This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Theresa Oliver grew up in southern Indiana, across from Louisville, Kentucky, in Clarksville, Indiana. In her childhood, she fell in love with the power of the written word, a love affair that has continued her whole life. She moved to Florida, where she has lived much of her adult life. She attended the University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, Tenn., and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications degree, News Editorial sequence. She also earned a Master of Arts in Teaching degree, Early Childhood Education sequence, from Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, Ga. She is currently a writer, a full-time teacher, and the owner of Write More Publications and TNT Author Services. However, her greatest adventure is as a mother of three beautiful boys. Oliver currently resides in Kissimmee, Florida, with her husband and children.
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
What kind of name is Dog for a horse? Actually his official name is Dogs of War, but everyone just calls him Dog. Why? Well, perhaps his early years cavorting with the puppies has influenced his behaviour because this horse behaves like a dog. That’s right. He wags his tail, bows, smiles, lolls his tongue and gives big, slobbery, mushy cheek kisses. And he’s Sam’s responsibility at a time when Sam is recovering from his mother’s riding accident, one in which Dog’s father almost killed her. It’s almost too much to expect the boy to connect with Dog, but he does. You see, Dog is very persistent, and Dog has chosen Sam as his buddy.
Theresa Oliver’s young people’s novel, A Horse Named Dog, is a compassionate story about connections: between boy and horse, boy and parents, boy and the world around him. It also addresses concerns about dealing with problems and overcoming fears, no matter how justifiable these fears might be. Sam connects with the horse named Dog. Sam has a positive connection with both of his parents, although he does challenge his dad’s insistence that Sam helps with the horse training after his mother’s accident that leaves her laid up for some time. Sam is also capable of expressing his opinions, both to his parents and to mean horse trainers who try to take Dog away from him. But the most compassionate connection is between the boy and the horse.
This is a touching story. It opens the heart to human-animal bonding and parent-child bonding. There might be a little too much of the “I love you” and the “I’m so proud of you,” but the story as a whole is very endearing.
