My Review
Punk's Plight is an absolutely adorable children's book about an English Bulldog named Pumpkin, or Punk for short. Punk has a good life, and is loved by her family. But Punk's life wasn't always so great. Punk's previous family stopped caring for her, neglecting her, and because of that, she suffered from some medical issues. Soon, though, Punk is rescued by a man named Xavier. Xavier cares for Punk, and eventually, Punk goes to her new home where she is lavished with love and affection, which is all she ever wanted. 
This is a delightful story that deals with a tough subject. It's a good way for parents to discuss caring for pets with their children. And while the story deals with neglect of a dog, it can also be used to discuss neglect of people too. In fact, Xavier starts his dog rescue because he was a foster child who bounced from home to home, feeling unwanted and unloved. 
The illustrations are sweet, and the pictures of real-life Punk at the end are so cute! Kids will definitely fall in love with Punk.
It's a very heartwarming tale (tail) that will make kids (and adults) want to cuddle their pets a little closer after they finish reading it. 
5 stars!

Guest Post
The Importance of Books about Tough Topics like Neglect
It’s hard to talk about abuse, neglect, and feelings of loneliness and abandonment.  We probably don’t discuss these things enough as adults, let alone to young children.  But the fact is, lots of children face difficult situations and have big feelings about hard things they have faced in life.  If they don’t have a good support system who will teach them?  How will they learn?  We know that abuse and neglect tend to be cyclical.  We must work together, as a society, to help break that cycle.

Punk’s Plight has many different levels to it.  First, it could just be a sweet book about a cute dog who managed to have a good life after having a rocky start.  That’s just the surface story though.  It is also a book to help that child out there that is being neglected and just doesn’t have the word for it.  It might help them find the courage to talk to a trusted adult, to seek support.  It is also a book for that friend who knows their family is different from their friends, but they can’t identify why their friend isn’t acting “normal.”  They can’t understand why their friend is dirty or scared or anxious.  It is a book for that friend to be an ally to someone in need.

 But it is also a book for adults.  For educators, child psychologists, and counselors, this is a tool to use with children who have experienced neglect.  Punk can be the voice to the feelings they have.  Punk can say what they are feeling but dare not say aloud.  Punk can be a safe outlet for them.  It can also be used to educate students who have not experienced trauma, but to teach them as a preventative tool.  And lastly, it can help heal some old wounds of survivors of abuse and neglect.  My hope is that it will be all these things to different people at different times.

It’s important to talk about hard things.  It’s important to give a voice to feelings we have, especially to the very young.  It’s also important to teach children so that we can help prevent neglect.  I hope I have done that in this book.  I hope it will help many, many people; but I’ll be happy if it helps just one.