About this item
A unique masterpiece about loss, love, and the world's best bad dog, from award-winning author Leslie Connor, author of the National Book Award finalist The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle.It's a life-altering New Year for thirteen-year-old Lydia when she uproots to a Connecticut farm to live with her aunt following her mother's death.Aunt Brat and her jovial wife, Eileen, and their ancient live-in landlord, Elloroy, are welcoming -- and a little quirky. Lydia's struggle for a sense of belonging in her new family is highlighted when the women adopt a big yellow dog just days after the girl's arrival.Wasn't one rescue enough?Lydia is not a dog person -- and this one is trouble! He is mistrustful and slinky. He pees in the house, escapes into the woods, and barks at things unseen. His new owners begin to guess about his unknown past.Meanwhile, Lydia doesn't want to be difficult -- and she does not mean to keep secrets -- but there are things she's not telling...Like why the box of "paper stuff" she keeps under her bed is so important... And why that hole in the wall behind a poster in her room is getting bigger...And why something she took from the big yellow dog just might be the key to unraveling his mysterious past -- but at what cost?Award-winning author Leslie Connor crafts a story that sings about loss and love and finding joy in new friendships and a loving family, along with the world's best bad dog. This uplifting story about recovery features strong female characters, an adorable dog, and the girl who comes to love him.
About the Author
From the author's website:My life began suddenly (you can even ask my mother) in an antique farmhouse outside of Cleveland, Ohio. I was born right on the family room floor ~ no time to get to the hospital! I swear, I've been in a hurry ever since. When I was in fourth grade we moved to a neighborhood full of kids outside of Schenectady, New York. My Dad worked for a company that sold some of the finest printing papers in all the land. He often brought home big, beautiful, heavy books that pinned me to my chair when I held them in my lap, and I loved to turn the pages, look at the photography and illustrations and smell the ink. As a kid I took dancing lessons and did gymnastics. I could be found upside-down in odd places like the middle of the stairway, not that I recommend it! My bedroom was a messy nest full of paint sets and paper scraps, embroidery threads and sewing projects. In school I was good at some things and not at all good at others. Still, I found my passions. I went to college, first at SUNY, Cobleskill, where I received an associate's degree in agriculture, and later at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Ct. where I earned a bachelor's degree in fine art. At first, I was interested in children's books from an illustrator's point of view. But the writing part surprised me ~ came up from behind and tapped me on the shoulder. I realized that my head and heart were very full of stories and that I should pay attention! My ideas come from everyday life, and I write for readers of all ages. I live in the Connecticut woods with my husband and three children. (Well, the kids are getting big and they all drive cars now so they come and go a lot these days. ) We keep our bird feeders full, do a little gardening and stack a lot of firewood. I hike the trails near my home almost every morning. Then I make a pot of tea and get to work. Usually, my loyal Writing Dogs are right by my side. (Sometimes I even borrow dogs from my neighbors. You can't have enough dogs.) I love making artisan pizzas and pots of soup and my favorite treat is dark chocolate. I also love to ride my bike down to the diner to meet my friends for breakfast and more tea. (Hmm...that's a lot of eating, isn't it? ) Life is fine!
