Evan Dunn (white) lives a quiet life as a bus-riding eighth-grader in a rural community. Much of his daily routine is unexamined. He takes his quirky bus buddies for granted, avoids the school bully, and rarely questions his reserved, self-focused parents. Out of the blue, a dog shows up and starts to follow Evan around. Around the same time, a neighbor returns to school after an extended medical leave. The arrival of the dog and Hana (white) unleash a series of surprises and changes to Evan’s private life. First, they discover that it’s not just a lone stray, but an intelligent Border Collie from a nearby breeder. Second, Evan finds out that the breeder is neglecting and abusing the dogs at the kennel. Unsure how to ask for help, Evan finds that there is support all around him—his new friend Hana and her mom, his teacher and track coach, and, in unexpected ways, his parents. On the surface, this is a story about a boy and a dog who love to run, but on a deeper level, it’s about being seen and finding connections, often when you least expect them. Short, straightforward chapters (some narrated by the dog), keep a tight pace on this tender novel.