AR: 4.3

I happen to know the author of this novel very well. Too well, in fact, because I am painfully aware of his faults.

This is a fictional telling of a true story. When we set out to make the movie A Dog's Way Home, we decided that all of the movie star dogs needed to be rescues. I feel it is really important that everyone understand that rescue dogs can do anything, and that they can make wonderful companions.

Shelby was living in a junk yard in rural Tennessee. She had no human interaction that we know of. She was picked up by animal control and, when her photograph showed up on social media, she looked like she could be the perfect fit we were looking for. We wanted a dog who looked like the one of the cover of A Dog's Way Home. An important aspect of the story of the book (and movie) is that a dog can be classified as a pit bull even if it doesn't exactly look like a pit bull. Due to breed discriminatory legislation in the city of Denver, Bella, the fictional hero of A Dog's Way Home, is banned and sent by her person to live far away. It's just temporary, until Bella's boy Lucas can find a new home out of Denver, but she doesn't know this and jumps the fence.

Shelby's Story imagines the origins of a dog who winds up in a junk yard and then becomes a movie star. I was on set for much of the filming, and saw Shelby every day. I've since gone with her to children's hospitals and to the VA. In all the time I've known her, I've done nothing but marvel at the heart of this wonderful, wonderful dog. ( )

Shelby doesn't remember much about her early puppyhood, except that she was cold and always hungry. Then a lady with kind words picks her up and takes her to a place with a cage for her- what's happened? There at least, she isn't hungry or cold or wet. A few friendly people come by to meet her and one of them, Teresa, takes her home. Finally, Shelby has a home and a pack of dogs to play with! She also has an important job to do; she trains with Teresa. She learns Go Mark! and Dig- important tricks for her role in the movie A Dog's Way Home. However, has Shelby mastered enough in her short time with Teresa to play a leading role? Told from Shelby's viewpoint, this endearing and humorous story is an excellent choice for animal lovers, gr. 3-6 ( )