THE DOG, RAY
Daisy, age twelve, has died in a car accident. She finds herself in the afterworld, which resembles nothing more than a job center. Her soul is being returned to Earth, but not as a human being—she’s returning as a dog. A dog who retains Daisy’s thoughts and pluck and is determined to get back to her parents and to get back home. What she doesn’t expect is that life as a dog named Ray would come with such worries—and moments of jubilation—as she grows to care for others in a whole new way. Told in a compelling first-person voice, Linda Coggin’s incredible novel touches on loyalty and freedom,
Daisy, age twelve, has died in a car accident. She finds herself in the afterworld, which resembles nothing more than a job center. Her soul is being returned to Earth, but not as a human being—she’s returning as a dog. A dog who retains Daisy’s thoughts and pluck and is determined to get back to her parents and to get back home. What she doesn’t expect is that life as a dog named Ray would come with such worries—and moments of jubilation—as she grows to care for others in a whole new way. Told in a compelling first-person voice, Linda Coggin’s incredible novel touches on loyalty and freedom, connection and acceptance, and is sure to stay with readers long after the story is done.
By turns humorous, poignant, and moving, this tale of a girl who comes back to Earth as a dog is a nuanced portrait of death, love, grief, and hope.
- Candlewick Press
- Hardcover
- November 2016
- 208 Pages
- 0763679380
Buy the Book
$15.99
About Linda Coggin
Linda Coggin taught horseback riding in the West Indies before studying mime in Paris and Czechoslovakia and then becoming an actor and television presenter. She is now an author of poetry and books for young people and lives in Wiltshire, England, with her family and many animals.
Praise
“A beautiful and lyrical story about grief and healing…A tender and heartfelt tale that is sure to delight dog-loving readers or anyone who likes their happy endings to be hard-earned.”—School Library Journal
“Coggin’s subtle narrative transitions her protagonist from dog-inhabited-by-the-soul-of-a-girl to solely-dog with exquisite grace, leading to a wholly original homecoming theme. A powerful story brought to heart-beating life by its cogent craftsmanship.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Linda Coggin has created a unique tale about how we grow and change with experiences and how we love one another…While this story is different it is well told. The voices are genuine and the pace is quick. Readers who love a good ‘boy and his dog’ story will enjoy this book—a good choice for libraries needing a different kind of fantasy story.”—School Library Connection