Karen Fuller goes to the cemetery to visit the grave of her son Toby, who was lost in war. With her is Buddy, Toby’s elderly dog, who doesn’t want to leave because he knows his best friend is coming back. The story then flashes back to when Toby and his mother first move to the small town of Riverton, WA, to make a fresh start, after Toby’s dad abandons the family. Toby meets a stray golden retriever on his way to school, which he adopts and names Buddy. As he navigates high school, he learns lessons about friendship, love, family, and dedication. Toby has highs (a baseball championship) and lows (a tragic car accident) on his passage to adulthood, and his best friend, Buddy, is there for him through it all, till the end.
VERDICT This title will certainly appeal to fans of W. Bruce Cameron’s dog books, but especially to his young adult fans. As Toby matures through his late teens, Buddy remains wholly doggish throughout their journey together.
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