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A Dog's Life
Cover of A Dog's Life
A Dog's Life
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“I can’t speak for all dogs. Not all dogs are alike. And most certainly, not all dogs have the same experiences. . . .”
Squirrel is not like most dogs. Born a stray, she must make her own way in the world, facing busy highways, changing seasons, and humans both gentle and brutal. Her life story, in her own words, is marked by loss, but also by an inspiring instinct to survive. And when it seems she will roam the woods and country roads alone forever, Squirrel makes two friends who, in very different ways, define her fate.
At once heartrending and hopeful, Ann Martin’s exquisite story of a dog’s life is told with her trademark grace and insight.
“I can’t speak for all dogs. Not all dogs are alike. And most certainly, not all dogs have the same experiences. . . .”
Squirrel is not like most dogs. Born a stray, she must make her own way in the world, facing busy highways, changing seasons, and humans both gentle and brutal. Her life story, in her own words, is marked by loss, but also by an inspiring instinct to survive. And when it seems she will roam the woods and country roads alone forever, Squirrel makes two friends who, in very different ways, define her fate.
At once heartrending and hopeful, Ann Martin’s exquisite story of a dog’s life is told with her trademark grace and insight.
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  • OverDrive Listen
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Copies-
  • Available:
    1
  • Library copies:
    1
Levels-
  • ATOS:
    5.1
  • Lexile:
  • Interest Level:
    MG
  • Text Difficulty:
    3 - 6


About the Author-
  • Ann M. Martin, a Newbery Honor winner, is the author of many books for young readers, including A Corner of the Universe, a Newbery Honor Book; and Leo the Magnificat. Ms. Martin funds such charities as The Lisa Libraries and The Ann M. Martin Foundation. She makes her home in upstate New York.
Reviews-
  • AudioFile Magazine Squirrel, born a stray dog, learns the hard way about survival. Starting from Squirrel's older years and looking back, Martin allows the reader to listen with concern, but not fear, as Squirrel tells of her life from stray puppy to well-loved pet. Wendy Dillon gives all the characters individual voices, which accurately portray George's impatience, Marcy's bewilderment, and Susan's kindness. Squirrel's voice is exceptional; it is clearly that of an older, experienced dog--husky and warm, steady and calm--and Dillon paces it slowly to enhance the sense of age, patience, and wisdom. The nuances in her voice create images that range from carefree to bittersweet. Squirrel's life story is told with acceptance and a poignant grace. W.L.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine
  • School Library Journal

    February 1, 2006
    Gr 4-6 -This is Ann Martin -s first person account of life as a stray dog (Scholastic, 2005). Squirrel and her brother Bone are pups living in a country estate -s garden shed. When their mother fails to return one day, Squirrel follows her brother to look for a new home. Mother had taught them basic survival skills -to hunt for food and beware of humans. On the road, they learn another life lesson -to be wary of highways with cars. Squirrel and Bone become separated, so Squirrel moves on alone. She befriends Moon, another stray. The two dogs watch out for each other, changing homes with the changing seasons. A fatal car accident separates the two. Squirrel again sets out again on her own, employing survival skills until she meets a woman named Susan and finds a stable home. Wendy Dillon -s warm, calm voice is the perfect match to tell the tale of the experience-worn Squirrel. She adds nuances of pitch and tension to her voice when reading the few passages of dialogue. This story begs to be listened to multiple times. A good choice for animal lovers. -"Stephanie Bange, Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Dayton Metro Library, OH"

    Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

  • Publisher's Weekly

    January 16, 2006
    Martin's latest, told from the viewpoint of the title character—a pooch named Squirrel—could well be a primer for potential dog owners: it's a cautionary tale chronicling just about everything not
    to do as a canine caretaker. Dillon reads with a calm and sympathetic voice, relating how poor Squirrel is abandoned and mistreated by humans, and becomes a scrappy master of survival as she wanders the streets searching for her brother, Bone, from whom she was separated early on in life. Dillon makes certain that listeners will feel the relief and slow-emerging joy Squirrel experiences when at last she finds a kind and loving owner who truly wants—and even needs—her. Though Martin is sometimes inconsistent about what Squirrel does and does not know, listeners will be too hooked on the emotional notes and occasional dramatic moments here to mind. Ages 9-up.

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A Dog's Life
Ann M. Martin
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