A Dog's life by Ann M. Margaret Date of Publication: 2005 ISBN: ISBN:0-439-71559-8 Number of Pages: 182

REQUIRED READING ABILITY: Junior: Average / High Intermediate: Average
GENRES: Adventure
THEMES: Survival - Coming of Age - Family

SUMMARY: Squirrel's doggy life story begins with her birth in a small shed on the property of some very tidy people by the name of Merrion. Squirrel’s family consists of her brother, Bone and of course, her mother. The family of three stays clear of any humans for the most part and manages to live day to day. Life in the shed with its stray cats and assorted mice is good...but then one day Squirrel’s mother doesn’t come home. After her mother’s disappearance, Bone and Squirrel take off for the world outside their little shed.

The story is one of survival. Despite many hardships and lots of adventures and misadventures, Squirrel manages to survive and make friends along the way...but will Squirrel find a forever home?

WHO WOULD LOVE THIS BOOK? A kid who...
- likes to read about animals
- wants an easy read
- likes to read about the outdoors
- likes to read about survival
- is obsessed with dogs
- loved the story, Shiloh

WHAT ELSE? This will be a good book for reluctant readers, as well as dog-obsessed children. It is written like the dog’s autobiography, which makes for a fun perspective or voice lesson.


RELATED LINK: an interview with Ann M. Martin