If you’ve read author W. Bruce Cameron’s previous dog-centric books (A Dog’s Journey, A Dog’s Purpose), you know that he is a master at both tugging on our heartstrings and telling a wonderful story from the perspective of a dog.

In his newest novel, A Dog’s Way Home once again finds that sweet spot of humor, emotion and drama as Bella’s story unfolds and captures the love, devotion and personality of this sweet dog. You’ve heard stories of dogs traveling hundreds of miles to find their beloved owners – now we get to see it from the unique perspective of the dog herself as she tries to get home to her Lucas and his mother.

He has created a cast of characters (animal and human) that you will love (or despise), and there is the mastery of this author – his ability to make you CARE so much. I found myself looking around the room for my own spunky (and often annoying) ball-obsessed spaniel as Bella found herself in danger again and again. Cameron is, however, gentler on our tear ducts – while this did have me welling up, it wasn’t the full on ugly cry that caught my husband out on his flight from Chicago to Newark. I deem it flight safe for the self-consciously weepy reader.

A Dog’s Way Home serves well to shed a light on the unintended consequences and tragedies of Breed Discriminatory Legislation. Bella is (inaccurately) labelled as a pit by shady and petty animal control officers, and even after other staff members note that she is a mix, sweet and gentle, nothing can be done to reverse the labelling. I think it also reinforces the importance of adoptions via animal rescue!
The story also shows in a heartbreakingly tender way the ability of dogs to calm and soothe as Bella interacts with veterans at the VA hospital. It’s amazing what dogs can sense, and the book brings this to life from the perspective of a dog and the importance and need for service dogs for veterans.

*I received an e-ARC from the author for review purposes. I had already pre-ordered the book from Amazon.* ( )

W. Bruce Cameron adds to his kennel of novels narrated by dogs in this predictable tale of a dog separated from her person, who then makes a long and perilous journey for reunification.

There aren’t really any surprises here, but it’s generally well-written (except for the straw-men villains) and takes a look at a couple of contemporary issues in addition to Bella’s trip. He takes a look at the breed exclusion laws passed in many communities, targeting “pit bulls” (which are not a recognized AKC breed but rather a type) and the often capricious manner in which individual animals are identified as belonging to the target group. The other, more pervasive theme, has to do with difficulties faced by military veterans with service-related issues such as PTSD or its frequent traveling companion, substance abuse. The two issues combine to drive both Bella’s separation from her person and to help resolve the underlying problems when she finally reaches her destination.

Along the way, she meets and interacts with several people and animals, some of whom help and some of whom hinder, but all of whom she must eventually leave or escape from in order to continue her trek.

Cameron also has some fun with the narrative language, as Bella puts her own unique spin on the human oddities, habits, and tasks that impinge on her world. As usual with Cameron’s canine protagonists, Bella has many influences in her puppyhood and life, not the least of which is being fostered by a mother cat when she’s separated from her own mother before weaning. This leads to several later incidents involving cats which Bella happily hangs out with, even though she finds many of their habits odd.

Cameron unashamedly manipulates readers’ emotions – always a balancing act between pulling them into the story and offending them through sheer condescension. Individual reactions will depend on how the reader feels about dogs in general and whether they are able to accept some of the more unlikely scenarios. ( )

Note to self: books from a dog’s POV are not my cuppa tea. As one who seeks out cute dog (especially pitbull) videos on YouTube, I’ll still watch the coming-soon adaptation, but as a book it didn’t work for me. ( )

I marked this book as "read" because I did, after all, read it while I was writing it.

Of all the challenges I've set for myself as an author, writing from a dog's point of view is probably the most difficult. I am often criticized for using simple, plain descriptions, as if a dog would write something like "To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man." (That's from William Shakespeare. He's more famous than I am.)

So okay, A Dog's Way Home is written from the simple, innocent, joyous and honest viewpoint of a dog. The dog's name is Bella--this is told from the perspective of a female dog, which if not unique is certainly a rarity. At any rate, due to BDL (Breed Discriminatory Legislation) Bella is labeled a pit bull and forced to leave Denver, CO.

Notice I said "labeled." That's how the statue is written--if three ACOs (Animal Control Officers) say "yep, that's a pit," then by the law it's a pit bull. In theory they could say this about a poodle, and that's that. The animals get chipped and if they're ever picked up again, the dogs are euthanized.

That's why the dog on the cover of the book is only part pit bull.

Bella is taken hundreds of miles away and doesn't understand why. She needs to be with her person. When the opportunity presents itself, she escapes and starts heading home, a multi-year journey through the Rocky Mountain wilderness.

It's an adventure story, but because we're living in the mind of this special dog, it's told with love and even spirituality. As is true of the A Dog's Purpose series, this is a novel that was written for adults but contains nothing that I would be hesitant to let a middle schooler read.

Some who have read it have called it my best book yet.

( )

I kinda skimmed some parts with this book because when it's very heartwarming, it's equal parts stressful. To be honest, I can do with stressful books about humans but it's just not the same with animals. Although I skimmed a bit, the writing that I know and love tend to suck me in the story for most parts. Bella's adventures are fun but sometimes I'm worried about her, and sometimes I worry with her about mother cat and her kittens, big kitten, mom and Lucas. And I ache for home with her.
And I cry a little at the end :') ( )