A Dog for Life, L.S. Matthews
A Dog for Life, L.S. Matthews
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A Dog for Life

Author: L.S. Matthews

Narrator: Brian Butler

Unabridged: 3 hr 47 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/10/2006


Synopsis

This is the true story of the journey of John Hawkins and his dog, Mouse, from way up north to way down south.
Mouse has been John and his brother Tom's dog for life. They got her as a puppy when they were just little themselves, and they very quickly discovered that they could understand everything Mouse said and she could do the same. She was just a person like everyone else--though maybe a bit cleverer than most.
You've maybe heard that John "ran away with his pet dog." But the truth about this story is that John and Mouse made the journey to save Tom. It's hard to pinpoint when Tom became truly ill, but when the doctors said they had to send Mouse away for fear of infection, the boys knew they had to do something. Without Mouse, Tom would never recover. The journey began to find a temporary home for Mouse, but once they'd set off, nothing turned out the way they'd planned.

About The Author

L. S. Matthews has written poetry and short stories since she was a child. Today she writes full-time in England, where she lives with her husband and their two children. Her first book for young readers, Fish, was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, a Publishers Weekly Flying Start, and was a Borders Original Voices book. The author lives in England.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Maggie on December 30, 2016

Cute but pretty forgettable once it was finished, at least to me.......more

Goodreads review by Zuzqa Proch on April 02, 2025

Touching story about communication among people, animals, world. The plot is maybe too simple and strightforward but it works. I like it- in this book you can find home, safety and the real good.......more

Goodreads review by Kaitlyn on October 26, 2021

A Dog for Life written by L.S. Matthews. It is a really good book, and if you are interested in animal books, this book is a good one for you! The narrator, John, has to take his dog Mouse to his Uncle David's house because John's brother Tom, is sick. John and Tom's grandmother and mother think Mo......more

Goodreads review by Kathie on January 02, 2015

John Hawkins narrates the tale of the fabulous adventure he traveled with his dog Mouse from the northern tip of England to the south, because the news reporters didn't get the story right. This book reminded me of Homer's Odyssey meets Homeward Bound, set in the English countryside. Loved the chara......more

Goodreads review by Carol on October 23, 2011

I wanted a german language book that would be on the easy side, so i choose a children's book. And, it's about a dog named Mouse....and she talks! Perfect. I've finished the book and think it's a great children's book. It has all the elements, a boy, his brother, his dog (who talks), and the challeng......more


Quotes

“The bond between the brothers and their dog is as convincing as Tiger’s devotion to the title fish in Matthews’s first book.”–Publishers Weekly, Starred


Awards

  • Michigan Reading Association Great Lakes Book Award