Sound Friendships: The Story of Willa and Her Hearing Dog

by Elizabeth Yates

Sound Friendships is the story of Willa Macy, who lost her hearing when she was fourteen years old, and Honey, a golden retriever, who helped her to discover a new world of independence and security. It is also a story about Hearing Dogs--their background, training, special abilities, and the unique relationship they develop with their owners in working to surmount the barriers of a physical handicap.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1992

About the author

Elizabeth Yates, author of over forty books for children, was born in New York State on December 6th, 1905. Determined to be an author, she moved to New York City to launch her career. She worked a variety of jobs including reviewing book, writing short stories, and doing research. She moved to England with her husband and wrote her first book, High Holiday, based on her travels in Switzerland with her three children. The family returned to the U.S. in 1939 and settled in New Hampshire. Yates won the Newbery Award in 1951 for her book, Amos Fortune, Free Man, a biography of an African prince who is enslaved and taken to America.

Yates conducted writer's workshops at the University of New Hampshire, the University of Connecticut, and Indiana University. She also served as the Director of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind.

Yates was widowed in 1963. Elizabeth Yates died Sunday at a hospice in Concord, New Hampshire on July 29, 2001 at the age of 95.

Elizabeth Yates' books have been described as "the result of extensive research, a strong underlying belief in God, and a vivid imagination."

Reviews

[bookishpoetess · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It's love in action; that's all you can say about these dogs."

What can I say? I love this book because of the dogs! My heart melted and once again I can feel love and joy, which I have found with the dogs. I really don't have any plans on buying any books when I entered the bookstore that night, and just when I was about to leave, my eyes caught the name Yates. I remember I once read in a book about the author Yates but I was not sure whether he/she was named Elizabeth. But I don't really care because when I read the sypnosis that time, I got curious and I really wanted it.

The book was, simply put, incredible and amazing. It's about Willa who lost her hearing and a dog named Honey who was trained to be a Hearing Dog. The bond and friendship they have formed was heart-warming. I have great adoration with dogs and after reading this book, I love and respect them even more. Dogs are really man's best friend, aren't they? The story was short but indeed beautiful. The author took her time to observe the Hearing Dogs and their relationship to be with their owners. And because of this book, I became aware of the Hearing Dogs and their roles and the law about them.

This book is all about kindness, love and joy. And with that, I will leave you with the quote stated from the book:

"What would happen to the world if we all acted upon out of love and were satisfied with love as our reward?"

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over all, this was a great book.

If you were to let you child read this book, here are some talking points or even things to be careful about. I have chosen to not allow my 9 year old to read this just yet:

1. There is mention of the main character losing her hearing because a fire cracker was put in her pig tail. Yikes.

2. When the main character meets a man and they start dating, they are sorting through donated clothes at church when they find an active bomb that some prankster put in with the donated clothes.

3. There is one mention of main character’s lips meeting her boyfriends.

[Keith Lytton · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very quick read...just a heartwarming story of a woman who had lost her hearing at an early age...and then gave in understanding in her mind that her life would always be unfulfilled....but then found out about hearing dogs...

I had never heard of these dogs...and I was amazed...and seems so basic...these dogs let the owner know when someone is at the door...when an alarm is going off...when a fire alarm is sounding...amazing for someone who is deaf...

I love the book and as a dog lover am excited to find another great ability that dogs bring to our lives...5 stars!