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.

I will be buying a copy of this book when it comes out! The historical aspect of this accompanied by the perspective of Happy the dog, made a heart wrenching time in history a little more relatable for students in today’s world.

Based on a true story of a young girl in WWII who experienced Pearl Harbor, it opened my eyes to the others on the island that were significantly impacted by the war. I found myself listening and feeling every emotion of the main character. Even as she navigated her mother’s depression, I was impressed by Jodie’s resiliency aided by her dog.

This is a book worthy of a spot on the bookshelf of a middle school classroom teacher!

✨Review✨

On our road trip down to Florida for spring break we listened to this audiobook and wow! It was so good. I highly recommend this for elementary and middle school students and classes who are learning about WWll and Pearl Harbor. It’s from a perspective of a child whose father served and their family was there on the island at the time of the attack. It broke my heart to see it from a child’s point of view and what their family went through. I learned so much of what families went through, and after the attack what happened to families. The chapters go back and forth from the little girls perspective, and the dogs perspective who saw the family from another light. The dad getting sent after the attack, the family relocating back to the states, the mom going through a depression, trying to get back on their feet, and just the processing of what happened. As an adult I so enjoyed this. My kids asked lots of questions and it was a fun way to introduce a little of that and have some great conversations. It came out April 1st. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley @zonderkidz and @jennilwalsh for this advance copy! #netgalley #zonderkidzbooks #jennilwalsh

This book was incredible! This book is for all ages. I was inspired by Jody and her perseverance. What she went through, and knowing it was based on a real story that I immediately looked up during the author note

Christmas a few years prior to the main part of the story, Jody got an amazing dog name Happy.
Jody is the younger daughter in a military family that just got moved to Pearl Harbor in 1940., Her mom was ansty and didn’t want to be there, she had a bad gut feeling and started to prepare in anyway she knew how. Pearl Harbor happened and the war started. Jody, her sister Peggy and Happy got moved around a lot sometimes with and sometimes without adults. Until they landed in a forever place but then had to handle the difficulty of not being on a battlefield anymore.

I honestly can’t think of anything that I didn’t like about this book.

Dog POV 5 stars
Sisters supporting each other 5 stars
Asking for help and being strong enough to accept it 5 stars

Operation: Happy is based on the true story of a Pearl Harbor survivor's time on the island during the 1941 bombing. Each time Jody and her family move to a different military base, she makes a list of things she wants to accomplish in order to feel more at home in her new location. Shortly after arriving at Pearl Harbor, she learns that her beloved dog Happy is getting older. Jody is now on a mission to get through a bucket list of things to do with Happy before he gets too old to do them. She calls this Operation: Happy.

When Pearl Harbor is bombed, Jody, her mother, and her sister must move to San Francisco while her dad stays behind on Pearl Harbor. Without her father, her mother enters a deep depression. Can Jodi and Happy keep the family afloat until they are reunited with her father?

This is a dual narrative told by both Jody and Happy. The audiobook has both a female and male narrator that handled the parts well. Although the chapters dealing with Jody's mother's depression were pretty bleak, I enjoyed the story. It's a good piece of historical fiction to add to middle-grade libraries.

Thanks to Zonderkidz and NetGalley for a review copy of this audiobook.

I was a bit scared to read this book, and I still don't think I can quite give it to my sensitive 12 year old after reading it, since I felt uncomfortable myself with some of the content. This is about a family that survives Pearl Harbour, gets separated from their Marine father, and moves to San Francisco. They are held together by 11 year old Jodi and her dog Happy (who narrates some of the book). I LOVED the relationship between Jodi and her dog and the growing relationship between Jodi and her sister Peggy. The description of life in Hawaii was great too. Overall though, even though I'm sure it was highly accurate, there was a bit too much sadness and lack of parental care in this book to make it recommendable to a younger audience, in my opinion.

Operation: Happy is a touching story about a family and their experiences during Pearl Harbour. Jody and her family are living in Hawaii as the attacks take place. The fear and trauma associated with that time follows them through their journey to survive then and afterwards. Through all her troubles, Jody has the love of her dog, Happy. This book is great and depicts clearly the event in history as well as the effects it had on families.

YouTube Review: 04/10/24
YouTube Handle: KeenCat

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. The main perspective is Jodi, the daughter of a marine with occasional second perspective chapters from the point of view of her partially blind dog, Happy. Jodi and her family have recently moved to Ford Island in 1941. The story takes you through trials that a family goes through from the effects of the war. Many things I had never considered before. Jodi always creates a list of things that make her happy about each new area her military family moves to, but here has decided to create a new list, Operation Happy, fun things that Jodi and Happy can do together to distract them from the awfulness of the effects of war. Jodi is an amazing young lady with determination and grit. Operation Happy is heartbreaking and heartwarming in various parts. I loved this story! It felt so real from both perspectives. Such a joy to see how a dog can bring strength, comfort, and happiness through all aspects of life. It also shows in a very real way how it is ok and necessary for us to seek help when life is too much. I listened to the audiobook, which was very well done. I enjoyed the voices of both Jodi and Happy and was always disappointed when I had to turn it off if something else required my attention. This is a historical fiction that will make an amazing edition to any library, whether that be at home or school or traditional library.