The story: Clair has always ignored her white-trash "whippoorwill" neighbors the Stewarts until she notices Wally, a neglected dog in a down-at-heel backyard. When she finally reaches out to befriend Wally, she unexpectedly finds herself becoming friends with Danny, son of out-of-control Mr. Stewart--and she learns that training a dog to be great is a lot like training a boy to be great. Only question is: when is it too late for either of them?
June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; Sexual content PG; nudity G; substance abuse PG; magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (parental neglect, animal abuse, patricide) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.
Liz's comments: Here's a deceptively quiet story about what happens to animals--and to people--when they're neglected. Both Danny and Wally are painfully needy; both are worthy of Clair's attention. But when Old Man Stewart's lifetime of abusing his son goes in a direction neither of them expects, there's nothing Clair can do to stop the fallout...except do whatever she can to save Wally, the most innocent victim of all. Hand this one to older MS readers, or anyone who's ever loved a dog.
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