Leigh Botts, of Newbery-winning Dear Mr. Henshaw, is still learning
to cope with his parents' divorce - a task to which he brings his
earlier sensitivity and a new self-confidence. Now 14 and entering
high school, Leigh and best-friend Barry find an appealing
abandoned dog on the beach and name him Strider. Both boys would
like to keep him; Barry's large, amiable family could easily
accommodate Strider, but Barry - realizing how much Leigh wants the
dog despite the probability that his landlady will object -
suggests a unique joint custody. The arrangement works beautifully
until Barry goes away for his annual month with his mom; when he
comes back, Leigh's reluctance to share Strider cools their
friendship - until the boys finally level with each other and work
out a new deal that recognizes Leigh's greater need and affection
for the dog. The action, as described in Leigh's diary, pivots
around Strider; meanwhile, however, family relationships
(especially Leigh's with his dad) are subtly growing and maturing
in trademark Cleary style, the accessible, lightly humorous surface
just one of the levels of an insightful story about idiosyncratic
but nice characters dealing with universal issues. A sequel that
could stand on its own (but won't have to); a comforting picture of
a dear old friend thriving while continuing to work out his
problems. Zelinsky's perceptive drawings are an excellent bonus.
(Kirkus Reviews)
Strider has a new habit. Whenever we stop, he places his paw on my foot. It isn't an accident because he always does it. I like to think he doesn't want to leave me.
Can a stray dog change the life of a teenage boy? It looks as if Strider can. He's a dog that loves to run; because of Strider, Leigh Botts finds himself running--well enough to join the school track team. Strider changes Leigh on the inside, too, as he finally begins to accept his parents' divorce and gets to know a redheaded girl he's been admiring. With Strider's help, Leigh finds that the future he once hated to be asked about now holds something he never expected: hope.
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