“Finding the North Wind” by Scott Hammond is the third book in the Search and Rescue Dog Series featuring teenage Caleb (who was “found” in the first book by Boo, Officer Nate’s rescue dog, and who assisted with a search and rescue in the second book).

This time, the story begins with Kwayah, a Native-American prisoner escaping from a minimal security compound. Why would this woman, with only a few months to go and an impeccable background (falsely accused!) risk having a much longer sentence when caught? And why are the night guards in that prison in such a hurry to find her? Caleb, having just arrived to spend a school break with Nate, is once again pulled into the mystery as he joins Nate and Boo in their quest to find Kwayah before others do.

This is a wonderfully satisfying book that is not only appropriate for a youth and a YA audience but also for others who enjoy a good suspense story without graphic violence. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. My opinions are my own.

Mr. Hammond has a winner here for any reader who loves dogs and seeing their devotion to their human as well as Boo's ability to sense and track. The handler of Boo is Nate, a Wyoming deputy. The deputy has gotten attached to a young boy named Caleb, who he met on another adventure. Together the trio helps to right a wrong that occurred to a young Native woman whose Native name is Kwayah, meaning "The North Wind," Kwayah escapes from a bad situation a women's prison in Wyoming and is determined to get back to her grandmother and her young daughter in Utah.

Follow the tracking trek across Wyoming and Utah, as the trio gets help from numerous others who care about justice and not just power. Meet bad weather, crooked law enforcers, and drug dealers as the search unfolds. Find out how the judicial system can be manipulated for either evil or good.

The characters seem to jump off the pages and can give the reader both warm fuzzy feelings as well high degrees of anger at the actions of some officials. It is fun to see the maturing of young Caleb (13 yo) as he accompanies his friends, Nate and Boo, on this supposed, non-hazardous tracking adventure.

Definitely a full 5-star. Too bad I cannot give more stars for a book that I found to be a delightful story, as well as just a fun read. There are some emotional parts and some sad ones, but the book, to me, was fabulous!!