The Comeback Dog

by Jane Resh Thomas, Troy Howell

When a Midwestern farm boy named Daniel nurses a maltreated dog back to health, he is hurt to discover the dog's apparent indifference to his kindness

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

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Jane Resh Thomas has written more than a dozen fiction and nonfiction books for young readers, including the highly praised Behind the Mask for Clarion. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Stephanie A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best "reading group" books we ever covered in elementary school, I still get choked up every time I read this. It captures all the grief and anger you feel when you lose your best canine pal and swear you'll never have one like him or her again, as well as the conflict of opening your heart up again. I cringe when his temper gets the better of him and his parents merely offer quiet admonishment instead of lecturing him in no uncertain terms, but I suspect part of that is meant to reflect both the time period and the farm setting. All in all, though it's quite a short story, it gets across all kinds of important messages about love and patience. One of those "I wish I had written this" books.

EDIT: I found the mini book report I wrote on it so now you all get to read Tiny Me's review too:
The beginning of the story is sad, but it becomes more exciting as the book advances. I think the most exciting part is when Daniel tries to earn Lady's love by force. [Teacher's comment: Great observation!]

It is also fun when Lady runs away and her face becomes a mass of quills, and she won't let anyone touch her except Daniel. I would give this book an A- because the story isn't wild and exciting, but better yet, it is heartwarming.

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, the book was ok. Not terribly exciting so giving it 3 stars for that reason. Now I can talk about what I liked in it.

The boy in the story lost his previous dog and doesn't want a new dog. He finds a dog almost dead and brings it back to health. The dog doesn't want to be friendly, maybe too traumatized from a previous owner.

The lesson on helping lost dogs is a good one. The lesson of the feeling of lost when one leaves is always a good conversation to have, but a tough one. Good to discuss how dogs can be different, and some can be broken and need more love and care and may not be what you hoped for. Good lessons or discussions that can be had from this short book.

I also liked how in addition to doing his share on the farm, he has enough knowledge and gumption, after a not too much procrastination, can do chores like replace a rotted step without any further directions. Then after he fixed it:

'When he tried the step, he found that he had nailed it firm, without a wobble in it. He would feel good every time he stepped on that board.'

I also liked a bit in reference to blizzard weather. As I came from warmer climates, and now live where there is minimal snow, I appreciate snow more. I realize it is something more than just what drive up to the Mountains to go ski on and then drive back to where it was warm. So I liked this bit:

'He had dug out the mailbox and mounted a red bandana on a long stick above it so the snowplow wouldn’t shear off the post. The plow buried the mailbox again, bandana and all. Daniel dug it out once more.'

So, you know it wasn't a great 'dog' book when I talk more about other stuff then the dog.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone who has had to get over the death of a beloved pet will appreciate Daniel's mixed emotions about caring for this poor, maltreated stray. The narrative describes an older, more simple time, and the rural farm setting is somewhat idealized. It is a heart-warming tale and despite being published over forty years ago, it will appeal to school-age children

[Jan Raspen · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I was stuck in an office giving a state-mandated test, and I was looking for something to read on the shelf. I came across a bunch of semi-discarded library books, so I made sure they were correctly discarded, and this one caught my eye. I read it in under an hour, since it is so short. And when I got to the end, I saw in the author/illustrator blurb that the illustrator lived in the same town as me! So I was glad I read it, even though it is quite dated. Published in 1981, the copy I had looked like it was well-loved in its time. But wow, has children's publishing changed in the past 40 years--I feel like today this book would've been 3x as long and way grittier.
But still, it cool to look up the author and see what he has done in the past 40 years. I emailed him but haven't heard back yet. Holding out hope he'll write back.

[Shanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Daniel is grieving the recent death of the family dog. Daniel finds a badly injured stray and, as he nurses it back to health he imagines her giving him the same joy he had with his other dog. He is deeply disappointed when she recovers only to fear him and not really want anything to do with him. He tries to force her into being affectionate which of course only makes matters worse. He lets her go, but she does come back, and he seems to realize that he will have to accept her on her terms.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

More French practice for me, but this was the hardest I've read yet. When I took French classes, I didn't have much need for vocabulary for farm life and stuff about animals. I ended up looking up a lot of words. The story didn't grab me much either. It's about a boy whose dog died before the story started, and he doesn't want another dog, but then he finds a stray that needs to be nursed back to health, and that stray actually doesn't want a boy.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars & 3/10 hearts. I just read Old Yeller before reading this book, and it really reminded me of Old Yeller. It was sad and sweet, though Daniel’s attitude wasn’t very good. ;) There was a Great Depression vibe to it all, though I expect it actually is set later than that. I really liked Daniel’s knowledge of tools at his age—that was a great idea of his father’s! 

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was picking out books for a dog-themed display for the Paws to Read program this morning at the library when I found this one. I had never heard of it, but the description on the inside flap said that it's about "how Daniel learns to accept and respect Lady [the stray dog] for what she is," which is not at all like Captain, his trusting, affectionate, well-adjusted dog, who had died a few months earlier. I love this reminder that "every dog has ways of its own," as Daniel's mom tells him. I'm going to go home and give Chico a big kiss and a treat.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

When David finds a very weak dog. He brings it home and nurses it back to health.
When one day the dogs he names Lady runs away David mournes for her to come back, but when she does come back she has porciopine needles are stuck into her head and eye!
David tries to get the pociupine needles out of her.

I don't like how the book ends. It ends like this:
"I hope you stay this time".
Do like it,? Because I do not.

This book is great except for the ending! You just have to read this book.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from the library because I found out the dog involved is an English Setter. While it's obviously rather simplistic because it's a children's book, nonetheless it's a heartening story of the emotions a young boy experiences during her rescue. The line drawings are especially good, and really add to the story. Almost anyone who likes English Setters would enjoy this book.

[H.L. Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This simple tale about a boy dealing with the loss of his beloved dog also has the message that life doesn't always look exactly like we expect it to. The main character, Daniel, learns patience and unconditional love while trying to help a wounded dog recover. Only when Daniel and Lady trust each other does true healing begin for both of them.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beginning chapter book (perhaps for grades 3-7) is an enjoyable read, with an important message about caring for others: it doesn't always reward you in the way that you want, but it is worth it just the same.

[Cws]

JAR4-Tho

[Heather Armstrong]

Suppose to be good for dealing with loss of pet

[Kari]

Such a realistic story of how a boy and a stray dog come to trust and respect each other. Masterful.

[Amy Souza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really resonated with me and my 10 year old son. We have a dog that runs away often and then comes back.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sad dog story where the dog actually lives at the end...

[Connor Watrous · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good inspirational book that anyone should read in their free time since it is pretty short.