Off the Track
Betsy S. Lee
Infinity, Jan 2007, $13.95
ISBN: 0741438178
Miss Libby Lee was a very successful Greyhound racing dog, but though a winner in most of her races, the sleek canine lived a tough boring life. She travels in a small cage from track to track every day. However, when her career tanks as she gets older and loses speed, she is exiled to the frightening off track where none of your pals and rivals ever hears from you again.
Libby is fortunate as Betsy and Kal, known as mommy and daddy, adopt her and take her to their home in Florida where she meets Grandma and the older much smaller Italian Greyhound Faun, affectionately known as Mr. Nut. Libby becomes a special canine when she becomes a therapy dog. Life is good except for Mr. Nut’s mouth odor and in house accidents. When mommy and daddy bring home an ailing Greyhound they call Precious Princess, Libby and Nut are unhappy. However, over time they become friends as PP heals.
Using personification, Libby tells much of this insightful entertaining tale from her first person account although there are third person escapades in which the three dogs share thoughts and history. From the moment Libby fails to get the mirror dog to play with her until PP becomes a therapy dog, elementary school children will be hooked while subtly looking at social issues and positive personality traits without dumbing down. Few autobiographical fictions especially targeting preadolescents are as much fun as this anthropomorphic tale of Libby Lee told in her words.
Harriet Klausner
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment