A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray

I don't give away spoilers in my reviews.
I admit - I am a sucker for a stray dog, any stray animal, really. I kept putting off finishing this book because I was worried I would cry while reading it. The honest-to-God love of my life was Blue, my little stray dog that passed away over 10 years ago, so I was really worried about falling apart if any part of this book reminded me of her. Or if the stray passed away, was hurt, etc.
I mean this in caps - I LOVED THIS BOOK. I have read other books that had a dog's POV and this book was so well written. I think tweens to seniors would enjoy it.
It does have sad parts - but that is part of the life of a stray. The stray has many names thoroughout her life, so I am referring to her as the stray.
I don't want to give away any spoilers so will only say this was one of my favorite books that I have EVER read and I am an avid reader.
Just beautiful, comforting and so feeling. Oh I LOVED THIS BOOK.

Reader reviewed by Gaby B.

     A Dogs Life: The Auto Biography of A Stray, by Ann M. Martin, is a wonderful story of a stray dog named Squirrel who goes on a miraculous journey.  The journey introduces her to many friends and owners. Squirrel, the main character who tells the story with her own words, starts her life in a tool shed with her mother and her brother, Bone. Her life is fine until her mother goes out to get food one day and doesn't come back. After this  she and her brother set out to find a new home. After many exciting adventures meeting both friendly, and not so friendly humans, aswell as other dogs, Squirrel has to make a decision about the rest of her dog life.

     There were many interesting characters in this book. Thr most important characters were Squirrel the main character, Bone, Squirrel's brother, Moon, Squirrel's companion on the majority of her journies, and Susan, Squirrel's last owner. Squirrel moved around a great deal. She lived  in an assortment of places ranging from tool sheds to nice homes.   This book is really about staying hopeful in difficult situations, like Squirrel did throughout the story.

     Ms. Martin, wrote a believable story and made me visualize the story like a movie.  Perhaps she could have made the beginning a little faster to get into the story and had the ending answer open questions about the characters.   I believe this book is good for anyone nine years and olders because it is easy to read and feel involved in the story.

    I rate this book five out of five stars because the details in the story which helps the reader better understand what a dog may really be thinking.  I have a dog, and I now wonder how he sees the world, just like Squirrel.
      

Reader reviewed by mearley

This book is narrated by a dog named Squirrel who loses her mother and brother early in life.  She then starts on a journey from shed to dumpster, garage to alley, until she finds a place that will be home.  If you like dogs, you'll probably like the book.  I really don't care for dogs, so I really had to force myself through this one.  I would recommend it to fans of Erin Hunter's Warriors series because it was the same sort of "secret life of animals" story.

Reader reviewed by Roxi

I like the book "A Dog's Life" because of its unique view point of the animal, the likes of which are rarely seen, the classic "Black Beauty" being probably the most famous.  In the story the dog (who goes through many many names as the book progresses) starts out as a puppy doing the job he was born to do, herd sheep.   However, as life goes on he gets sold, adopted, or simply runs away, with one thought in mind, to find his sheep again.   The climax of the story comes when the love of his life pushes him away to find himself, his dreams, his sheep.

Reader reviewed by vampreviews

A dogs life was a great book, its about a stray with only a mom and a brother named Bone. Bone and her are born in a small shed on a rich families property, then her mom is killed by a fox while she and bone are only puppies.  Bone takes off, while Squirrel (the dogs name) follows.  But while running along side of the road, a couple picks them up, but the next day the man is tired of them doing puppy things so he throws them out of a moving car. Two girls walk by and pick Bone up because he's cuter but leave Squirrel, and since she's hurt she can't follow.  So then she starts on a long journy to find Bone.  It's a very sad but very good book, I reccomend that you listen to it on tape after you read the book, you'll understand it better.

Reader reviewed by KitKat

Well, it was OK. I mean, nothing much happened! The writing was cool and the main character sweet and kind and appealing... but nothing really happened. Also, it was sort of depressing. A good book for dog lovers, I suppose, but for the rest of us it isn't really worth our time...

Reader reviewed by Wolf Girl

This book made me cry, cry, and cry some more. Even for the toughest person, it will touch their heart. Not trying to be soppy of course, but this really IS a saddening book. It is about a stray dog named Squirrel who loses her mother then follows her brother, Bone, who decides to leave. They travel around the highway, until someone finds them and takes them away to their house. They are terrified of course, but then a mean man in the house throws them onto the highway again. A car stops and takes Bone with them but not Squirrel. She is left her own to decide her way of life without her guiding brother. It truly washes you of bad spirits this does, to see it from a dog's point of view. I really rate this a million stars.

Reader reviewed by undercover reader

Squirrel and Bone are born into this world on a summer house's backyard in a toolshed. Their mother dissapears one day leaving them to fend for themselves. A little after they leave Bone is taken away by some nice lady b/c "he" is the cuter one. Leaving Squirrel all alone on the streets.

Later, she meets another friend, who ends up dying tragically. She goes through quite a few owners including one family who keeps her for a summer then quickly relinquishes her after. Happily, she finally finds a loving owner who is as old as her and they live out their final years together.


As an animal lover this book was not easy to read. One of my favorites though. I love how the story was told from Squirrel's point of view. I highly reccomend it to animal lovers and people of all ages. Amazing read.

Reader reviewed by mimagirl

Ann M. Martin does a marvelous job of telling this story through the eyes of a dog. Squirrel, the dog whose story this is, goes through many trials and hardships as she wanders from place to place, slowly growing from a pup into an old dog. Throughout her adventures she meets a variety of humans - some kind and caring, others cruel or irresponsible.

This books is not just for fans of animal stories. I, for one, am not too big on books about animals, but this well-written story captivated me from the start.

Other examples of the author's amazing ability to "see through the eyes" of her characters are in her co-authorship of "The Doll People" and "The Meanest Doll in the World" with Laura Godwin.