The Way of Dog is an exquisite verse novel, easy to read, full of wisdom, humour and pathos. Written by the author of the bestselling book, The Bone Sparrow, it is an intensely moving story that will awaken your senses and understanding of dogs and the unique relationships they share with us.

The Way of Dog is told through the eyes of a young loveable pup, Scruffity. Right from the start, we are immediately drawn into the story experiencing Scruffity’s world and a host of really tough lessons and foreboding characters he meets such as GrowlManJim (the owner of the kennels) and FatRat.

The real adventure begins, however, when Scruffity is rescued by his keeper, a young boy he calls MyManpup. Together they follow the river to find a new home and along the way have all manner of adventures.

This story is mesmerising, powerfully leaping off each page, aided by the design which uses specific type fonts and sizes and captivating illustrations.

The Way of Dog will have you laughing, crying and in total awe of dogs and their wisdom. This is a novel about hope, friendship and love. It is about healing and the qualities of resilience and persistence; of learning never to give up. Be strong. Be fierce. Life is more.

Reviewed by Karen Williams
Age Guide 10+