A Dog Called Homeless
Sarah Lean
Katherine Tegen Books, Fiction, 2012
Suitable for Ages: 8-12
Themes: Death of Parent, Grief, Dog, Hearing and Visual Impairment, Single-parent family
Awards: The 2013 Schneider Family Middle School Book Award
Book Jacket Synopsis: When Cally Fisher says she sees her dead mother, no one believers her. The only other living soul who sees Cally’s mom is a mysterious wolfhound who always seems to be there when her mom appears. And when Cally stops talking — what’s the point if no one is listening — how will she convince anyone that her mom is still with them or persuade her dad that the huge silver-gray dog is their last link with her.
Why I like this book: Sarah Lean has written a very sensitive and moving story about a girl dealing with the death of her mother. She writes with a very clear, natural and empathetic voice. Her story is about hope, friendship, determination and courage. Her plot is strong with an unexpected twist at the end. Lean does an outstanding job of developing the heart and soul of her characters. When Cally stops talking for 31 days, this determined girl has her reasons. She wants to remember and talk about her mother, who died in a car accident. But her father wants to forget and move on. Cally makes herself heard through her silence in a very unusual way. Dog lovers will cheer for the wolfhound Homeless, who is very loveable. This is a beautiful story for any child who has lost a loved one. You may visit Sarah Lean at her website.
Unusual twist on dealing with grief. I’ll definitely take a look at it.
It is an unusual twist, but it sure is a good read!
I’ve seen this beautiful cover but haven’t taken time to read about it yet. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Tina. I loved the book. The protagonist, Cally, is very determined to find healing.
I’m looking forward to reading this one and already have a copy in the shop. We’ve had a number of folks ask for recommendations of books that dealt with death and dying so I’m always on the lookout. Thanks for the review.
Think you’ll like this one Craig. It’s a bit different, but you’ll love how character-driven the book is. Cally’s a very determined to get her father to deal with the grief of their loss.
That sounds truly magical, Pat. And what a cute dog too.
The dog is trouble from the start and adds a lot of humor to the story. But, his role is very significant.
I read this last week and loved it!
Yes, I loved it too. Wrote the review months ago and am just now sharing it.
Sounds like a wonderful book that could be extremely helpful to a child and/or adult going through a challenging time.
Robin it really is an good book for middle graders looking dealing with the death of a loved one or even a pet. Very character-driven book.
This sounds really special. Such heart-rending issues are dealt with here. Bravo for featuring this, Patricia.
Yes, it is special and a book I believe you’d enjoy reading. Very different from most books dealing with loss. The dog is delightful, yet central to the story. Thank you for sharing on twitter.
Where do you find all these wonderful books Patricia? I suspect they find you. This is another one that can be very healing especially for those children who have lost a loved one or know someone who has. Thanks for bringing this book to our attention.
I am constantly searching, but many books find me in a variety of ways. Cally’s story is excellent for children who have lost someone, event a pet. Thank you for tweeting my post.
A dog book that I haven’t come across! Sounds like an excellent one. It brings to mind “To Dance With the White Dog.” A similar story of loss. I’ll have to find this one. Thanks for sharing.
Isn’t the cover beautiful, Rhythm? I think you’d enjoy this MG read — it’s a quick read. I’m always searching for good grief books for all ages.
Very intriguing. I like the premise of it. It sounds like a good supernatural-istic book. I think books like these really help kids who have to deal with death.:)
You’d like the interaction between Cally and the dog. It’s a very helpful book.