A plot involving the suffering of a child and abused animals is nearly guaranteed to draw readers into the story. This book, based on actual events and a screenplay, is no exception. Young David’s life is shattered with the loss of his mother and becomes even worse when his father passes him off to David’s grandparents. The losses and hurts leave David with the sense that he will always lose anyone he loves.
Adopting a German shepherd named Smokey profoundly impacts David’s adult life. When he discovers the dog’s amazing ability to sense the needs of hurting people, David’s career takes a powerful new direction. When the dog dies, he wonders if there will ever be another dog quite like Smokey. Incredibly, David finds other amazing dogs and together they experience an unusual but powerful ministry.
While the story is inspiring, the book is based on a movie screenplay so it lacks cohesiveness. However, this tale will cause readers to realize anew the ties between humans and dogs and we are pleased to award it our Dove “Family-Approved” Seal for all ages.
