I accidentally selected the audiobook format and decided to request the ebook version. This book is great for readers who like Lauren Tarshish's "I Survived" series and those searching for historical fiction titles featuring young teens dealing with the issues surrounding WWII, military kids living on base and their experiences on base, responsible/good pet ownership, and dealing with the emotions and issues surrounding pet loss. I LOVED this book and will recommend that my library purchase this book for our collection/readers.

What a lovely middle grade audiobook! I’ve never read a story about people stationed at Pearl Harbor who were displaced after the bombings. Having this told from the perspective of a military child and her dog was so ingenious. Jody was such a likeable and strong character and her dog, Happy, was undeniably loveable. Their bond was heartwarming and listening to Happy support Jody through difficult times was beautiful. This book deals with heavier topics, war and depression being at the top of the list, but they are handled with care. I really loved this story.

Operation Happy is a story about Jodie and her dog, Happy. Jodie is the daughter of a marine, who leans on her relationship with her dog as they move from base to base. The bulk of the story takes place on Ford Island (Pearl Harbor) and the San Francisco. While I really enjoyed the part of the book set in Hawaii, it felt rushed when it came to the part in California. I thought the author did a good job portraying how the characters would react to the events they lived through. The end did feel a bit rushed to get back to everything being “okay,” though. It is interesting to learn that this boom is based on a real family. I enjoyed how narration bounced between Jodie and Happy. The narrators of the audiobook were great. I don’t think my kids are quite ready for this book yet, but I’ll happily share it with them in a couple years!

Thank you to NetGalley and Zonderkidz-Audiobooks for the advanced copy. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I enjoyed this book so much. I was captivated the whole time while listening to this book. Jody and Happy are the most adorable characters, their bond is so sweet. Happy is a retired military dog who is going blind, that’s how he ends up with Jody who has always wanted a dog. His POV chapters are so cute! This is a tear jerker so prepare if you plan to read it. Its based in WWII era during the Pearl Harbor attacks. A beautiful, cute story but sad because its based on true events. The narrator did a great job!

Operation: Happy is a delightful story of Jodie and the unbreakable bond she has with her beloved dog, Happy. Being in a military family, Jodie only has one wish, to have a dog. She is used to moving from town to town but hopes for a dog because “going to sleep will always feel the same, after I close my eyes because he will be there”.
When Jodie’s dad gets his new orders for Pearl Harbor the family has to move to Hawaii where things are different, and the atmosphere is tense. When the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, Jodie has to move to San Francisco. While her mom struggles with what has happened and her dad goes to fight during World War II, it is up to Jodie “lead team Zuber”. This is a great story to teach the history behind Pearl Harbor and the aftermath as a military family.
I would give this book 4 stars because Jenni L. Walsh really ties you into the story and Jodie’s feelings throughout the book. I love the transition of POV’s between Happy and Jodie making you really feel the emotions throughout. The Narrators Gail Shalan and Brian Holden did an amazing job giving a voice to Jodie and Happy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Zonderkidz for the ARC.

This novel of historical fiction is based on a true story of a miliary Marine family. Here you will experience events from the attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor and how a family dealt with the aftermath of the attack and being separated from the father for safety during the war. The title character is a dog named Hapoy! 

Jody is the first person voice. Oh, and Happy has a perspective too. Jody and her family are having a tough go… air raid drills that the residents living near Pearl Harbor had to go through since the military was aware that an attack from Japan may happen, the actual attack on Pearl Harbor and the depression that the mother dealt with after her and the girls evacuated for safety to San Francisco. 

I enjoyed this book in audio style which was very well done and engaging.
The story is at times tense and stressful and the narrators use voice infections to portray emotion. 
The author makes sure to let the reader know that the dog will not die which is helpful and much appreciated by those who are more sensitive readers.

I recommend this work of historical fiction.

First off, I loved that the preface told the reader that the dog would make it through the book. Thank you! Bonus star just for that!

Overall, this is a book about finding strength during hard and scary times while also learning to look for (or create!) moments of happiness.

This is based on a true story of a girl whose father was stationed at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked; their house was destroyed in the attack and the family was shot at while they fled to safety. (The dog was added by the author and was a great asset to the story!) I thought the author did a fantastic job of walking the line of telling the facts and history of war while keeping it safe enough for kids to read/listen to. There are big themes included such as the mother falling into a deep depression and the girls needing to take care of themselves. Racism against the American Japanese is briefly touched on.

I listened to the audiobook and both narrators did a good job.

I will be playing this audiobook for my 4-7th grade kids.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review.

This was a really sweet book about the bond between a girl and her dog, set against the backdrop of one of the worst wartime attacks on US soil. Walsh has done a wonderful job telling a story from the perspective of a tween girl and carrying on the level of maturity to be expected from someone of that age with those life experiences. I felt like the book dealt well with depression and was sensitive to the subject matter. I think the only dissonance for me was with the ending...it felt really abrupt and everything wrapped up super nicely. I would have loved a bit more aftermath about the longterm impacts of the mother's depression. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book, and have already added a copy to my classroom library.

“So he stared straight ahead, not looking back, and trusted that his girls would be okay. And that this was only the beginning of their true Happy List together.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐ // 5

Twelve-year-old Jody Zuber loves to make lists. And for her top one, she wished for a dog. On her birthday, that is what she gets. A big, fluffy, husky mix named Happy. But another reason she loves to make lists? It helps to have ten things she loves about every place she lives, considering that her family moved a lot. However, her peaceful and serenity life ends abruptly when her dad, a Marine, is sent to Honolulu, Hawaii and they go with him.

That’s when the bombs happened in December 1941. Suddenly, Jody, her older sister by one year—Peggy, Happy, and their mom are sent to a safer place in San Francisco. But her dad stays behind, serving as part of the U.S. Military after they announced to enter the war. But after so many changes, how can Jody cope? When his dad asked for her to lead team Zuber? And most importantly, as team Zuber is slowly falling apart?

Full of richness and powerful messages, this realistic historical novel will make an impact for readers of all ages. And, of course, it’s simply perfect for dog or animal lovers, history fans, and anyone who needs a reminder that although there might be difficult times, you will always be able to push through it.


P.S. I listened to the audiobook version so my reaction might not be the same if I were to read it!


Things I loved:

★ Happy’s POV - Realistic, adorable, yet empowering. Reminds us yet again that sometimes we don’t deserve animals!

★ Peggy - Although her and Jody’s sister relationship is full of flaws, it was yet again realistic and smooth. There is a visible change of arc and she’s such a morally-gray and relatable character—just like all the other characters.

★ Reference from real Pearl Harbour survivor, Joan Zuber Earle - Make this book so authentic and easy for me to imagine. My heart was really pounding when they were being attacked and sent away! The historical events are also very realistically portrayed.

★ Fast-paced - Although it might be occasionally slow, it is still very enjoyable, especially in audiobook format.

★ Jody’s first-person-POV - I often don’t enjoy first-person, especially in Middle Grade novels. However, Jody’s POV was so engaging and after just a few pages she advanced as a relatable, morally-gray, and a round character. I got to become her and experience and see things through her lenses, which makes this book even better.

★ Tension and emotion - Tension builds off so well and it’s all so immersive yet satisfying. And even though we knew from history what is yet to come, it was still nerve-wracking in a way!

★ The Fountain of Youth - Raises questions and adds intrigue. An awesome way for readers to take a little break from all the World War II things going on. And we really get worried about Happy, too, and if he is really going to stop aging after the drink.

★ Good themes explored - Such as friendship, sistership, family, and dealing with scary times (in the world and at home)!

★ Representation of diverse perspectives - At first, Jody was reluctant when she and Peggy were staying with another family, since their maid was Japanese—and it was the Japanese who bombed Pearl Harbour. However, she came to realize that the maid, Hana, wasn’t scary at all like she feared. Instead, she is very nice and keeps her secret about Happy. Moreover, when she returns to school in San Francisco, there’s a Japanese classmate whom she feels bad for, since she got sent to a camp. Which also makes us learn to not stereotype—whether it’s for the Japanese or any other!

★ Operation Happy - Another reminder to treasure your pet, for they will not live forever! And, of course, to spend as much time as you can. Perhaps, the list will help both you and your dog cope with a difficult time as well!

★ Narration - And, of course, the narration! I thoroughly enjoyed it, which I didn’t expect. This is actually my first time listening to a full-length audiobook


There is little that didn’t work quite as well for me, and they were all related to the writing. The story and characters are honestly so fun to read about, and my time is definitely put into good use. Especially when I can listen when I’m doing other things such as taking a walk or simply eating lunch.

Anyway, something that could’ve been better was, first, like I mentioned before, I loved Jody’s first-person perspective. However, Happy’s point-of-view is actually in third person, even though I, personally, would love for it to be first-person. Also, the narrative starts off pretty repetitive, and sometimes transitions are pretty rough. Lastly, there lacked 1940s aspects, since it felt really like a modern time except the war element.

But overall, I really enjoyed it. I’m excited to read some more historical fiction like this, and I will always think back on Happy and Jody’s adventures! :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Zonderkidz for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

As a lover of historical fiction and mother of 2 young kids, I thought this would be a good one to read and maybe put on their shelf for when they get older in case they end up liking historical fiction too. Because my children are so young, though, I couldn’t help but read it through the lens of a young audience and therefore found more faults than praise. I will say I loved that it opened by immediately letting the reader know that Happy would be ok because that’s something I think all dog lovers come into a book like this worried about and it made it easier to read knowing the worst thing that could happen, wouldn’t happen. I also loved that she carried a list of 10 good things about the new places she lived in each time she moved because as someone who also moves a lot, I found it hopeful and inspiring even as an adult.
What I didn’t so much like was that a lot of this book was centered around 2 children being quite neglected and having their childhoods basically ripped from them. I know it’s hard to write a book like this for kids in any other way while staying historically accurate, but that leads me to think maybe this age group isn’t ready to learn about such heavy topics. I could be wrong, and children are able to conceptualize more than I’m giving them credit for, but I would have liked to see the message relayed at the very end to have been more at the forefront of the novel so that young readers can’t miss that the main message being sent across is not that children are responsible for taking care of their families in hard times, but that their parents are responsible for taking care of them.

Narrator was amazing. Love the content and the age appropriateness of it. Loved that they included the dog’s perspective. Appreciated the reassurances in the beginning about Happy

I loved this book! It wasn't all "happy" but such a well-told story, inspired by real-life experiences of a Pearl Harbor survivor. #OperationHappy A World War II Story of Courage, Resilience, and an Unbreakable Bond is a moving middle-grade story about Jody, the daughter of a Marine and her beloved dog, Happy. The story is told from both Jody's and Happy's POV with such love for each other and their family as they navigate & overcome heartbreak, tragedy, depression and many other challenges. Written by #JenniLWalsh and narrated by #GailShalan & #BrianHolden as #Happy Thanks to #NetGalley for the eAudioARC to review.

This book, "Operation: Happy" by Jenni L. Walsh is one that many homeschool parents may want to consider adding to their libraries. Based on a true story of a miliary Marine family, this historical fiction portrays events from the attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor to how a family dealt with the aftermath of the attack and being separated from the father for safety during the war. The dog, Happy's perspective is a welcome relief from some of the hard subjects that are dealt with by the main character Jody.

Jody and her family go through a lot. From the air raid drills that the residents living near Pearl Harbor had to go through since the military was aware that an attack from Japan may happen, the actual attack on Pearl Harbor and the depression that the mother dealt with after her and the girls needed to evacuate for safety to San Francisco, the book deals with many tough subjects.

This part is a spoiler, but something I feel important for parents to know especially for younger, sensitive readers. The older daughter is attacked by a man in the building they are living in while in San Francisco but the dog Happy stops it before it gets too far. The details are not graphic and Jody is there to witness it, but this prompts Jody into looking for a safer place to live since neither the mom or sister are able to cope with this and for Jody to call her father who helps in getting his family moved to a safer place. These events do affect the children and their feelings are explored in the book.

The description states this is for 8-12 but I think I'd wait until 11+ before I'd let my daughter read this one because some of these subjects will prompt difficult conversations. Every family is different though so parents should be aware of the content for discussions prior to letting their children read this one. I do highly recommend the book and will want my daughter to read this when she is older.

Thank you to Zonderkids fiction and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have a special place in my heart for good children's historical fiction, and this was especially fantastic and unique because it talked about events surrounding WWII and Pearl Harbor from the perspective of a dog and his little girl. Inspired by the true story of a Pearl Harbor survivor, we follow Jody and Happy as they flee danger and end up in San Francisco. Unfortunately, the father cannot come yet, her mother is depressed, and Jody is worried about her family staying together.
We hear the story from both Jody and Happy, and the narrator does a great job voicing the emotions that go along with so much fear and stress while staying hopeful. This was an excellent book, and the author is even considerate enough to let us know that nothing bad happens to Happy in the story. Thanks so much to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook.

A middle grade historical fiction novel that would be a great addition to a classroom or school library. There are heavy topics so I would be cautious with younger readers. Jody and her dog happy face a lot of trials as their home of Pearl Harbor is bombed and they are faced with moving away from their father for safety reasons. A beautiful story of perseverance.

Based on actual events of a middle school age girl is on base during the Pearl Harbor attack. Her father's military background helps provide the courage and strength the family needed during this challenging part of her life.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. Very well done with two narrators, Gail Shalan and Brian Holden.

Wow! Jenni L. Walsh has written over a dozen other books. I'll have to check out some additional books she has written! This was my first book by her.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Zonderkidz for approving my request to listen to the advance listen copy of Operation Happy in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is 02 April 2024.

If you read a middlegrade book this year I highly suggest this one. It was filled with laughter, sadness and adventure plus had a dogs POV. This book is one even adults would enjoy. I listened to the audiobook version and loved the narration of the story.

This was such a cute book. The narrator was fabulous and thought she added a lot to the story. I read a lot of books set in WW2 but very few from the perspective of a little girl and her dog. I devoured it and will recommend it to both younger and adult aged readers.

Operation: Happy by Jenni L. Walsh is a moving historical fiction about family, home, and the comfort of friendship with a good dog. Based on the real-life story of Joan Zuber Earl, the details included in this story are so incredibly vivid and transport the reader completely into the story. It is geared towards a middle-grade audience but is also an excellent read for adults. A perfect read for April, the month of the military child.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Zonderkids for providing me with an advanced audio copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was a sad story about a young girl who is given far more than any young child should deal with. I'm glad the author decided to add Happy despite the omission of him from history. He added some much appreciated levity.