The Leanin' Dog

By K. A. Nuzum
Animal: Dog
Rating: 3 3/4 stars

Living in a cabin in the mountains may be tough enough, but Dessa Dean has it even harder since her mother died a couple of months ago. Since that time, Dessa Dean can't even make it off of the front porch without slipping into a "daymare" of when her mother died. Scared and feeling alone, Dessa Dean is finally cheered up by the arrival of a dog in the vicinity. Can she convince the dog to be her friend? Her father is less than enthusiastic about a pet, especially when the dog won't stay in the cabin unless the door is left open, and it is winter outside! With slim pickings as it is and Dessa Dean still not able to make it out of the house, her father isn't overly welcoming. But Christmas has almost arrived....can a dog help make the saddest of years a bit happier? This is a heartfelt book about how the power of love for a dog--and her love for a girl--can make tiny miracles happen. Animals lovers will eat it up.