Gr 3--5--Relieved to have her spirited West Highland terrier Harvey back after he wandered away from home in the previous book, Harvey Comes Home (2019), Maggie is settling in to her new school when the seventh grade girls learn they are required to complete service hours. Maggie opts to volunteer at Brayside Retirement Villa, where she found Harvey. Despite the scorn of her two closest friends, Maggie discovers she enjoys the company of the retirees. When she meets new resident Mrs. Fradette, they form a bond; Maggie is enthralled by the stories Mrs. Fradette tells of her youth. Maggie also finds herself opening to Austin, the grandson of Brayside's head custodian, who had previously rescued Harvey. This sweet dog story competently explores multiple themes. As with the first book, the innate value of learning from and listening to the elderly is highlighted. Maggie develops respect and fondness for the residents of Brayside and the lives they have lived. She also experiences the shifting social dynamics of middle school, painfully learning that expanding her circle of companions can be beneficial as old friends drift away. Her relationship with Mrs. Fradette sparks an awareness in Maggie of personal growth, as the feisty woman tells the teen about fighting to follow her passion in an age when women were not expected to do so. Maggie realizes she is far from knowing who she is, but realizes that now is the time to confidently embark on her journey of discovery. VERDICT With the winning combination of a relatable main character and an adorable dog, this book should find a home with readers seeking a warmhearted tale of growth and connection.--Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor Sch. Dist., Lancaster, PA

Austin, Maggie, and West Highland white terrier Harvey are all back for a second outing following Harvey Comes Home (2019). Can Nelson follow her excellent debut for middle-grade readers with another fine effort? Last time, Austin found the missing Harvey but, desperate for a dog of his own, held on to him longer than he should have, leaving rightful owner Maggie with ambivalent feelings toward the middle schooler. Those have not gone away. Needing to do community service, she chooses the retirement home where Austin volunteers, not expecting to find two fast friends there: Austin, who turns out to be a kindred spirit, and Mrs. Fradette, a feisty elder. She tells Maggie tales from her challenging youth, crafting another story within a story, as in Harvey Comes Home. Surprisingly, since this seems at first to merely re-create the earlier novel, a fresh tale emerges. Maggie's struggling to find a place all her own with her two BFFs, who seem to be pushing her away, and Mrs. Fradette tells of striving to find her right place--becoming an auto mechanic--as a youth in 1950, not a common story but eminently believable. Characters, likely the white default, are lovingly developed, resulting in a deeply engaging coming-of-age story. Anderson's soft, pencil illustrations set up each chapter. Another fine effort that wraps up some loose ends but also explores worthy new ground. (Fiction. 9-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.