Genre: Fiction
Published: 2017
Pages (hardcover): 327
Bella begins her eventful life as a stray puppy in an abandoned building. She lives with a litter of cats, including a mother, and likes her life just fine. When the building is about to be demolished, she is rescued by new owner Lucas. In her new home, she loves playing games like Tiny Piece of Cheese and Go Home. Other times, she enjoys visiting the local VA hospital and bringing cheer to the patients there.
Then one day, Bella is picked up by animal control because pit bulls (or dogs that even look similar) are banned in their community. After sneaking out of her new owner's fence, Bella finds herself in the big Colorado wilderness alone. The only thing to do, she knows, is to find her way home.
I don't have a lot of favorite authors. Usually I just pick up any books I like and find interesting. However, I have to say that Cameron is starting to cement himself as one of them.
The story's style is similar to that of A Dog's Purpose: we have a dog living out different "lives" in order to achieve a purpose. In that case, it is returning to her owner. Although a considerable part of the book features Bella in her new home rather than her journey, it's necessary to establish what she is missing when in the wilderness. She meets many different characters along the way and spends time with each. A cougar. A gay couple. A troubled woman. A homeless man. But I think the cougar, of all people, was my favorite. At first I was hesitant to believe that so much time could be spent on a dog actually finding its way home, but I also recall similar things happening in real life. Believable or not, the author's thorough research makes it plausible for this journey to happen.
I was also impressed with the handling of the non-human characters, particularly the cougar, aka Big Kitten. When an author has me caring that much about an animal, and takes the time to give them realistic character traits, that is an impressive feat.
You'd expect a book about a dog walking home to be pretty dull, but fortunately the dull moments are few and far between. Bella has several brushes with death, and there's even a drowning cat rescue! Most of the conflict arises, of course, from Bella trying to get back home. However there is also a cast of characters standing in her way. For example, the demolition crew that's trying to demolish the building her cat family is still living in. The officers going after Bella because she's not allowed in their community. These people did come across as a little corny. Have you ever read an environmental-themed story where the bad guys are usually property developers who love to pollute? It's that type of premise. I wish their motivations had been thought out more. One character in particular seemed to have no other reason for existing than to "get the evil pitbull."
Even though it's not that kind of environmental tale, Cameron doesn't skimp on the social issues. Without preaching, he uses Bella to show readers the impact of dogs on those in difficult situations like abusive relationships or homelessness. Whether their situation turns out well or not, Bella touches a lot of lives on her journey. That's what I love about Cameron's books.
Heartwarming and heartbreaking at once, fans of this author animals must pick this one up. I'd even argue it's better than A Dog's Journey, the sequel to Cameron's original hit. It features the best of both dogdom and of humanity, and that's a good thing.
4.5 stars
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