A Home for Goddesses and Dogs

A unique masterpiece about loss, love, and the world’s best bad dog, from award winner Leslie Connor, author of the National Book Award finalist The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle, now available in paperback.

This novel sings about loss and love and finding joy in new friendships and a loving family, along with the world’s best bad dog. An uplifting middle grade novel about recovery featuring strong female characters, an adorable dog, and the girl who comes to love him.

It’s a life-altering New Year for thirteen-year-old Lydia when she uproots to a Connecticut farm to live with her aunt following her mother’s death.

Aunt Brat and her jovial wife, Eileen, and their ancient live-in landlord, Elloroy, are welcoming—and a little quirky. Lydia’s struggle for a sense of belonging in her new family is highlighted when the women adopt a big yellow dog just days after the girl’s arrival.

Wasn’t one rescue enough?

Lydia is not a dog person—and this one is trouble! He is mistrustful and slinky. He pees in the house, escapes into the woods, and barks at things unseen. His new owners begin to guess about his unknown past.

Meanwhile, Lydia doesn’t want to be difficult—and she does not mean to keep secrets—but there are things she’s not telling...

Like why the box of “paper stuff” she keeps under her bed is so important...

And why that hole in the wall behind a poster in her room is getting bigger...

And why something she took from the big yellow dog just might be the key to unraveling his mysterious past—but at what cost?

* Junior Library Guild Selection *

• A Moving Coming of Age Story: Thirteen-year-old Lydia must find her footing on a quirky Connecticut farm after the death of her mother.
• A Troubled Rescue Dog: The big yellow dog is mistrustful, destructive, and has a mysterious past. Can Lydia, a reluctant dog person, be the one to heal him?
• Two Loving Aunts: Lydia’s new home with Aunt Brat and her wife Eileen is full of love, laughter, and a few lovable quirks.
• Secrets in the Walls: Between a mysterious box of paper art and a hole that keeps getting bigger, Lydia is hiding more than just her grief.