for reading aloud. This first volume of the Wild at Heart series, a spin-off of the popular American Girl stories, features 11-year-old Maggie, who has been raised by her grandmother since her parents were killed in a car accident. Gran is a veterinarian who owns the Wild at Heart Animal Clinic, where Maggie is a volunteer. The plot centers on a crisis involving 10 sick puppies brought to Gran's clinic. Maggie suspects that they all came from the same place--a puppy mill. With the help of other teen volunteers at the clinic, she sets out to find the person who's behind the mill and shut it down. Maggie's first-person narrative describes the veterinary procedures in simple language and builds suspense in the key adventure scenes. But it is Maggie's portrayal of her grandmother as a feisty, capable vet that will stick in readers' minds. The other teen volunteers introduced in this story each get a turn to shine in upcoming books in the series. (Reviewed May 1, 2000)

Gr 4-7-Maggie lives with Gran and has grown up helping in her veterinary practice at the Wild at Heart Animal Clinic. Now she is resentful that her grandmother expects her to help train some new young volunteers so that Maggie can concentrate on raising her grades. When several sick and malnourished young dogs are brought to the clinic, Maggie and the volunteers-in-training realize that there is a puppy mill nearby. They band together to gather information and develop strategies to track down the culprit and shut down the business, becoming friends in the process. Some pet-care facts from Gran's newspaper column are included after the story. Pet lovers will identify with the young characters as well as with their strong need to solve a real problem. Readers who enjoyed Betsy Duffey's "Pet Patrol" series (Viking) will be intrigued by the adventures of these youngsters.-Janie Schomberg, Leal Elementary School, Urbana, IL Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.