The Leanin' Dog

I thought this book was okay. At some parts I thought the story was exciting and at others I thought the story was just dragging along. If you like animal books you should try reading this book, but I was not a fan so I would not recommend it.......more

My favorite book from childhood was the best way to end the year. Dessa Dean, I resonate with you so much. Arlo is my Leanin’ Dog......more

I'm loving this on CD. There's nothing like a dog to set a girl right after a big loss! At first the rhythm of the reading was too slow and the enunciation too precise, but it grew on me to the point of appreciation. I recognize that this style really fits the pace of the story and of the often old......more

Let me begin by saying that I haven't been assigned a book report in a really long time! So when my daughter's teacher asked if I could read a book she was thinking about for one of her book groups, I was actually pretty thrilled. Since I was writing up a report for her, I thought I'd post it here a......more

From October 2008 SLJ: Gr 4–7— Dessa Dean, 11, was a powerless witness as her diabetic mother froze to death when they were caught in an early-winter storm. Since then, she and her father have gone through the motions of normalcy, with him going out daily to check the traps while she stays behind to......more