by Margarita Engle
Amazon Description:
When Tony’s mother is sent to jail, he is sent to stay with a great uncle he has never met in Sierra Nevada. It is a daunting move—Tony’s new world bears no semblance to his previous one. But slowly, against a remote and remarkable backdrop, the scars from Tony’s troubled past begin to heal.
With his Tió and a search-and-rescue dog named Gabe by his side, he learns how to track wild animals, is welcomed to the Cowboy Church, and makes new friends at the Mountain School. Most importantly though, it is through Gabe that Tony discovers unconditional love for the first time, in Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle.
My Thoughts:
This inspiring middle grade novel was written in verse by Margarita Engle - an author who has received multiple awards. Ms. Engle actually has ties to the search-and-rescue dog community since her husband trains SAR dogs. Her extensive knowledge of rescue organizations allowed her to include important details, making Mountain Dog read incredibly true. In addition to that, the great character development, beautiful prose, and setting description of the Sierra Nevadas, all made this novel a big winner for me. I highly recommend Mountain Dog to readers from the ages of eight to eighty.
Click here to learn more about the author, Margarita Engle.
