First published 1998
When his father gets arrested for stealing food to feed the family, a young boy faces shame and anger in their small sharecropping community. His father took the food because the family was hungry, but now he sits in jail while the boy struggles with bitter feelings. The family's loyal coon dog Sounder becomes the boy's closest companion during this difficult time. As months pass, the boy discovers the power of reading and begins to educate himself. Through books and his bond with Sounder, he starts to understand his world differently. The dog's unwavering devotion teaches him about loyalty and love. Reading opens new possibilities he never imagined before. Slowly, the boy's anger transforms into something deeper. He develops courage to face his circumstances and compassion to forgive. This story follows his journey from a hurt child to a young person who understands that dignity can survive even the harshest conditions.
Genres: family-life, american-fiction, 20th-century, african-american, coming-of-age
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Period: 20th-Century
161 pages · Hardcover · Holt Rinehart & Winston
Content warnings: abuse