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.

National Book Award winner Pete Hautman explores a friendship like no other—and the universal truth that dogs make life better, especially for underdogs.

Evan doesn’t seem to fit in at school or at home. He goes out of his way to avoid attention. He sits at the back of the bus, keeps his head down in class, and keeps to himself. But when a burr-covered border collie—a survivor with a gut instinct about the Boy—starts following him around and joining him on his runs, Evan’s simple duck-and-dodge existence becomes a lot more complicated . . . a lot more like life. Evolving from wary companions to steadfast friends, Evan and the dog run fast and far together, thwart an abusive dog breeder and the school bully, and find the courage to stand up for themselves and to open up to those who matter most. Narrated in alternating viewpoints, this relatable contemporary novel with classic coming-of-age themes has all the hope, pathos, and emotional complexity that mark Pete Hautman’s books for middle-grade readers—and is a deeply satisfying read for animal lovers.