Bringing Up Beauty

Terri Spanjer is a Toronto-based freelance editor.

The other members of 12-year-old Elizabeth’s family are intensely
involved in their own interests: Mom teaches English and is a passionate
environmentalist; Dad is wrapped up in his job and computers; sister
Debra is pursuing an art career and her boyfriend, Rolph. So when
Beauty, a Lab pup, is given to the family by Canine Vision Canada, to be
trained for one year in the basics of Seeing-Eye-dog behavior, the task
falls to Elizabeth. Out of self-preservation she tries not to love
Beauty, but her investment of time and responsibility creates a loving
bond that results in the only friendship Elizabeth can count on
throughout this turbulent year. Elizabeth experiences heartbreaking
first love as the object of her affection, longtime pal Scott, falls for
her best friend, Alicia. Jealousy and confusion tarnish her relationship
with her sister because Debra’s life seems to revolve around Rolph. On
top of that, her father loses his job. Throughout all this Elizabeth
steadfastly trains Beauty, and her dedication to and patience with the
dog spill over into her relationships with the humans in her life.

Elizabeth’s first-person account of her adventures and misadventures
with Beauty, her emotional ties to Scott and Alicia, and her changing
perception of family members is well paced, vivid, and exuberant. Events
are brilliantly interrelated and convincingly resolved. Highly
recommended.