Everything for a Dog Book

I knew I had to read it when I saw the cover picturing a gorgeous golden retriever who resembles my beloved yellow Labrador, Max. I'm a softie when it comes to dog books, and I knew Martin wouldn't let me down. The book consists of three parallel stories told in alternating chapters, one involving a dog named Bone, the others about two boys named Charlie and Henry.
Bone is a stray puppy who tells his story as he moves from one family to the next (much like Edward from my all-time favorite story The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo). Everything revolves around smells, hunger, and his need for shelter--which makes sense, considering he's a dog. Bone's voice is honest and humorous: "She murmured that I was a good girl (she had a surprise coming) and that…she was going to take me to a vet. (I didn't know then what a vet was). She patted me, and I didn't feel the need to bite her, so…I kept my teeth to myself."
Charlie and his family are grieving after his brother R.J. dies in an accident. The brothers had been close, and their dog Sunny had been particularly fond of R.J. But with R.J. gone, a close bond develops between Charlie and the dog as the entire family tries to cope with their loss. Sunny proves to be essential to the family's healing process.
Henry always includes a dog on his Christmas list, but he never gets one. The year he turns eleven, his entire list consists of a dog, a doghouse, and "everything for a dog." Maybe this time his parents will get the hint that it's the only thing he wants. When he sees a homeless dog roaming the neighborhood, he thinks that if he can secretly clean him up and train him, maybe his parents will let him stay. Children who have begged for a dog will appreciate Henry's many attempts to sway his parents' minds.
When I figured out the connection between these three characters, I did what I always do in animal stories'cried my eyes out. Readers looking for a lot of action will be disappointed, but those who love dogs and a moving story with well-developed characters will find it clever, touching, and unforgettable. Fans of this book should read Martin's companion novel, A Dog's Life, told by Bone's sister Squirrel.