First published 2008
Mark Levin brings home Sprite, a spaniel mix with gentle eyes and silky fur who quickly wins over the entire family. Three weeks later, on Halloween night, Sprite suddenly collapses. The family rushes him to the animal hospital, beginning what becomes a two-year battle with declining health. Despite frequent emergency visits and mounting medical challenges, Sprite maintains his cheerful disposition and continues to bring joy to the Levins. His condition gradually worsens through 2005 and 2006, though his spirit never wavers. During the 2006 holiday season, the family faces the heartbreaking decision to let Sprite go. Levin chronicles how a sick dog transforms his understanding of the bond between humans and animals, revealing that people often receive more love than they give.
Genres: animals, family-life, contemporary, biography-memoir
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, grief
Period: 2005, 2006
231 pages · Hardcover · Thorndike Pr
Content warnings: animal-death, medical-trauma