May 29 2022
- ISBN or ASIN: B0B2QG8ZKP
- Number of Pages: 77
- Minimum Audience Age: 10
Book Themes
(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)
- Sexual themes: 0
- Religious themes: 0
- Violence, self-harm, etc.: 0
- Crude language, expletives, swearing, etc.: 1
- Other adult themes: 0
Children’s Book Features
- Good role models for younger ones: Yes
- Moral values: Yes
- Good social manners: Yes
- Age-appropriate language and topics: Yes
- Age-appropriate illustrations: Not applicable
- Gained the approval of a licensed educator or professionals in a relevant field: Not specified by the author
- Based on scientifically-proven data or similar information: Not specified by the author
- Produced through industry-standard research processes: Not specified by the author
- Other relevant information:
Rating
- Content: 5 stars
- Writing Style: 5 stars
- Appeal to Target Audience: 5 stars
- Uniqueness: 5 stars
- Editing: 5 stars
- Other factors: 5 stars
- Overall: 5 out of 5
Featured Book: “Love Snaggs” by Melanie Mezzancello
Meet Snaggs, the yorkie mix. After his life on Earth is done, Snaggs crosses the Rainbow Bridge and wakes up in Summerland – the place our beloved pets and other animals go to after they die. Snaggs is determined to find a way back home to his family. He courageously leaves the safety of the…
Meet our Author: Melanie Joy Mezzancello
About the author*** Melanie wrote Love Snaggs: A Little Dog’s Courageous Journey, which won a prestigious literary prise. Melanie, a native of North Providence, Rhode Island, attended Bryant University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science and joined the Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority. Melanie’s always had a soft spot for strays and rescued pets.…
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I gave quite the royal and long name to my cat too and it ended in a completely different nickname, just like Snaggs. It’s comforting to think that our fur babies will still look for us after they’re gone. What an adorable tale!
It’s heartwarming to hear about your own pet’s royal name and the endearing nickname that emerged, much like Snaggs in the story. The bond we share with our fur babies is truly special, and the idea that they continue to look for us even after they’re gone is a comforting thought indeed. This tale truly is an adorable and touching tribute to the enduring connections we have with our beloved pets. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!