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A Dog's Way Home

Review

A Dog's Way Home

Abby Whistler is traveling back from a dog show when a terrible accident occurs, and her dog, Tam, is thrown from the truck. Following Abby's recovery in the hospital, she and her parents visit the scene to have a look around, but they can't find her beloved Shetland sheepdog. Now that winter is approaching, the Blue Ridge Parkway will be closed, so it will be months before she can continue her search. As weeks and months slip by, Abby's family becomes doubtful that Tam is alive, but Abby doesn't give up hope.

Faith drives Abby to believe that she'll see Tam again. Her dad once told her that people have a North Star, which represents something that gives life more meaning. Abby knows that Tam is her North Star and feels that if she keeps looking, her star will shine. She tries some interesting stunts to get him back. One time she convinces the school's secretary to drive her to the bus stop so she can get a ticket to where the accident occurred. Another time she has her friend's driver take her to look for Tam.

Abby's friends advise her to call animal shelters and encourage her to pay attention to her dreams. She uses her dreams to create maps of where she thinks Tam is located. They wonder if she has the special gift of vision that her grandmother possesses. Meemaw gives her a glimmer of hope; they sit down together to see if there are any visions of Tam, and Meemaw sees that Tam is alive and searching for Abby. Abby's mom walks in and gets very upset because she feels that these visions are nonsense.

It turns out that Tam is indeed looking for her. Once used to humans, he realizes that strangers can be dangerous --- he has been shot at, avoided hunting traps, and been shooed away by people. Along the way, Tam befriends a coyote that teaches him to hunt. He encounters many dangers in the form of bobcats, porcupines, bald eagles and bears. There are times when you think he'll be saved. But does he have the courage to find Abby?

A DOG'S WAY HOME reminds me of the many great stories I read as a kid. It's a powerful tale of the inner strength to believe in our friendships even when the odds are against us. The unique storytelling --- each chapter toggles back and forth from the voices of Abby and Tam --- helps us understand their points of view. Pick up a copy because soon it'll be your child's favorite story.

Reviewed by on February 22, 2011

A Dog's Way Home
by Bobbie Pyron

  • Publication Date: April 24, 2012
  • Genres: Fiction
  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
  • ISBN-10: 0061986720
  • ISBN-13: 9780061986727