Piper

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Eleven-year-old Wesley knows what it is like to feel unwanted. Once she
had her own bedroom and lots of friends. Then her father died in a car
accident and Wesley was forced to move to her Aunt Rosemary’s farm
near Picton, Ontario. Now she shares a cramped room with a bratty
younger cousin and goes to a new school where all the kids make fun of
her. The only bright light in Wesley’s life is Piper, a tiny pup who
was recently born on the farm. Unfortunately, Piper is a runt and Aunt
Rosemary is a no-nonsense breeder of prize Australian sheepdogs. Piper
has to prove she is capable of becoming a champion or Aunt Rosemary will
sell her. Wesley wants to keep Piper as her own pet, but she knows
virtually nothing about training sheepdogs. She finds an unexpected ally
in Mr. Sharp, a taciturn old man who lives on the neighboring farm. But
even with his help Piper’s chances of becoming a champion look nearly
insurmountable.

This fine first novel by Natale Ghent follows the classic plot of an
underdog who makes good despite numerous setbacks and misunderstandings.
Ghent’s prose is an appealing mix of humor, bittersweet memories, and
dog sense. The book is sure to please preteen readerss. Highly
recommended.