White Fur Flying

by Patricia MacLachlan

Zoe’s family rescues dogs in need. There is always the sweet smell of dog and a warm body looking to cuddle or play. There is always a new dog to be saved and loved. Fur flies everywhere. It covers everything. Zoe’s house is never silent.

But the house across the street is always silent these days. A new family has moved in and Phillip, the boy, has stopped speaking. He doesn’t even want to try.

Zoe knows that saving dogs and saving boys are different jobs, but she learns that some parts are the same. Both take attention and care, understanding and time. And maybe just a bit of white fur flying.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Animals, Dogs, Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile

116 pages, Hardcover

First published March 19, 2013

About the author

Patricia MacLachlan was born on the prairie, and always carried a small bag of prairie dirt with her wherever she went to remind her of what she knew first. She was the author of many well-loved novels and picture books, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; its sequels, Skylark and Caleb's Story; and Three Names, illustrated by Mike Wimmer. She lived in western Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely. The theme has been done before, but not that I've seen on a level that's accessible to the youngest independent readers and also likely to be enjoyed by all, even older readers. It's also very clean, with a happy ending: Philip's family's problem is never defined. And of course it's beautifully written.

Not just for animal lovers, or for those who like biblotherapeutic books - it's also got gentle humor and adventure. And interesting characters. Lena, the rescued parrot, is a hoot, and we can deduce that her former owner was, too. And Alice, the sister of the narrator, is a writer, with insights of her own.

"Alice always tells the truth," said Mama, filling Lena's water dish with clean water. "Even if it is fiction."

Short... a family could easily make time to read it aloud together, or a child could read it in a weekend (or an avid reader could get through it in a half hour. ;)

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Maclachlan's writing is absolutely amazing, and this one is no exception. I read it in about an hour...'twas time well spent. I about cried. :)

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Patricia MacLachlan's spare kid-friendly style. Her Word After Word After Word inspired some of the most beautiful writing I've ever seen from fourth graders. White Fur Flying ranks right up there with it.

Zoe and Alice's parents are a vet and a dog rescuer. Their mom rescues Great Pyrenees dogs (very large, very furry, very white), so there is always white fur flying in their house. When new neighbors move in, the girls quickly learn that Phillip, age 9, won't talk. Ever. He's quit speaking.

Well, he won't talk to humans.

The book had arrived when I got home from school and I inhaled it, around cooking dinner, in about an hour. This is one of my favorite books, and it only came out yesterday. I want a class I can read this to!!

[Bookslut · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. I'd started to worry that all modern chapter books were boring and used a ton of words to say very little. And this book is actually funny, instead of that terrible canned humor my daughter eats up so completely in books like All Four Stars. Know your audience, I guess. I thought this vastly better than any of the recently-written chapter books this year.

[Kate Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm convinced that some dogs are truly angels. 🤍 And when we rescue them, they rescue us.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dog/human relationship is all about healing. It fits my theme because this a unintentional "service relationship". Kodi doesn't know he will heal Phillip. The story is set in the country. A fun, crazy family with a veterinarian father, dog-rescuing mom, and two girls Zoe and Alice live in happy chaos. Mom rescues Great Pyrenees and trains them. There are always dogs, and lots of white fur. Their father is also an animal lover and even brings home a sassy parrot named Lena when he couldn't find a home for her. Lena loves to say "You can't know." This is a deep statement that is a theme of this book. You never know what is going on with a person. Funny that a parrots chirping would be so significant. A proper aunt and uncle move next door and they end up taking in their nephew, 9 year old Phillip. While Zoe's house is wild, Phillip's is the opposite. To be neighborly, the family invites the Aunt and nephew over and they soon realize Phillip doesn't speak. They all wonder what could have happened that Phillip wouldn't want to talk anymore but all the author tells us is that his parents got into some trouble. The family has one Great Pyrenees that is a constant family member named Kodi. Phillip and Kodi develop a deep relationship. Like only a dog can, Kodi listens, doesn't try and force Phillip to talk like many people do, and accepts him for who he is, no judgement. We all know that the unconditional love is something that makes a dog/human relationships so profound. Kodi doesn't try and hurry up Phillip's healing, he lets him heal in his own time and he doesn't ask questions. Zoe makes a good connection that both Phillip and Kodi are "left behind". Kodi is the only dog that never leaves their house and Phillip's parents left him behind. I thought this was a important theme. At one point, the mom rescues a new dog Jack. On the night of a rain and hail storm, Jack goes missing. The aunt comes over and says she doesn't know where Phillip is, and they realize that Phillip went out looking for Jack. Jack and Phillip spend the entire night cuddled up in the barn. This is an important turing point for the quiet Phillip. He feels safe with Jack and knows he is capable of rescuing someone else. I think the title of "white fur flying" is hysterical because those dogs do have an intense amount of fur. I hated that this book had to end! I wanted to know so much more about Phillip and his journey. Patricia MacLachlan has written many other books that I just might have to sneak into the Young Adult section to read! I think I might use this as the last book in my unit because it does an outstanding job of illustrating how a dogs affection can remedy pain and bring immense joy to humans.

[Reading is my Escape · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovable dog story...
Dedication:
 
For Sue Carlin and all
those who rescue dogs --
 
And for those who adopt 
and foster them.
 
It is a heroic, never-ending job.
 
And for Kodi.
 

This story is about a family whose mom rescues great pyrenees dogs and whose dad is a vet. A boy moves in next door with his aunt & uncle. The boy doesn't speak and he quickly bonds with the dogs.
 
This a cute story about how dogs can change your life and how dogs are very sensitive to people's needs. They know who needs their love most and are able to give it. Sometimes dogs know that people need saving when they don't even know it themselves.
 
I enjoyed this story. It literally took me an hour to read. This story will appeal to any dog lover or kid who has always wanted a dog...
 
Recommended to:
Readers in grades 3-5 (or anyone else who loves dogs).

[Teresa Bateman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can you say? It's Patricia MacLachlan. Zoe, Alice, and their parents live in a rural area. Dad's a vet and Mom rescues Great Pyrenees dogs. Their house tends to have fur in the corners and all but their main dog come and go. Then new neighbors arrive--a young boy who doesn't speak and his aunt and uncle who are stiff and seem completely opposite to Zoe's family. However, as with most MacLachlan books, there is more to everyone than meets the eye. This is a simple, easy chapter book with fully-fleshed characters and a delightful plot filled with themes of kindness and acceptance and, of course, dogs dogs dogs. I read it in one swoop, being unable to put it down.

[Julie (Let's Read Good Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars

I loved this book! Very touching portrayal of the special bond between humans and animals, and how they give us the courage to move forward after huge emotional setbacks.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some authors seem to have a gift for telling a story with depth and heart using a surprisingly few words. MacLachlan has proven herself to be one of those kinds of authors. I know when I pick up one of her books that I will feel good when I finish it. And White Fur Flying is no exception.

Zoe, a young girl with a heart sensitive to the feelings of others, tells the story about the dogs and the boy and her family. Zoe's family rescues Great Pyrenees dogs. When a young boy moves in next door who doesn't speak, Zoe's family accepts him and shows him kindness and acceptance. When a new rescued dog named Jack comes to stay with Zoe's family, it may be just the thing to help Phillip find his voice.

The story is very sweet. The parrot named Lena who repeats what she hears adds a funny note to the story. This would make a nice read-a-loud for younger students who aren't ready for more intense reads. But I think it also make for a good family story, I really enjoyed reading about Zoe's family and how they related to each other.

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patricia MacLachlan is a talented writer and, happy at discovering that, I'm reading my way through her body of work. Her books are always short but packed with humanity and truth. They straddle the line between chapter books and middle grade novels, a territory few children's authors dare to enter. It's less challenging to get a reluctant reader to finish one of her slim novels, yet there is always much to discuss afterward.

A boy who has stopped speaking moves next door to a budding young writer, her older sister, their veterinarian father, and dog rescuing mother. Their group of rescue dogs, and one rescued parrot, have a positive impact on the boy and his aunt and uncle who are caring for him while his parents work out some undisclosed difficulty. MacLachlan has a way of bringing the dogs, and even the parrot, to life as real characters who are essential to the story. No illustrations but what a gorgeous cover.

[Brittany Beranek]

This book wasn't that interesting when I started reading it but as I got further, I got more interested in it. The part that really got my attention was that Alice and Zoe decided to get two dogs from a shelter. Also that Mama fosters the animals makes her one of my favorite characters. Mama, Alice, and Zoe had to prepare for a long car ride to get the dogs which were in Georgia. Before they got the dogs, they had to really clean the house so that when the dogs got there, they wouldn't get into anything. When the dogs were home, they got named Kodi and Jack. Jack ran off but was found not too much later. I like how Alice and Zoe treated the dogs so well. The dogs were grown very nice and energetic. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves dogs and wants to know about a dog's good life.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sorry to say I didn't love this one. It's well-written in MacLachlan's positively inimitable, condensed style. I love the idea of a family who rescues Great Pyrs (Pyrenees). They're huge, comical beasts. However, when a mute boy moves in next door with his seemingly taciturn aunt, I had a feeling the story (and disability) would be wrapped up too easily. It's a nice story, and PM's books have great appeal from early readers to the elderly.

[Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple short book told from the POV of our protagonist Zoe who helps her mother rescue Great Pyrenees dogs. This book has many things, a child who won't speak because his parents aren't getting along, new dogs, old dogs, people who never knew outside what they've lived, a talking parrot, and lots of white fur.

My nitpicks were small, minuscule, though as an adult Phillip comes off as abused and I get an uneasy feeling towards him sent home with his potentially abusive parents.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet, sweet story about how unconditional love (from pets, and from family, too) makes you able to overcome everything. I loved the character development in the children, but also in the secondary characters, like Phyllis. You won't find any two-dimensional cardboard-cutout background characters here!

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written for a book aimed at about 3rd and 4th grade readers. The plot has been done before: child who refuses to speak due to family problems is "cured" by his relationship with a dog. But it will be new to those children who don't read widely.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. As an adult reader, if left me wanting more. I think it is a good pick for 3rd graders for the SSYRA books this year, shorter story, large print.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, easy read for 3-5th graders who are animal lovers.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, I adored this book!!! Cannot wait to eventually read it to the older grandkids!! Patricia MacLachlan is an excellent children’s book author!!!

[Saire Marloz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustan los libros de Patricia MacLachlan, todos son sobre familias felices y gente que se pierde jaja
Un libro confort definitivamente. 🤍

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming book about a vet's family which tirelessly rescues various pets. When a mute boy moves in, they all contribute to the care of his family, so the boy and his mother come out of their shells.

[Cole Sussman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Challenges/Issues
Awards: None
Audience: ages 6-9
A. The issues in this book revolved around a little boy’s (Phillip) struggle with selective mutism. The story was told from the perspective of a little girl, Zoe. She and her sister met Phillip soon after he moved in with his aunt and uncle, who were trying to take care of him while his parents dealt with an unspecified issue. The book deals with Zoe and her family’s attempt to befriend and accept Phillip and his aunt and uncle, despite their pain. The climax of the book occurs when Jack, one of Zoe’s family’s rescue dogs escapes in a huge storm and Phillip goes missing as well, right after his aunt yelled at him about his selective mutism. Zoe realizes Phillip went after Jack and goes out to find them both. She realizes, while searching, that Phillip is afraid to speak because he feels at blame for his parent’s problems. When she finally finds Phillip, he is speaking! He learns how to love again by becoming friends with Jack and realizes that keeping quiet is not the answer. The book resolves with Phillip keeping Jack and going home to be with his parents, Zoe’s family learning the power of friendship and silence, and Phillip’s aunt and uncle learning how to love.
B. I would say that the book is well-written, has a powerful message of love, and deals with an important issue that is relevant to many children. The book is entertaining and is set in the home of a loving family that rescues Great Pyrenees dogs. Zoe and her older sister Alice learn kindness and love from their mother, who is a major character in the book as well. Plus, the book deals with a child who feels guilt over his parent’s struggles. Although never explicitly stated, it is implied that his parents are trying to avoid divorce. But, Phillip feels to blame for this and deals with it by choosing not to speak. The story teaches Phillip love and helps him realize that his parent’s struggles are not his fault. Finally, each character in the book learns something from Phillip’s journey and it is relatable to children dealing with many different issues.
C. I think this book was a window book. It was told from Zoe’s perspective, a “normal” girl with a healthy family, so it was more relatable than if it had been told by Phillip. But, the story was still about Phillip and his struggles, issues that most children would not deal with or immediately understand. It allows the readers to see life the way someone else does and relate to him.

[Lauren Kramer-Theuerkauf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe's family loves to rescue dogs. Great Pyrenees dogs to be exact. It seems that Mama always has new dogs coming in to be fostered.

Zoe's Daddy is a veterinarian. He loves caring for animals. Even if it means bringing an abandoned, talkative bird home, temporarily of course.

One day, Zoe and her sister, Alice, notice new neighbors moving into the house down the road. They soon discover that the woman's name is Mrs. Croft and that she is caring for her nephew, Phillip. The girls are thrilled to have a new playmate for the summer but there is one problem. Phillip doesn't talk. An even bigger problem? Mrs. Croft doesn't like dogs.

During a terrible storm several days later, both Phillip and Jack (Mama's newest foster dog) go missing. Will Phillip break his silence to call for the help that he desperately needs? Will Zoe be able to solve the mystery of their disappearance before it's too late? Can Mrs. Croft learn to love the animal that she fears most?

I absolutely love this book! Being a former foster parent, I can totally relate to Mama's struggle to place her foster dogs in forever homes. I too, wanted to keep every dog that we fostered. I love that this story sheds light on the importance of fostering as well as volunteer animal transporters. I am a volunteer transporter with All American Dachshund Rescue. Without the help of these incredible volunteers, many of these amazing dogs would still be stuck in the pound or worse, killed due to lack of space.

The characters in this story are rich and vibrant. I love Alice's no-holds-bar personality. She says exactly what she feels and loves being the comedian. Zoe is clever and very observant but is not as sure of herself as Alice. The two make a fascinating pair. Phillip's character is very complex and always keeps the reader guessing.

This story beautifully highlights the special bond that dogs have with their humans. Dogs seem to sense the way that humans are feeling long before the tears fall from our eyes or the cries of joy emit from our lips. They seek only to make us happy and love us unconditionally. This bond is truly priceless and deserves to be celebrated.

Overall, this is a fantastic read for animal lovers of all ages. This book would also make a wonderful gift for the shelter/rescue worker/volunteer in your life.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

"White Fur Flying," by Patricia MacLachlan is a wonderful tale about a family who rescues dogs. They are truly involved with their rescue animals. They LOVE them, as you would expect. They don't keep the dogs however, they put them up for adoption to new homes. Fur flies everywhere, all the time. When the dogs run around, when they are brushed, and even when they just sit. Fur is everywhere. Zoe is one of the daughters of the family, the main character. She becomes intrigued when a neighbor family moves in. The young son of the family, a boy her age named Phillip, refuses to talk no matter what he encounters. Captivated with his situation, she takes him on as a challenge. She figures training boys and training dogs cannot be too different. After a storm, Phillip and the family’s dog go missing. Philip has to use his voice to save himself and the pet. In the end of the book, Phillip talks just as much as a normal person. The cover art of the book is very fitting. It depicts a large white, furry dog who is shaking and causing his “fur to fly.” I find that the illustration really conveys the tone of the story and sets the stage for the feel of the family’s house with all of the dogs running around. This book is a very heartwarming story and will have a place in my personal collection as well as my classroom collection.

[Kathleen Rak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another classic from Patricia MacLachlan with lovable characters and a story with heart, White Fur Flying introduces readers to a family of animal lovers rescuing and then fostering Great Pyrenees until they can find good homes - oh, and a talking parrot, too. Mom is the fosterer, Dad is a vet, and two sisters help out and each have their own personalities to boot. When Phillip moves in next door with two straight-laced caregivers the family and their animals will grow on him and help him to come out of his shell.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to be part of the family in this book. Clever and empathetic, funny and brave, they treat rescue dogs and unfriendly neighbors with the same thoughtful, cautious grace. It's about giving those you meet the space to be who they should be, who they can be. There's something in the simplicity of Patricia MacLachlan's writing that's so deep and so poetic and sees so clearly what's essential; it is an astonishing feat.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, moving, beautifully crafted story from beloved author Patricia MacLachlan that tells the story of a close-knit family that rescues dogs and ends up rescuing a lost boy.

Classic MacLachlan: simple, sweet, begging to be read slowly to savor the unique, original, nuanced characters and realistic, complicated but loving family.

A sweet story about finding your voice and paying attention.

[Christine Rains · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe's mom rescues dogs and finds them good home. When a new family moves in across the street, there is a boy who refuses to talk. His aunt doesn't know what to do with him. But the dogs do.

I read this with my 10-year-old son who is an animal lover. The story has a lot of heart in so many ways. A great way to show kids how dogs can be caretakers and healers. It has some funny moments (especially with Lena the parrot!) and some sad ones. A marvelous read.

[Amanda Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be an extremely heart warming book. I love how much of an impact an animal can have on a persons life and how sometimes a person just needs understanding. I recommend this book to any child especially those that feel out of place or those that are having family struggles. There is so much enlightenment in this story, I think even adults have a lot to learn.

[Angelika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe and Alice's mom rescues Pyrenees, whose white fur flies everywhere. A silent boy next door makes friends with their dogs which helps him open up. Great examples of people helping and caring for animals and vice versa. The kids loved the book, Philip and Jack were favorites and Lena, the parrot, got big laughs.