 |
Caruthers offers a scintillating saga of ten-year-old Marlene, who, with her parents and younger brother, lives in Turtle Dove Junction, Tennessee, in the mid-1930s. Her father struggles to support his family while her mother performs burdensome housekeeping chores and cares for hens. Marlene's narration begins as she delivers the latest batch of eggs to the burg's general store. She sees a flash of red breezing by while chatting with two old men, Mr. Sam and Mr. Jake, who are sitting outside the store. They reckon that the color is a bounding hound dog banished by a man locally distrusted, whom Marlene thinks of as Evil Old Mr. Arthur.
With the men's encouragement, she determinedly, adventurously befriends Red, her name for the canine, while his former owner becomes increasingly menacing, making townsfolk nervous about his violent outpourings. When Marlene finally lures Red to her home, her family happily agrees to keep him. All seems well until the girl becomes the single witness when Mr. Arthur is accused of murdering Mr. Sam—a ponderous role she will undertake with nerve and verve.
Caruthers, an award-winning writer in her chosen "coming of age" genre, is a pet lover/protector who says this latest work came to life when its central character, Marlene, suddenly "woke me up," with details so powerful that Caruthers began writing it at once. The setting mirrors Caruthers' Tennessee upbringing, allowing characters to speak in local vernacular. Marlene's lively pursuit of Red is underpinned with reminders of the harsh economic struggles of the story's era and disturbing references to the racial sentiments of the times as Marlene is befriended by Sam and Jake. Caruthers' book targets youthful readers and will fascinate and engage parents, educators, and all animal lovers as they absorb and share the story's deep, deftly drawn messages.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
A 2026 Eric Hoffer Book Award Montaigne Medal Finalist and Middle Reader Category Honorable Mention