My online book club chose this book to read so I ordered a copy through McNally Robinson and it just came in. It will be read soon.

My on line book club chose this book. I probably would not have read it otherwise but I am glad I did. There are some good lessons here although at times I thought the author tried a little too hard to get them across.

The main character, Lucas Painter, is a fourteen year old boy in 1969. I was 15 in the summer of 1969 so the time resonated with me. However, since I am Canadian and Lucas is American our lives were quite different. I was aware of the Vietnam War but it didn't personally affect me. Lucas's older brother was overseas fighting and Lucas was fearful about his safety. Lucas's parents argued constantly so his home wasn't a restful spot and his best friend, Connor, is severely depressed. Lucas goes into the woods on the edge of town and gets lost but during his wanderings he discovers a small cottage with two big dogs outside. Afraid he is going to be attacked by the dogs Lucas starts running as fast as he can. Eventually he realizes that the dogs aren't chasing him but running alongside him. Every morning after that he goes back to the woods to run with the dogs. Then one morning the dogs are lying on the porch of the cottage trying to get in. Lucas looks through the window and sees a woman lying in a bed. She doesn't wake up no matter how much noise Lucas makes. He runs back to town and calls the Sherriff's office who sends an ambulance for the woman, Zoe Dinsmore. Zoe has a tragedy in her past and she tried to end her life thinking that Lucas would look after her dogs. However, Zoe survives and she starts helping Lucas, then Connor, and then Lucas's brother who has returned home wounded from Vietnam but with an addiction to narcotics.

In some aspects I thought the book was unrealistic. Lucas's relationship with a girl seemed too reserved from my memories of teenage relationships at the time. I also couldn't quite buy that Zoe would turn from being a lonely depressed tragic woman into a fount of pschotherapeutic help almost overnight. Nevertheless I am glad I read the book and I look forward to seeing what the other members have to say about it.

I left this book in the Free Library in front of 181 Worthington Avenue. This release is for the November e-less release challenge.

When you find a BookCrossing book it is yours to do with what you like. You can read it and keep it or pass it on or if you don't think it is your kind of book pass it on to someone who might like it or release it in a spot for someone else to find like you just did. Whatever you choose it would be great if you could write a short note letting us know what new adventures the book is on.