Katie lives in the projects with her hardworking mother and her mom’s new husband (who works two jobs). She struggles to get along with some of her friends- not understanding why they’re suddenly boy crazy and obsessed with makeup and hair styles. One day walking home from school, a dog behind a fence catches her eye- a dog in the junkyard. He looks neglected and hungry. She wants to give him food and water, and later builds a shelter against the cold. The mean junkyard man thinks she’s crazy to have any interest in the mutt, but Katie’s stepfather coaches her on how to persuade him to let her feed the dog anyway. He teaches her to use tools and build a doghouse. Another boy in the neighborhood starts helping her with the doghouse project, and she thinks he’ll be her friend, but at school he completely ignores her, which makes her hurt and angry. As Katie tries to figure things out with her friends, she gradually builds a better relationship with her stepfather even though she’s suspicious he might someday leave (like her birth father did). Katie wants to rescue the junkyard dog and bring him home forever, but their housing doesn’t allow pets. At the end, many much has improved for Katie. Not all things she’s hoped for have come about, but promisingly it looks like they might very soon. ( )

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My father read this to me when I got sick in 1996 or so, when my mother brought it home from the school library. I never forget the story and finally found a copy - not this cover - in a thrift store. It's a good read for kids and dog lovers, but short due to the age range. ( )