The Case of the Missing Family

Buddy Files #3

by Dori Hillestad Butler, Jeremy Tugeau (Illustrator)

Buddy has settled with his adopted family, but he's never given up on finding his beloved human, Kayla, and his first family. One night he sees men taking things out of Kayla's old house and loading them into a van. What's up? Though his friend Mouse advises against it, in the middle of the night Buddy decides to make a daring move, leaving everything he knows behind. Dori Butler's third case in The Buddy Files will entertain and satisfy the many fans of this brave, funny, and loyal dog.

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Animals, Dogs, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Juvenile

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Dori Hillestad Butler is an American author of more than 40 children's books, as well as magazine stories, plays and educational materials. Her first book, The Great Tooth Fairy Rip-Off, was published in 1997. She is known particularly for The Truth about Truman School, a 2008 young adult title focusing on the subject of cyber bullying, and for My Mom's Having a Baby (illustrated by Carol Thompson), which in 2011 appeared on the American Library Association's list of most commonly challenged books in the United States for its portrayal of conception and childbirth. Her 2010 mystery title, Buddy Files: Case of the Last Boy, won the 2011 Edgar Award for the best juvenile mystery published in 2010. Before becoming a children's author, Butler worked for three years as a page at a library.

Reviews

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken]

Momma: I officially do not like the series. He belongs with Kayla and his name is King, not Buddy.

Eleanor says: this book was very sad. At first I couldn’t decide what to rate it, I don’t know how to read it three stars because he supposed to be with his real family, and I didn’t know to give it five stars since he like found Connor and Mom. I like the series. I wonder if there is any more.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book, but I read in Japanese, a very beautiful book.

[Mloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I often like reading the books my nephew borrows from the library, just to see what kind of books he reads. So naturally at first glance, I figured this was like the other books- a bit silly, whimsical, maybe fanciful or sometimes altogether pointless but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this book had more gravitas than your average children's book. I mean borderline heavy almost and the story genuinely tugs at your heartstrings that it would give any Disney flick a run for their money. Buddy (or King) was an excellent character, he was loyal and lovable and really likable. The snippet about the "doggie-network" was brilliant because as a dog-owner myself, i often thought that what my dogs did in the middle of the night when they ask to go out and bark to other neighborhood dogs (it's like doggie-Twitter). This was an adorable book and nicely written, with a really good heartwarming (a little heartbreaking) tale about man's (and a little girl's) best friend. Great book!

[Sachie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter and I began to read this series several years ago. We were waiting for reading this book for a long time. And it was beyond our expectations! The story is sad but in today's world where natural disasters occur so often, I think that the situation in which this missing family is placed is a real situation that more and more families encounter.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book we FINALLY find out what happened to Kayla and Dad and boy was it satisfying, and a long time coming! This gives us closure on the biggest plot point of the series. I would have preferred if Uncle Marty was humbled (still haven’t forgiven him for taking Buddy to the pound) but the important thing here is that Buddy knows what happened and can move on. I was on the edge of my seat and it took barely any convincing at all to finish this read aloud in 2 sessions.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with my 3yo daughter. This book had some more mystery than the first two, but the ending is sad and also a bit difficult to believe that a family would just ditch their dog, no matter the circumstances.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son and I are really enjoying this series. Even if the last chapter in this book made me tear up a bit.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great addition to the series. We were so excited and nervous to figure out what would happen after waiting all this time with King/Buddy.

[Checkthebook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. A wonderful series for girls or boys.

[Trupti · Rating 5 out of 5]

#ReadingWithMyNiece ♡

[Ghostii · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was so good! Finally glad I got to see what happened to the family it just ended up being really sad and heartbreaking but I’m also glad it ended the way it did.

[Karalynn Foo · Rating 5 out of 5]

we love this series. highly recommend if reading to 5&7year olds. We love buddy.

[Seikaiha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It had been kind of special for me to read dog stories for quite a long time in the past. I even often wept on TV dramas with a dog. I lost my dog when I was around seven. It was a snowy day. He liked snow as most Akita dogs do. So, my father took his leash off the collar to let him play on his own. Back then the laws were not so strict on taking care of our dogs. He didn't come back. We searched him for days. He seemed to run after a delivery guy of newspaper or milk the next morning. Maybe I'm still waiting for him. My parents found his body, or the alleged body of him. I just didn't want to believe he was THAT WORD.

The Case of "the Missing Family" which started in the first book is solved in this book. We already started understanding what might have happened to Kayla and her dad in the second book. While I was reading this one, I was so scared to find that out. And I also worried about what King/Buddy would do with the two families. I wanted him to go back to his old family, or his old girl Kayla, as once a girl who lost her dog myself. Well, I won't give you a spoiler. You should find out what actually happened to his old family and what he's going to do.

I didn't weep on the last. I'm a grown-up. Haha. I'm not sure if I'll keep reading the series. Not yet.

Still, I recommend the series to all dog lovers!

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for my 3rd grade, student teaching.

This book is FUN and the kids really enjoyed the story, Buddy, and his catchphrases. Buddy's adventures are also a lot of fun for the adult too! The story is logical, engaging, and cute. I give this book 5 stars because I will definitely be using this series in my future lower elementary classroom.

I wish these books were easier to find (they are out of print) but I was able to snag a deal through eBay.

Rating system:
1 star: the absolute worst and potentially DNF
2 stars: did not like and forgettable
3 stars: casually liked, not unique, and probably forgettable
4 stars: really liked, might reread
5 stars: phenomenal, will reread, will continue to think about

[W.H. Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this early chapter book series by Dori Hillestad Butler! More importantly, my eight year old does. In this book, Buddy (formerly known as King) finally tracks down his first owner Kayla and finds out why he was put in the P-O-U-N-D. But then, what to do? Should he go back to Kayla or stay with his new owner, Connor, who also needs him?

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buddy is a mystery solving dog...a skill he learned from his previous owner. He now puts his skills to use to find his old family because he is sure they are not "That Word" (dead). He's been adopted by a nice new family that is training him to be a therapy dog so he can go to school and be read to.

[Marblesaurus · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so good. Dog lovers must read this. I've never had a dog, but enjoyed these three books a lot. Finally King/Buddy could his long lost human Kayla and came to a conclusion about which human he's going to live with. I hope the author will write more Buddy books and I'm sure there will be, because Buddy has just passed a test to become a therapy dog at school.

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery of Buddy's missing family is carried through the first three books. The plots are well organized and at the right level for six- to nine-year-old readers. I enjoyed the first three books immensely and look forward to reading the next ones. I can't wait to see what my grandchildren think. The ONLY reason I don't rate these a 5 is . . . I don't know!

[Alysha DeShaé · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buddy finally has a real lead on his missing family, who he has been trying to find since he was adopted by his new humans. Folks working in animal rescue and shelters know how heartbroken animals can become when abandoned, but Buddy manages to keep his spirits up while hoping beyond hope to find his humans.

[Kelly]

I'm glad that we finally solved the case of what happened to Buddy's family. Interesting for a series to make a case carry over for three books, but I liked it. I'm glad Buddy found his old family and knows what happened to them. They aren't, that word, that Mouse always wants to say.

[Bkwmn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading the first in this series to my second graders...I wanted to read this to find out what happened Buddy's family...cute story, but raps up a little too neatly...maybe it is better as a read aloud?

[Smilinhere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read to my son (7-yr old) he LOVED it (he's also a dog-lover)

The story is written from the dog's point of view & by changing my voice a few times - with each dog ... made it TONS of fun for me & my boys!! :) My prayer is she will add more books to this collection! :)

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading books from this series with my 7yr old. She loves them and the way they "keep her guessing". I find them predictable of course but I love reading with her and I love that she enjoys them.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are some very good quality early chapter books. I've read #1 and #3 (whoops, didn't realize we skipped 2) aloud to my four year old, and we both loved them. Real stories that aren't dumb or kiddie. Great character.

[Christi · Rating 3 out of 5]

In book 3 of the Buddy Files series, Buddy finally figures out the answer to what has happened to his first family.

[Buckham Kids Library]

Dogs

[Wakako Sugawara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite series. In this case, Buddy solved most biggest mystery lately, so I'm very worried the series might be final. It was wrong, series will be continued!!!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like how real the dog seems. His thought processes and mannerisms are really well-matched with current thoughts on dog psychology and behavior, despite being a book for young kids.

[Egan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

INteresting book. It took me two weeks to read it!

[Karen Arendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddy/King finds Kayla but learns a tough lesson about fmaily.