I couldn’t resist this book when I spotted the cover art. Then I read the blurb and became enchanted.
And I got an even bigger surprise when I found out this is actually loosely based on true events.
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, be they human or animal. Come meet them.
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My Review
When I was a young girl, pretty much the only books I was interested in reading were about animals, especially dogs and horses. I still enjoy them now through older eyes.
This story is told from Honey’s point of view and she tells it in a true southern voice. Such a great way to relate her story.
Honey knew to be careful. Many dangers awaited on the Creature Trail. But, being a pup, just one year old, she’s gregarious and full of energy, and that one careless moment lands her where she is now.
A steel trapped has clamped down on her leg and there’s no escaping it. She faints in fear and pain as the trapper scoops her up and carries her away from the swamp.
Topper Guy, the trapper suspects this creature is on the ‘dangered’ list yet he’s not gonna let that stop him from making money from her pelt.
If not for the timely arrival of Miss Jane, Honey would have been dead meat. The kindly woman rescues her from the trapper and takes her home to Banbury Cross Farm. Imagine Honey’s delight when she sees all of the other dogs there.
You see, Miss Jane and her partner, Mr. Bill, have made it their life’s purpose to rescue the ditch dogs of North Carolina. The Dixie Dingo Dog, aka ditch dog, is recognized as one of the oldest breeds in North America.
As Honey heals from her wound and adjusts to life on the farm, she worries about her mom and dad and siblings still living in the swamp. Something is killing the animals there and she fears they might be next.
The first person I suspected was Topper Guy. To him, “A ditch dog ain’t nothin but a varmint – they all gotta go.” But, not one to jump to conclusions, I looked for other suspects.
Honey is settling in and learning many exciting new things. Her favorite is the agility training. But, she can’t relax and enjoy her new loving family until her real one is safe.
When I learned this story was loosely based on true events, I had to know more about these beautiful dogs. The tireless efforts of some very special people have brought these endangered dogs into the limelight, procuring them a place as a recognized breed and protecting them.
The Dixie Dingo is a smart, agile, loving and loyal companion. A perfect Man’s Best Friend. They are not connected to the Dingos of Australia. These are American dogs, with their own individual classification.
Now that I’ve learned about these wonderful animals, I think I’ve seen a few around my town. I often thought they looked like the Australian Dingo. They have a distinct look with their curled tail, wheat colored coat, and classic features. I wonder if the owners realize what breed their best friend is. I imagine many think they are mixed breeds and have no idea.
Honey will win your heart, as will the colorful, loving characters that fight the good fight to protect the ditch dogs of the swamp.
A wonderful, feel good story for all ages.
5 Stars
A funny quote about loyalty from Mr. Bill:
“Well, look at it this way: S’pose by accident you locked your wife and your dog in the trunk of your car. When you open it, which one’s going to be glad to see you?”
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Synopsis
Bestselling and award-winning author Allen Paul has created an endearing character in Honey, a swamp dog who gets rescued at the moment she’s about to get shot. Taken to live at Banbury Cross Farm with other rescued Dixie Dingos, her quick cuts and darting turns soon draw notice; she’s then trained for agility championships, the most popular of all canine sports. From the start, Honey forms a deep bond with Miss Jane, who saved her in the nick of time. Her trainer is Ace, a worldly wise black man who manages the farm’s kennel. Honey forms another deep bond with Miss Jane’s partner, Mr. Billy, a skilled horseman who delights Honey by quoting famous rhymes.
The story is told by Honey in a charming southern voice. She’s just turned one (equal to a 10-year-old girl or boy) when the story begins. At its center is a haunting mystery: Why are swamp critters turning up dead with a wild look in the eye? Many believe a big coyote named Geronimo scares them to death. When two dead dingo pups are found, Honey becomes convinced that her pack, which is still in the swamp, could be next. Somehow she has to get them out. The plot thickens when several small pets get killed in the nearby town. Rewards are posted and a group led by the trapper Topper Guy, who nearly shot Honey, head for the swamp. Twelve innocent dingos mistaken for coyotes get shot. Miss Jane confronts Topper Guy and demands that the killings stop. The upshot is a high stakes bet: Topper Guy wagers his guns against Miss Jane’s favorite horse that Honey won’t win at the Sportsman’s Championship. How Honey fares in that contest, and how the mystery killer gets caught, make for a thrilling read that kids at heart of all ages will love.
In the end, Honey learns an unforgettable lesson that her pack, which now includes humans, comes first. Based on a true story, this book will appeal to middle grade readers and adults. On July 17, 2013 a front-page article in the New York Times cited new genetic evidence suggesting that the Dixie Dingo (registered as the Carolina Dog) is the oldest breed in North America, predating European settlement by many centuries. They were Native American camp dogs but are not related to the Australian dingos. Many Dixie Dingos still live in southern swamps. With their antenna-like ears and muscular build, their look is quite distinctive. Dixie Dingos are excellent pets who form deep bonds with humans.
.Allen began his career as a reporter with the Associated Press in Raleigh, NC. Later, he wrote speeches in Washington for a congressional committee chairman, a member of the president’s cabinet and the chairman of one presidential campaign. He was in Poland gathering material for his first book when the Berlin Wall fell. That book – Katyn: Stalin’s Massacre and the Triumph of Truth – became a bestseller in Eastern Europe. It earned warm praised from the New York Times, the Washington Post, New York Review of Books and many other media outlets.
He was a Fulbright Fellow in Poland in 2010-11 and collected material there for a novel based on a daring mission of the Polish underground at the end of World War Two. It will be published in 2015.
His first book for younger readers (middle grade) was inspired by his own dog, Honey, whose breed – the Dixie Dingo – is probably the oldest in North America.
Allen holds a B.A. degree in English with a minor in History from Guilford College, and a Masters of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University. He and his wife, Betsy, live in Raleigh and have two grown children.
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