When God Closes a Door...: Dog Opens a Window

by Vicky Kaseorg

In this novel based on truth, a stray dog is befriended by a shy, lonely girl, Basha. Set in the 1940s, the story of Basha and her strict and quirky Jewish mother, Rose, reveals ugly truths about antisemitism, the devotion to cultural heritage vs. changing attitudes towards faith and traditions, and the tension of protective love vs. freedom to the beloved. Rose adamantly refuses to allow Basha to keep the stray dog Skippy since “dogs have dirt and germs and belong outside.” Basha, a timid, lonely, and dutiful girl, shines with loyalty AND defiance finding a solution to house her new-found friend. Throughout the story, she straddles the line of obedience and self-preservation. Often funny, often poignant, and in the end victorious, Basha learns how to overcome fear and loneliness. The surprise ending leads full circle to understanding, if not embracing, her mother’s flawed attempts to overcome her own fear and struggles in a dangerous world.

147 pages, Paperback

Published April 17, 2020

About the author

About the Author
Vicky Kaseorg is an artist, writer, and homeschooled for 25 years. Vicky and her husband reside in North Carolina. When not writing, drawing, or teaching, Vicky is volunteering with pro-life ministry, or kayaking, skiing, bicycling, and looking for God in the tiny details of the world around her. She writes a daily blog at vickykaseorg.blogspot.com .