I enjoyed this book a lot. I found Jodi sweet, curious, and devoted to her family and dog, Happy. Some of the scenes/topics in this book might be too dark or scary for sensitive readers. Overall, I think this is worth the read and might help kids understand some events connected to WWII. This would be a good companion book to learning about WWII in a middle school history or social studies class. If I could rate with half stars, this would get 4.5.

Sweet and hopeful I really enjoyed this read and would highly recommend. I could also see it being used in the classroom as good discussion points. Uplifting story with lovely characters

Such a great book and one that I wanted to keep reading!

This book takes the right reader, as parts of it are dark but if the right reader finds it, they will love it!

The ending felt rushed and I thought too much was covered but overall, a great book for the right reader.

Operation Happy is such a delight to read. It warms the heart while at the same time keeping you intrigued throughout the story to always need to hear what happens next. This is a historical fiction that will make an amazing edition to any library, whether that be at home or school or traditional library.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this book. I love the character's resilience and bravery. The dog is a "happy" addition. I also like how the point of view switches between Jody and Happy. Overall, great read.

Dog fans will love this historical fiction set partly in Pearl Harbor before and during the Japanese attack, narrated at least some of the time by Happy, a retired military dog. Happy enjoys his new life as a family dog - still protecting, as dogs do. While they make a game of getting to the bomb shelter quickly during air raid drills, Happy's presence makes everyone feel a bit more comfortable when the drills aren't for practice. Happy's job is even more important when mom and the two daughters are transferred to San Francisco for safety while dad, a marine, stays behind in Hawaii. A great picture of the Pacific coast homefront during WWII and a sweet story about dog love and loyalty. I added this one to my summer recommendations.

As a historical fiction lover myself I thought this would be a fun one to read with my daughter. She loves dogs so it seemed perfect. I love that right out the gate you know that Happy will be fine in the end because so many books with dogs don’t end that way. Happy made for a fun spin on sharing about the events of Pearl Harbor.

Since I do enjoy historical fiction, it’s always from the adults perspective so it was interesting reading this from a child’s perspective. Some hard topics are discussed throughout this book which is the nature of a historical event of this magnitude so I do think you need to be aware of your child’s emotional maturity to handle such topics.

Overall, this was a good read!

I read this book for consideration for inclusion in a curriculum package for Curriculum Associates.
Thank you for the e-arc, we greatly appreciated the opportunity to review this pre-publication.

Walsh does an excellent job of combining a child's personal conflict with world issues. We see the impact of constantly adjusting to new environments and the uncertainty of war combined with the necessary changes that come with aging. Fear and anxiety are palpable but manageable in this narrative. Most notably, the book includes the attack on Pearl Harbor in a real and present manner. We experience the chaos, the smoke and danger, the grim reality, without it ever becoming overwhelming or graphic.

Excellent book about the bombing of Pearl Harbor - and its aftermath - for more sensitive readers. Based on real events and people, this book focuses on Jody and her family, including her beloved dog Happy. Jody's dad is stationed at the Pearl Harbor naval base in 1940, and Jody pays little attention to the war happening way over in Europe - until it comes to their island. While the bombing scenes are intense, they are brief. Soon, Jody, her mother, her sister, and Happy are evacuated to California and find that their fight has only begun. Happy serves as comfort and inspiration for Jody, who feels more alone than ever.
With themes of family, courage, problem-solving, hope, friendship, and forgiveness, this is highly recommended for 3rd grade and up.

I read Operation: Happy one with my 8-year-old daughter and we really enjoyed it. She loves dogs so when I saw this cover with a dog, I knew that it would be a hit for her. This book is geared more towards middle school age, but my 3rd grader did great comprehending the story and knowing what was going on. We had wonderful discussions regarding the things we read about in this book. It is definitely on the heavy side with it being based around war, but it's done very appropriately for children and isn't frightening. Kids who love history will really enjoy this one.

Thank you NetGalley, and Zonderkidz, for an ARC in return for my honest review.

What a beautiful story that will touch your heart! Excellent book for literature circles! Students will have many opportunities for discussion about family, war, and friendships.

This was a wonderful read aloud for our family! A beautiful story about an important time in history that is perfect for children just learning to understand.

Happy was just who Jody needed to help her through the many challenges that she faced growing up in a military family. He brings joy and companionship into her life. When disaster strikes Pearl Harbor and then her family, her missions with Happy help her to cope and survive.

Jody was just who Happy needed to give his life purpose and a continued sense of responsibility. As a retired army dog, he's happy to be "on mission" with his girl and help her to stay safe in a very dangerous time. Though he's getting a little gray, he's still ready to work and play hard.

This book just made me happy. Sorry, it's punny, but very true. I loved the characters and hearing the story through two different voices. Happy's voice was so entertaining. The book deals with tough subjects in an optimistic, yet realistic way. Even though it is middle grade fiction, I know I enjoyed it as much as my students will.

Great story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Zonderkids for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

An interesting junior read, that nicely dramatises Pearl Harbor for us, as well as what comes after, all seen through the eyes of a military family's daughter and her love for the old faithful, Happy the retired guard-dog. We see the flip of that, too, as every five chapters or so the narrative jumps to be closer to his POV, although the view isn't great with his failing eyesight and old age. You could say the build-up to the Japanese attack was a little too long, but this allows the girl/dog love to be proven by action and not exposition, and the assault is underplayed anyway, seen through our heroine's naivety.

The second half, set in San Francisco, is a bit more soapy, but as our cast become displaced it's surely the point of this that they were aliens in just the next state over, that the times were bad even if the country never saw war on its soil, and that whatever happened the link with Happy was a perfect help and grounding. So it's a bit awkward to read at the end that this is based on a true story, but the mutt isn't. Yet there's a flip-side to that too – it seemed ridiculous the family were just disembarked at San Francisco and forced to get on as they did with no military help. If that is also true – that being a Marine family counted for so damned little in this time – it's an extraordinary eye-opener. If it's not true, like I say – soapy, but not unreadably so, as this is a firm four stars.

This is a very lovely and heartwarming book. It follows the story of a little girl and her dog as they navigate hardship new trauma and new friendship. The girl, jody, makes a list every where she goes of things she wants to do. after the attack on her temporary home in hawaii, that list turns into a coping list without her realizing. this is a sweet story for all ages and I really enjoyed it!

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Operation: Happy is an engaging and relaxing historical fiction book based on a true story.
We follow two POV; Jody whos twelve-years-old, and her dog Happy. Happy came to love with Jody and her family after being retired as a military dog. The family travel around alot due to her father being in the Marines. Set during the time of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, we follow this family through their experience of the attack and being narrated from two different points of view; a human and an animal, was really captivating and unique.
The first part of the book is their life before the attack, and the second part is the attack and the aftermath.
I thought it was fantastic at the beginning of the book that the author let's the listener know that Happy doesn't die as that would have been very traumatic for even myself as an adult to have read through. This was a beautifully told story and very eye opening to what the children, families and even animals were subjected to during this war.

Operation: Happy tells the story of the Zuber family, stationed on Ford Island during World War II. Jody, the family’s younger daughter, is the proud owner of Happy, a former Marine dog re-homed after his retirement. The story is told from the alternating points of view of Jody and Happy, who are enjoying their life together in Hawaii, even as Jody notices her mom acting more and more nervous and unsettled and with air raid drills occurring more frequently. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Jody and Happy are sent to safety in San Francisco along with her mother and sister while their Marine father remains behind. This leads to great strain on the family and Jody must step up with Happy’s support to help her family survive. Jody and Happy are a fabulous duo. Jody’s bravery and resilience in the face of challenges are admirable and drive the story. Happy’s unwavering support for Jody helps her to cope when things seem especially dark. Operation: Happy provides an accessible and informative perspective for middle grade readers interested in World War II and the surrounding events.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC to read and review.

I loved reading this story! It was so different from what is on the kids fiction shelves. This story takes place during Pearl Harbor. This family was living in Hawaii and moves to California to be safer. All while one of the kids in the family have a new dog that used to be a working dog. I fell in love with these characters very quickly. It was cool to see the different chapters - one her side, the next the dogs perspective. As I was reading it seemed to be going to a sad ending but it pulled through in the end. It really was a great story. The best part is that this was based on a true story and that there is even more to the story if the reader wanted to keep it going. I gave it 4 stars because it was such a great story, great characters, great morals but I couldn't give it that last star because it ended very abruptly. I wanted it to be tied with a bow at that end but it left open ends. Granted that is so you go read her true story its based on but I really wish it wrapped up here too.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this middle grade novel.

I really enjoyed this book, and think many students will like it. The dog is central, which is always a huge bonus for many middle grade readers, and Happy does a great job taking center stage.