This is great choice for animal lovers and reluctant readers. I love that it's based on a true story (although it seems a little confusing to be set in a unspecified time period versus clearly historical, since it's unlikely animals would be caged in such a way today in the U.S. I think.). 
 I liked the nuances of Mack, George, and Julia's perspectives. Some of the animals' words and thoughts did seem too sophisticated to me, though. Obviously, it's all speculation, but would a dog really say, "You're being a temperamental artist?" I really did enjoy it, though - a quick and hopeful story that could make an animal activist out of most anyone.