I was immediately completely sold when I read this paragraph in the first chapter:

"His dad wouldn't let him have a dog -- period! -- but especially not a poodle. His dad said poodles were sissy dogs, and his dad was right. He had a book with pictures of every kind of dog in the world and had already picked out his favorite: a brown and white beagle like Snoopy. He wouldn't mind a collie like Lassie either."

(At this point I knew that me and Benny would get along great in this story, since we are on the same page when it comes to dog breeds.)

The story takes place in the 1990s. (I didn't quite catch on to the decade gap for a while.) Herein we find an aging woman snatching at a final chance to accomplish the unrealized dream of a lifetime. A young boy growing up, broken dreams shattering around him, until he finds a calling. A dog calling out for him.

I enjoyed the storyline quite a bit! However, in the author's writing style, I found a few dozen too many similes (for my personal taste).

Contains some allusions to adult content, although not detailed. Also includes topics related to dog breeding.

Minimum age to read: 16 and up.

Overall? If you're interested in any of the related topics, such as poodles, dog shows, mentally challenged kids, complicated family relationships, and unique friendship bonds, you'll probably like this novel.