A fun-and-friendship-filled follow-up to Maven Takes the Lead in the must-read middle grade series from Girl Scouts of the USA, starring a group of fifth graders who love making the world a better place. This novel written by New York Times bestselling author Sayantani DasGupta is perfect for fans of The Baby-Sitters Club and American Girl's Girl of the Year series.

Anika loves animals.

She loves bird-watching in her backyard, volunteering at the animal shelter with her Girl Scout troop, and caring for her elderly neighbor’s parrot. Anika wants a pet, but her parents have a long list of reasons to say no, including that they aren’t sure Anika is up for the responsibility.

When Anika discovers a stray dog in her neighbor’s backyard, she decides to take charge all on her own. Between friend fights at school and her mom working harder than ever, Anika could use the distraction. This is something she wants to handle herself. But then the pup doesn’t show up for a few days and Anika is worried something is wrong. With time running out, it’s up to Anika to build a web of support strong enough to bring the dog to safety. 

Look out for more incredible middle grade books from Girl Scouts:

• Maven Takes the Lead, the first book in this Girl Scout Novel series, available now!
• The Ultimate Friendship Journal, available now!
• Take Action: You Can Make the World a Better Place, coming Fall 2025