Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Scholastic Inc.
Pages
202
Description
Fifth-grader Cally Louise Fisher stops talking, partly because her father and brother never speak of her mother who died a year earlier, but visions of her mother, friendships with a homeless man and a disabled boy, and a huge dog ensure that she still communicates.
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
202 p.; 7.6 inches
ISBN
0545620759 / 9780545620758
Similar in this library
Pie by Sarah Weeks
Lexile
660L
User reviews
LibraryThing member EdGoldberg
“My name is Cally Louise Fisher, and I haven’t spoken for thirty-one days.” So opens the heart-warming A Dog Called Homeless, the debut novel by Sarah Lean, which won the Schneider Family Book Award which honors “an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of
What started out as a fund raiser, get sponsors who think you can stay silent for one whole school day, turned into a 31 day rally for Cally, because once she saw that people treated her no differently, it didn’t seem important to talk.
Background: Cally’s mother died in an auto accident a year before. Since then, her father has withdrawn, they’ve had to move into a smaller apartment and her best friend ditched her. She ‘sees’ her mother in various places, the first time at the cemetary on the anniversary of her death, but no one believes her. So, what’s the sense of talking. The second time Cally sees her mom, a big grey wolfhound is with her…except the dog is real.
Her downstairs neighbor is Sam, who is totally blind, mostly deaf and has a heart murmer. Sam’s mother teaches Cally how to ‘write on Sam’s hand’, which according to Cally isn’t considered talking. Together, the two tackle the hardships of their particular worlds.
As I said at the beginning, A Dog Called Homeless is a heart-warming, charming book that will teach you about what’s important in life, how to deal with the loss of someone close to you and the love of family. I should have seen the ending coming, but I didn’t. It was a great ending, as far as I’m concerned. Cally is a darling of a girl and A Dog Called Homeless is a darling of a book.
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the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences”. Not bad for a debut novel.What started out as a fund raiser, get sponsors who think you can stay silent for one whole school day, turned into a 31 day rally for Cally, because once she saw that people treated her no differently, it didn’t seem important to talk.
Background: Cally’s mother died in an auto accident a year before. Since then, her father has withdrawn, they’ve had to move into a smaller apartment and her best friend ditched her. She ‘sees’ her mother in various places, the first time at the cemetary on the anniversary of her death, but no one believes her. So, what’s the sense of talking. The second time Cally sees her mom, a big grey wolfhound is with her…except the dog is real.
Her downstairs neighbor is Sam, who is totally blind, mostly deaf and has a heart murmer. Sam’s mother teaches Cally how to ‘write on Sam’s hand’, which according to Cally isn’t considered talking. Together, the two tackle the hardships of their particular worlds.
As I said at the beginning, A Dog Called Homeless is a heart-warming, charming book that will teach you about what’s important in life, how to deal with the loss of someone close to you and the love of family. I should have seen the ending coming, but I didn’t. It was a great ending, as far as I’m concerned. Cally is a darling of a girl and A Dog Called Homeless is a darling of a book.
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LibraryThing member MarkTJones
Sugar coated story with an unsatisfying and unlikely 'happily ever after' ending. In it though is a well worked friendship between the MC Cally and her bestfriend Sam. 2.5 rather than 2.
LibraryThing member juniperjungle
This book, aimed at the 8-12 market, is a deceptive read. Its title suggests it’s going to be a sweet animal story (not that there’s anything wrong with that) but it’s so much more. It focuses on how Cally and her family are adjusting to life without her mother but with the introduction of
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other characters shows how important it is to look beneath the surface of people. There are some lovely characters, I particularly liked the sensitive way Cally’s grieving father was portrayed and the friendship developed between Cally and Sam. This is definitely a book I’ll be recommending. Show Less
LibraryThing member LinzeyJoy
Oh this book is so wonderful - I want everyone to read it! The twists and turns in the story make it more than a "love the stray dog and save it" story. The book let's kids contemplate complex social/family situations.
LibraryThing member KristinaMiranda
On the anniversary of her mother’s death, Cally Fisher sees a ghost. It’s her mother, clear as day, in her bright red raincoat. From that day on, her mother appears whenever Cally needs her, often accompanied by a very large, and very real, scruffy gray hound.
Unable to deal with his own grief,
A Dog Called Homeless is a quiet, gentle read that is beautifully written and deeply touching. Cally’s relationships with her family, her friend Sam, a homeless man named Jed, and the mysterious gray dog, will tug at your heartstrings. The end is tender and satisfying.
Unable to deal with his own grief,
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Cally’s father is silent when it comes to remembering Cally’s mother, which makes Cally’s pain even worse. When she tries to talk to him about her mother appearing to her, he doesn’t want to hear about it. So after a charity event at Cally’s school, when she—the girl most likely to get caught talking in class—is able to go the whole day in silence, Cally decides not to speak at all anymore.A Dog Called Homeless is a quiet, gentle read that is beautifully written and deeply touching. Cally’s relationships with her family, her friend Sam, a homeless man named Jed, and the mysterious gray dog, will tug at your heartstrings. The end is tender and satisfying.
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LibraryThing member klarsenmd
Beautifully written but pretty heavy for most kids.
LibraryThing member JSIS-Reviews
When Cally says she sees her dead mother, no one believes her. The only other living soul who sees Cally's mom is a mysterious wolfhound who always seems to be there when her mom appears. So when Cally stops talking how will she convince anyone that her mom is still with them or persuade her dad
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that the huge silver-gray dog is their last link with her? This story's characters are all very likeable. I really liked the dog and how he seemed to be there exactly when Callie needs him. (Ms. Connie) Show Less
LibraryThing member root.katy
Schneider Family Award. This is a story about a young girl who loses her mother, but still sees her. No one believes that she can see her Mom, so she decides to stop talking. Grief and friendship are dominant themes. Lovely book with great character development.
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
Sensitive, gentle and poignant.
LibraryThing member bookwren
Sensitively and beautifully told story of the effects of grief on adults vs children. Short, but packs a big punch. Themes of homelessness, community, family, persons with autism and disabilities, love. Recommended for adults as well as children.
Awards
Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Award (Nominee — 2015)
Bluestem Award (Nominee — 2015)
California Young Reader Medal (Nominee — 2016)
Southwark Book Award (2013)
Schneider Family Book Award (Winner — Middle Grades — 2013)
Call number
J3B.Lea