A Dog's Way Home: A Novel

Every time I think I've figured out which W. Bruce Cameron book is my favorite, he writes another one and I have to reevaluate. I adored this story of Bella, a Pit-Rottie mix, who is determined to get back to her person, no matter what. It's a tale of love, devotion and bravery with all the heart and humor also found in Cameron's other bestsellers, A Dog's Purpose and A Dog's Journey. I can hardly wait for his next book to come out so I can reevaluate once again which is my favorite story of his.

Not a story for children in language and some family themes. I had to seriously edit this story as I read it to my 8 year old granddaughter. Disappointed after reading "A Dog's Purpose" which was much better.

I love Bruce Cameron. Loved his "Rules for Dating my Daughter." Read his syndicated columns for years in the NY Post (?). He was the keynote speaker at one of my children's High School graduations in Colorado. LOVED "A Dog's Purpose"!!! (although he should sue someone for the film rendition)...But in comparison, this book fell a little flat...sorry, Bruce...however, it is a very quick and easy read if you want something simple

This departs a bit from the other books. It's about a dog who was wrongly identified as a pit bull and how she traveled hundreds of miles to get home to her person. Really love the adventure Bella had making her way back home!!

Just received it today, and look forward to reading W. Bruce Cameron's newest novel. I'm
a big fan of his "A Dog's Purpose," books. I saw the movie and loved it. Bravo to
author W. Bruce Cameron.

I finished this book last night. It was a wonderful book! W. Bruce Cameron is a terrific author. You can tell by his writing what an animal lover he is. This is a very sweet story and a great read. I have read a Dog's Purpose and A Dog's Journey and they are wonderful too!

Having read A Dog's Purpose and A Dog's Journey , I expected more from the author than what he actually delivered in A Dog's Way Home. This book reads easily but lacks a creative storyline . The plot plods along and wanders away from the reader just like the main character Bella. She wanders around the mountainous countryside ,here now,then there and just about everywhere. Magically Bella finds her way. " Hey everyone, watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat....presto ,chango, no character development. Whoops...

A Dog's Way Home is the tale of Bella, a pit bull mix who is separated from her owner due to breed specific legislation. Told through the voice of Bella, the story is both heart warming and heart breaking as she tries to find her way back to her person. As the owner of a rescued pit bull mix, I have experienced firsthand the judgement and discrimination against these sweet, loving souls. I encourage readers to not only read and enjoy the book, but to take action to work towards an end to breed specific discrimination in all its forms.

I was utterly engaged in this novel from the beginning, at times disbelieving, chuckling, amazed, then dissolved to tears. Bruce Cameron has written this series, each using the canine protagonist as the POV. The book, however, is so much more than the thoughts and feelings of a dog. The novel examines topical issues from vets with PTSD and therapy certification, to breed discrimination (BSL), feral population, and rescue. Lest you think that too much, don't.

The storyline picks up with a litter of puppies sharing a "den" with feral cats and kittens. Unfortunately, the den is the sub-area of condemned housing which becomes problematic when workers come to raze the site. Mother Cat becomes the first of many major characters in the story, both human and animal, who contribute to this beautiful narrative of Bella on her mission to "Go Home."

Many of the supporting animals contribute to her survival (i.e. Big Kitten) and become a part of the amazing characters Cameron has brought to life to play a part in Bella's long journey through the mountains of Colorado to return to her one special person, her human. Lucas is not the only human focus of her pack, however. There are many strong, well developed characters that drive the tense-laden plot enough that you will NOT, cannot put this book down.

Human interaction often leaves Bella mystified, but she is such a sweet, gentle dog; a natural emotional companion and she absorbs the feelings of her human, whether interim or permanent to her pack.

It's a feel-good book, literary wonderfulness, well-plotted, with strong and charismatic characters. The novel wraps it up in a bow with a satisfying compassionate conclusion. I was given this ebook download by the publisher and NetGalley and am totally thrilled with the opportunity to read and review. Heartily recommended to any who own a pet, canine or feline, want to own a pet, or lovers of masterful literary genius.

W. Bruce Cameron's latest, A Dog's Way Home, is a book that most dog lovers will not want to miss; and, once they finish it, they will very likely consider it to be a book that they were very glad they read.

Like A Dog's Purpose and its sequel, A Dog's Journey, A Dog's Way Home is a very emotionally-charged book from many perspectives that will keep the reader actively turning the pages to see what happens next. BUT, you need to keep in mind that while A Dog's Way Home is very good and highly recommended to dog lovers, it is not, in my opinion, as good as A Dog's Purpose and A Dog's Journey, both of which I consider to be among my all-time favorites books.

Without going into detail about what A Dog's Way Home is about, I'll just say that it is sentimental tale -- narrated by the dog, Bella (and what a dog she is!) --that covers a two-year period ranging from the time she is a stray puppy who finds a loving home, then loses it after running afoul of anti–pitbull regulations, and then, after being sent into exile, makes a 400 mile wilderness trek through the Rocky Mountains and other destinations in order to find her way home to Denver and her much-loved owner, Lucas.

As in his other books, Cameron's great strength is his ability to get into dog-loving readers' hearts by fully capturing everything the main character (Bella) is thinking and feeling in such a way that it makes the reader feel that they are on an emotional rollercoaster. Cameron's skill in developing fully dimensionalized human characters, however, takes a big back seat to his anthropomorphic skill; as most of his people characters are just serviceable, at best. For this reason, if I could, I'd deduct 1/2 star from my overall rating. Having said this, let me stress that this is not really a problem as, after all, this book is all about Bella, the dog --which is who I wanted to read about when I first decided to read A Dog's Way Home.

If you are a dog lover, do yourself a favor and read A Dog's Way Home. I'm sure you'll give yourself (and, hopefully, your dog) a treat for doing so!

4 1/2 stars rounded up to 5 stars.

When a mixed breed dog (Bella) is labeled a pitbull, in a city with the Discriminatory (BSL) Breed Specific Legislation, her owner must work tirelessly to save and protect her. In the process rescuing cats as well. Although Bella is temporarily placed in a safe home, to her it is NOT HOME. So Bella embarks on an epic journey to find her beloved owner, Lucas. She meets (and saves) some humans and animals along the way. Her 400+ Mile journey will surprise and thrill you. But we all know who rescues who in this book, many humans have Bella to thank for saving them or enriching their lives on her long journey home. If you love dogs, cats, wild animals, military veterans and are against discrimination of any kind then this book will both touch and open your heart.

This story will grow on you. It starts a little slowly, but by the time you are about a quarter of the way in, you will be hooked. Loved the story telling from Bellas's perspective. It was a little predictable in terms of the Animal Control Officers actions but other than that I really enjoyed the story. Not up to a Dogs Purpose status, but very close.

I have a confession: I've never read a W. Bruce Cameron book before. I KNOW. But it gets worse! I did watch the movie. I absolutely loved A Dog's Purpose, even though I ugly cried through pretty much all of it. So when I stumbled on this, I had to read it, because it combines my two guilty pleasures: doggos and heartwarming reads.

A big thank you to Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

If you've read any of W. Bruce Cameron's other books in the A Dog's Purpose series, the same basic format applies to this one. It's told from the perspective of a dog. He's going to introduce you to a cute, fluffy doggo, make you fall in love, and then destroy all your feels. And he's really good at it.

This book does a great job of bringing attention to a lot of animal abuse problems that are often overlooked or not talked about. And being written from the point of a view of a dog means it's addressed from a unique perspective. The biggest one it tackles is the two-strike kill law for Pit Bulls in Denver, but there's plenty of other little things woven in along the way, as well. If you're an animal lover, it's sure to make your blood boil.

Still, this book has all the great warm feels that you would expect from a W. Bruce Cameron book. I actually thought I was going to get through the book mostly okay, but in the last quarter, he got me. He got me good. I can't say more because of spoilers, but rest assured, it is every bit the heartwarming read one has come to expect of the A Dog's Purpose books.

I felt like the voice was really well done, too. I've seen quite a few comments from people not liking it, and that's fair. Being from the point of view of a dog, the narration often involves short sentences and is more simplistic. You will find no long, flowing descriptions here. A few things about that, though. It makes the book incredibly easy to read. Also, it gives a really fresh way of looking at human interactions and things we take for granted. I mean, obviously we can't know for sure what a dog is thinking or how they view the world (unless you're Dr. Doolittle or Eliza Thornberry, anyway), but it was plausible enough where I really enjoyed it and seeing the things the narrator picks up on as a dog versus where a human might focus. I thought that was well done.

There were a few sticking points, though. Like ... the entire middle section of the book. It just dragged on and on and felt meandering. I wondered if we would ever get back to the main point. Several times, I set it down during this part and considered not picking it up again. The beginning? Fantastic. The ending? Brilliant. But the middle? Eh.

The resolution also felt incredibly easy and left me wondering why it wasn't done sooner? Things wrap up so cleanly and easily that I feel almost cheated. There's also no comeuppance for the big bad, and while it may seem petty, I am all about karma and retribution, okay? I demand vengeance!

All in all, A Dog's Way Home delivers on what it promises: W. Bruce Cameron's specific brand of heartwarming goodness with a (mostly) interesting plot.

The story is sweet and pulls at one's heartstrings . There is a bit of The Incredible Journey and a bit of A Dog's Purpose to it. I loved that both cats and dogs are highlighted even though the main character and narrator is a dog named Bella. Just like the author's other books, the story is told from a dog's perspective so the writing style is short sentences, not a huge vocabulary and a bit childlike which makes this a good book for any age and those who might have a lower reading level. That is not to say that I did not enjoy this book, because I did. It is a bit different from the others I have read because this was one dog and one life, but what a life.

Several subjects were brought up and high current. The discrimination of Pitbull type dog breeds, the problems of feral animals, how they are treated and the fact that many animals are just abandoned as well as Service Animals for both physical and emotional support. Bella's story is wonderful. She is an abandoned dog who is taken in by her person, Ethan. It turns out that not only can she sense when a seizure is coming on, but has wonderful senses and is able to provide comfort to those in distress. The story is told from her point of view stating that she just wants to be with her person and have a purpose. Her journey when she is separated from Ethan is amazing. It has a lot of adventure, side trips, and new people along the way. There is humor in just the right places, action, mystery, some sadness but overwhelming happiness as well as hope. I did need a few tissues along the way, but it was not too bad. Being a dog lover, I loved this book. It was well plotted with characters that I both loved and disliked. For every animal lover there are those who don't like animals and some of those are in this book. If you enjoy animal stories, pick this one up. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

This is a book for all animal lovers. I am a fan of the authors work and was thrilled to receive this to read for review from Net Galley. The opinions are my own.
The author has written another great book based on a rescue dog . For all of us that rescue animals this is a story that is so familiar to us. I was crying, laughing and could not stop reading this book . Having owned rescue animals all my life I knew this book would be as touching as his other work and it does not disappoint. The author beautifully involves us in the life of a rescue dog and the life of animals that live on the street due to human neglect.
Bruce Cameron has written this series told from the dogs point of view . The book is so much more than the thoughts and feelings of a dog. The novel examines current issues from vets with PTSD and therapy certification, to breed discrimination (BSL), feral population, abuse and rescue as well as fostering animals. All of these issues are important and critical .

The story starts with a litter of puppies sharing a "den" with feral cats and kittens. Unfortunately, the den is the area of condemned housing when workers come to destroy the site. Mother Cat becomes the first of many major characters in the story, both human and animal, who contribute to this beautiful narrative of Bella on her mission.

Many of the supporting animals contribute to her survival in her life and become a part of the amazing characters Cameron has brought to life. Belle's long journey through the mountains of Colorado to return to her one special person takes her through many experiences, The author has a masterful writing style that places you with Belle and on her journey with her. There are many strong, well-developed characters that drive this book. Both animal and human. I root for the animals.
It's a feel-good book, a well-plotted book,with strong characters brought to life. The novel gives all animal lovers a book to cheer for as we go on a journey with Belle. The conclusion had me crying m eyes out. I highly recommend this book to any animal lover. Truly only a animal lover can benefit so much from this wonderful book. Its compassion for animals throughout is what touches your heart.

You know when a book totally grabs your attention from the first few pages, you know that this will be a book that will stay with you long after reading it! I never read the first book in this stand alone series but you really don't need to since each book is different from the rest but they have the same idea of having the dog tell his or her side of the story.

Having recently lost two dogs in the last 6 months, I knew going into this that it's more than likely that I'm going to cry over it but I never expected what part that would hit me the hardest. It was the part in the very beginning when Bella found herself drawn to the cats that got to me since one of my dogs thought he was a cat even though he was a hundred pound Labrador Retriever!

I don't want to spoil anymore than that but it was like coming full circle when Bella finds herself, looking for Lucas in the deep woods with a unexpected ally! There was this one person in this book that I hated and you will discover who that is for what they do, even what they try to do in the end but we had to have a villain in this story and they fit it well.

Just reading this book has made me go back and read the first book (A Dog's Purpose) in which a review will be coming soon for that heart-breaking book! It's going to be interesting to watch this movie when it comes out in January 2019 and see what is different and how they will make certain things happen that I think might be impossible to achieve but then again, the magic of Hollywood can make anything happen!!

Thank You to W. Bruce Cameron for this heart-stopping adventure book that will touch any dog lover's hearts to the soul!!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley!

Every time W. Bruce Cameron publishes a new book, and I read it, I think "this is his best one yet." Well, this one is his best one yet. I love that he voices the story from Bella the dog. Bella meets the greatest friends and perseveres through the Colorado wilderness (where I live). She encounters many adventures and obstacles. It's happy, sad, happy, sad, happy!!! So glad he wrote it and but I'm bummed I finished it and now have wait for the next one!

I just finished this book and it's a real tearjerker. I'm a dog lover, and there is nothing like feeling that you are inside the mind of a dog and feeling what a dog feels, thinking what a dog thinks, and loving the way a dog loves. It's an amazing sensation, and W. Bruce Cameron is a great writer and clearly a great dog lover. He enters Bella's being and takes us on her amazing journey to find her human, Lucas. She wants to do Go Home, and Sit, and she wants a Tiny Piece of Cheese from the hand of her great love, her human. She is willing to cross 400 miles of dangerous landscape to get back to Lucas, the center of her universe. Love this story!

A Dog's Way Home is easily the best book W Bruce Cameron has written since his masterpiece A Dog's Purpose. Unlike the slightly disappointing sequel (Journey) this one again returns to our dog narrator (this time a mix of Rottweiler and other breeds) experiencing a number of different humans and "canine careers", instead of just sticking with the one human. Which is good, as if you don't like the human, you know she'll move on eventually. Bella keeps the same body throughout all the pages of this one, there's no reincarnation in A Dog's Way Home. Like with Purpose, life isn't smooth and carefree for Bella, she has highs and lows. Good and bad human interactions, including owners and learns about life through experience. You'll despise some of the humans, (Lucas the first human she lives with especially) but feels the joy for Bella with others. Unfortunately the book's main plot drive is that Bella thinks she needs to do Go Home (return to the house Lucas lived in) from the yard of foster humans four hundred miles away with mountains in between from that house, so even when she's with these humans she'll be much better off with, you know she's going to try and leave when she gets a chance.

Bella starts life like the opening chapters' dog in A Dog's Purpose, she knows nothing of the world, except for her mother, some siblings and lots of cats, who live in a roof crawlspace of a derelict house about to be torn down. She of course doesn't know it as any other place other than home where she isn't supposed to go near the light (hole to the outside world where an idiot known as Lucas, leaves cat food to feed and attract stray cats to the house about to be torn down). However Lucas' dumb actions have caused the developers to need to hire people to come and have the cats removed. Bella hides in a gap with mother cat, while her own mother, siblings and most other cats are removed. She is later discovered by some volunteer animal rescue people where Lucas decides to keep her, rather than let them rehouse her with a suitable owner. Lucas lives with his mother who has health issues in a government subsidised for house that doesn't allow pets. He has no idea how they will afford to pay for dog food (which doesn't really make sense since he has buying cat food all this time) and likes to use some ridiculous law about buildings not being able to be demolished by the demolition crew if there is a stray cat living there to hinder those wanting to tear down the old houses. He has no issues breaking laws and rules that suit him though. Nor does he have any empathy for the people who have their hard earned money tied up in the property or that his delaying their ability to knock down the old deathtraps is costing them a fortune, causing financial hardship for those who can't come onsite and build, and possibly bankrupting these associated businesses. So after the developer tries to help Lucas out financially, just so he can get on with it, but is instead is met with a defiant no way are you knocking down my cat friends' home, the developer is set with no alternative but to point out to the people who run Lucas' home that he has a dog there which is defying their no pets allowed policy. He also pays off a corrupt dog catcher (we assume, perhaps the catcher was just evil on his own), to mislabel Bella a pit bull, so she can be seized if taken outside the house. With common sense finally prevailing, Bella is given to foster parents, until she is rehoused. or Lucas finds a new home in another town without Pit Bull laws. However Bella doesn't understand, she thinks she's been a bad dog and needs to do Go Home, to provide comfort to Lucas and his mother. So she escapes and starts the long journey.

I loved her journey, especially the encounters with Big Kitten. They probably weren't the most realistic chapters of the book, but the book is a little bit far fetched with a lot of convenient things happening to save Bella, or the day, throughout the pages anyway. Besides the through the eyes of a dog element, the book also has a strong we need to take better care of returned soldiers theme going on, which isn't a bad thing. It might make you think differently when you see a homeless guy with a dog than you did before too. Obviously the laws against banning certain breeds of dogs aren't sided with either. Overall the storyline is very predictable, but if you love reading a book through a dog's point of view. W. Bruce Cameron is the author to do that with. He also has some good books about a repo man who has another guy in his head, which are quite fun. Emory's Gift was also quite good. Didn't like his caveman soap opera book The Dog Master, but definitely check out A Dog's Way Home. You won't be disappointed!

Well I cannot tell a lie, I loved it! Cameron has done it again, he's crawled inside the mind of another dog and shared her story. This is Bella, a large young dog of indeterminate breed who is labeled a pit bull mix by an overzealous developer with a vendetta against Bella's owner, Lucas. With the help of some shady associates in animal control who confirm his label, Bella is condemned to be destroyed. Lucas's efforts to find a temporary place for Bella result in an unintended separation. All Bella knows is she wants to GO HOME. Along her travels homeward she helps save some lives, makes some new friends, and learns new skills, all the while remaining focused on returning to her person. The secondary characters are diverse and realistic, some great, some not so nice. A must-read for any dog lover! So good I may need it in all versions.

Actual rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The story is sweet and pulls at one's heartstrings but I think you need to be a dog lover to really enjoy this book. Just like the author's other books (loved A Dog's Purpose), the story is told from a dog's perspective. Which makes the writing style childlike. Short, simple sentences. Another issue I had with this book were the humans in the story. I did not like any of the characters in it and I especially found Lucas annoying.

I found the book entertaining but I did not enjoy this book as much as the other 2 that I had read. Maybe the writing style is getting redundant to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for a copy of W. Bruce Cameron's "A Dog's Way Home" in exchange of an honest review.

I received my copy of "A Dog's Way Home," read it from beginning to end without stopping. What an "Eye-Opener." It's truly amazing how the author, W. Bruce Cameron, was able to relate the view of not only dog's , but cat's, too. This is a story of "Bella," a puppy living in a crawl space under an abandoned property ready to be torn down. Bella lived with Mother Cat and her kittens because two human men came, caught and took her mother and siblings from the space.
Lucas a kind young man living in the neighborhood brought food for all the strays. He noticed a puppy, "Bella, took her home for his own and introduced her to mom. He loved "Bella," and taught her many new games, "Great Exercise, No Barks, Tiny Piece of Cheese, and the most important, "Go Home."
Lucas kept taking food to the stray cats and in his attempt to save them ran into many problems with the "human" wanting to tear the building down. He reported Lucas to the animal control and the "not so very nice man" working there labeled "Bella" as a Pit Bull. Denver had a law not allowing any Pit Bulls in the city limits. Bella was soon labeled a vicious, mean dog and needed to be destroyed according to this "not so very nice man."
Lucas tried all he could to save Bella from being taken, but eventually she was separated from him. Bella didn't understand why she had been taken, but knew Lucas would want her to play "Go Home." She knew she had to find her way back to Lucas. Bella set out traveling over the "Rockies" for the next two years, to "Go Home" and find Lucas. During her travels she made friends, both human and animals helping anyone she could and learning many things along the way.
The story kept me reading and turning the pages faster and faster because I was compelled to find out how well "Bella" played "Go Home."
I would love to see this book on the "Big Screen." A wonderful story of love and loyalty.

I've read all of Bruce Cameron's dog books starting with "A Dog's Purpose," which I thought was one of the most wonderful books I have ever read.Mr.Cameron has batted a thousand thus far, and this latest book, A Dog's Way Home, is no exception. The pacing is excellent and the adventures encountered by Bella are amazing and hold your interest throughout the book. This book is a must read for anyone who has or loves dogs. The book clearly shows why dogs are truly man's best friend.My only complaint about Cameron's books is that he never fails to bring tear to my eye by the end of the book. But that isn't so bad!

A huge reminder to us all, brought to you by W. Bruce Cameron - don't judge. Us humans tend to judge others by their financial status, where they live, what breed of dog they have as a family member, etc. But if we all stopped and viewed people as animals do = the world would be a much better place; filled with us all taking the time out to help another person.
I fell in love with Bella. She loved and cared for so many; from all walks of life and all sorts of creatures. But yet all she wanted to do was to be with the one(S) she loved. ~ Eventhough she was judged and marked from the start. She didn't put her wants ahead of the time to help others.
Another great book by Cameron. I cannot wait for more!

I have to admit, Cameron is losing his touch more and more. He was losing his touch with A Dog's Journey. The book got really boring and I didn't enjoy it nor was I in love with it as I was with A Dog's Purpose. I guess it's the voice of the dog. There is not much character development and it doesn't have any real plots. It doesn't really build up to anything, and when it does, then it does so very slowly and I got pretty bored reading it. I would read the next book of Cameron if it is more like A Dog's Purpose. But this one seems poorly executed.

It takes a long time for the book to get really good, but beforehand it is really hard to get through. I prefered when the dog is alone and without humans. She seemed to mature a lot.

Another winner from W. Bruce Cameron! We follow young Lucas and his rescued dog, Bella, thru heart-stopping trials and tribulations. Bella is questionably labeled a pit bull by animal control in Denver, causing Lucas to relinquish her to a foster home far away for a while. Bella knows she is meant to be with her heartbroken Lucas and we follow her determined attempt for the reunion we are rooting for with each page we turn. Woven into this splendid story are great lessons of how valuable dogs are to people with various healing needs. Man's (and cat's) best friend.....indeed! Another captivating read from W. Bruce Cameron that you won't be able to put down.

W. Bruce Cameron has done it again. Cameron, most famous for his novel, A Dog’s Purpose, has written another great book about dogs and their humans and the relationships between the two. Spoken in the dog’s voice, A Dog’s Way Home begins in a rundown building in the City of Denver where Bella is born. Her mom and littermates are taken away but she remained hidden and spent some of her puppyhood with Mama Cat and her kittens. She finds her place with Lucas and his mother and she helps Lucas feed Mama Cat and the remaining kittens. This angers the developer who wants to tear down the building. It does not however, deter Lucas from continuing to feed the kittens and block the developer’s progress.

Before long, Lucas and Bella are in trouble not only with the developer, but also with the city as Denver has a breed ban. Bella is part pit bull and it is illegal to own a pit bull in the city. Lucas and his mother do their best to keep Bella out of sight, teaching her to Go Home and even sneaking her into the VA Hospital where Lucas works and his mother attends meetings. Unfortunately, their efforts are not enough and Bella ends up in the city pound.

Lucas works with an animal rescue worker, breaks Bella out of the pound, and gets her to a foster family far away from Denver, as a temporary solution to keeping her alive.

Bella, of course, doesn’t understand why her human would send her away – and she doesn’t know that Lucas is planning on getting her back, once he and his mother can find a new place to live, outside of the city limits. Bella knew that she hadn’t been a bad dog and only wants to be with her human. She soon decides that she will Go Home, as that is what Lucas taught her and that is what she knows he would want her to do.

Her adventure to Go Home and be with Lucas and Mom takes nearly two years and covers a distance of 400 miles.

During that time, Bella survives in the wilderness; meets, lives and cares for the Big Kitten; lives with Gavin and Taylor and Sylvia; and befriends Axel, a homeless veteran - all while trying to Go Home to her human, Lucas.

Not only does Cameron give Bella jobs, or a purpose, as he had done in a previous book, but he also incorporates therapy dog work, issues within the VA hospital system, and Breed Specific Legislation within his newest novel.

I was fortunate to have received an Advance Reader Copy of A Dog’s Way Home from the publisher – I plan on purchasing the book and adding it to my Cameron collection. I would strongly recommend anyone familiar with Cameron’s work to do the same – this book will not disappoint.

Written in the same vein as A Dog’s Purpose, Cameron takes us on a journey of reuniting a special dog with her person. Voiced by Bella, the dog, this story will have you laughing out loud one minute and turn right around and have you in tears. Root for Bella as she journeys through thick and thin to “Go Home”. Cameron does an amazing job of capturing Bella’s character and bringing her to life! A delightful story that no one should miss! Thanks to to Macmillan and NetGalley for an copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was chosen to receive an advance reader copy of this fabulous book by the publisher to read and review. "A Dog's Way Home" by W. Bruce Cameron is a book you will not want to put down. Mr. Cameron, as in two of my other favorites "A Dog's Purpose" and "A Dog's Journey", is a master at telling his stories through a dog's voice. "Bella" is a mixed-breed pup who is being raised under a condemned building by a feral mother cat. Lucas is on a mission to save the feral cats from being destroyed by the building's demolition and planned new construction. In the process, he takes the pup home and becomes her "person" and creates an enemy out of the building contractor. Bella and Lucas and his mom live in Denver which has an ordinance banning pit bulls. No one knows what breed Bella is, but one Animal Control Officer has decided that she is a pit bull, and their real troubles begin. There is a strong storyline about veterans and therapy/service dogs, as Bella has an innate sense of how to give comfort to those who need it. The story then follows the adventures of Bella, after she was taken many hundreds of miles from her family, as she travels back through cities and mountains to "Go Home" to her "person". You will love reading about the people and animals she meets and helps along her journey, and of course her homecoming and what happens then. All of this is told from sweet Bella's perspective as only Bruce Cameron can do.

A Dog’s Way Home- W. Bruce Cameron
A Dog’s Way Home is the journey of a dog named Bella. Bella was a stray dog and she was adopted by Lucas. After a little while Lucas and his mom find out that Bella’s breed is prohibited in the city of Denver. They then were faced with the animal shelter, who wanted to kill Bella. Lucas ask them to just give him some time to find a foster home for Bella while he finds a home outside of Denver. Lucas was very fortunate and found a foster family to keep Bella for sometime. During the time with the foster family, Bella ran away from the family. When she ran away there we multiple people who held her back. For example, “Got you!” It was the man in the white clothes, right behind me running hard.” She was on her own for 2 years out in the wild by herself. Bella is well on her way to finding home again.
While reading this book I was thinking what was going to happen next. Bella went through a lot of bumps in the road and always kept you thinking throughout the story. I think anyone that loves dogs or animals would enjoy this book. One thing in this book that kept me very interested was the fact that it was told from a dog’s perspective. I love dogs, so a story being told from the dog was funny and interesting. After reading this book from the dog's perspective you look at everything the way a dog would. I like the way Cameron writes his books. He makes sure that you always want to flip the page.
I would recommend this book to anyone. You can find this book on the store for $9.52. There are books available and audiobooks if preferred.

Oh! How I loved this book!
Bruce Cameron makes dogs, cats all have a voice.
This is a beautiful novel of love and hope.
"Never judge a book by its cover "and "Never give up" is the mantra here. A wonderful message for all of us human beings.
Bella the main character, found living under a house with a mother cat, falls in love with Lucas her "person". Yet, when she is unfairly taken from him, she never gives up!
Fair warning: You are going to need a box of tissues!

A good book, especially fot hose who enjoyed A Dog's Purpose and A Dog's Journey. This book follows a dog on her way back to her owner. No instances of reincarnation, as in the last two books, so I missed that aspect of it.

Some may complain that this isn't a pit bull on the cover of the book. The book never specifically says that she IS a pit. Really, throughout the book, people say she doesn't look like a pit at all. Some say Mastiff. One guy even says she is the size of a cow. You just have to imagine that this dog is HUGE and because of that, some folks are scared of her.

An easy, fast-paced read that animal lovers will enjoy.

This book is cutesy and unrealistic in places. Some of the events that take place would stretch anyone’s imagination, even though this is a work of fiction. I don’t agree with feeding a dog at the dinner table and the begging it will cause, nor do I like the practice of throwing treats to a dog. Dogs do not think, as Cameron contends in the story. Notwithstanding, the book is interesting reading and captures the essential nature of dogs. Treat a dog well and you’ll never have a better friend or more loyal companion.

I'll admit that sometimes it doesn't take more than a dog on the cover of book to have me at "Hello," but when the author is Bruce Cameron, I would buy it even if it had a photo of a cat! Cameron, a best-selling author with a sly wit, proves once again that he is also a humanist. One of the best storytellers out there, "A Dog's Way Home" is probably my favorite among his works. That he can keep the narrative surprising and illuminating at the same time is one of his special gifts. A perfect summer read--I recently picked it up off my shelf to take with me on a trip--but decided to hold off and wait until I'm on a beach in July. But if it's the first read for someone, there's no time like the present.

The story, which consists to a great degree with the thoughts and actions of the dog, is an outstanding read. The dog's adventures, escapes from attacks by dangerous animals, and community control officers, makes an and exciting and enjoyable read. I started reading it because of the cover picture. Within three chapters I reading because of the words. Whether you have - or even love dogs (and maybe cats -- of all kinds -- you will enjoy this story.

A Dog's Way Home may well be W. Bruce Cameron's best dog story book yet! Being chosen to receive an advance reader copy of A Dog's Way Home from the publisher was very fortunate for me as I am a devoted fan of this author's books that are told from the perspective of the dog's heart and mind. My affinity for his wonderful dog story books began when I first read A Dog's Purpose the week it was released in July of 2010 and has increased with each new dog story book he has written. While I have loved each book, A Dog's Purpose has remained my all-time favorite book by any author. As I began to read A Dog's Way Home, I wondered if it could be as good as A Dog's Purpose.

By the time I was barely into reading the first chapter, I knew that it was going to be a great book. I became absorbed in the story of Bella, a mixed-breed female puppy that is wrongly labeled as a pit bull and sadly separated from her owner under BDL (Breed Discriminatory Legislation). The saga of Bella's bond with her owner and her determination to make the 400 mile "Go Home" journey back to him on an amazing adventure kept me engrossed until I got to the end of the book.

I loved this book so much that I read it again this past weekend and enjoyed it even more than I did the first time I read it. A Dog's Purpose is still my all-time favorite book but A Dog's Way Home is a close second favorite. I will be buying many copies of it to give to my dog lover family and friends. If you're a dog lover, do yourself a big favor and get this book for yourself...you'll be glad you did!

I've read several of Bruce Cameron's books and this is my favorite. The story line, characters are excellent. Of course the last several pages, I was crying like a baby. So touching, sad, beautiful and rewarding all at the same time. You've got to read this book.

Dogs and people belong together, plain and simple. Man’s best friend, as the saying goes. But Denver resident Lucas Ray didn’t have a dog, partly because he lived in an apartment building that wouldn’t allow them. That didn’t stop him, though, when he found a puppy living with some stray cats beneath the derelict building across the street. He fell in love with the little pup instantly, named her Bella, and took her in, not caring that he was breaking the rules. After all, she’d stolen his heart. I guarantee she’ll steal yours, too.

Bella is a very special girl right from the start. What she wants most is to be a Good Dog, which leads to yummy treats (her favorite) and praise from her human. She craves Lucas’ attention and finds it almost unbearable when he leaves home to Go To Work. At least she has Mom there when he’s gone, but Mom has some frailties that can be scary sometimes, stemming from her days in the military. It doesn’t take long for Lucas and Mom to discover that Bella has exceptional abilities, like sensing an impending seizure, and several other talents valuable to patients at the VA hospital where Lucas works. Given time, she could become an excellent therapy dog, a job in which she would revel.

As Bella tells her story, you’ll learn that she loves giving comfort to humans --- and animals --- who are experiencing distress. It’s her gift to those around her. Left to develop this gift, she might have saved people hundreds of hours of anxiety, but Denver has instituted a nasty piece of legislation, which created a breed-specific ban, outlawing pit bulls. While Bella almost certainly is not a pit bull --- she might not even have one drop of pit bull blood in her --- it takes just one animal control officer with a couple of shady pals willing to certify that a dog is a pit, and they can confiscate and destroy it.

Lucas, in his fight to save the neighboring feral cats from an overzealous developer, runs afoul of a power-hungry animal control officer with a tendency to carry a grudge and puts Bella at great risk. The only way to save her is to get her out of Denver. And fast. But Lucas is Bella’s person, and she will do anything to be with her person. Once separated, the dog doesn’t understand anything but her need to get back to him. So we join her on her journey to Go Home. And what a journey it is.

W. Bruce Cameron (A DOG’S PURPOSE) is an author who writes with extraordinary heart and purpose. In A DOG’S WAY HOME, he focuses attention on the awful effects of BDL (Breed Discriminatory Legislation), a knee-jerk reaction to an injury caused by the dog of an irresponsible owner. Because of a few bad apples, out goes the whole lot. Worse, really, because this law paves a path for destruction with little chance for appeal. There has to be a better way, and with Bella’s story, the author wants people to think hard and come up with other solutions.

Cameron must have been reincarnated as a human after a previous life or two as a dog, because Bella --- our narrator --- comes across as so authentically canine there’s no better explanation. In fact, once I’d begun reading A DOG’S WAY HOME, I started looking at my own dog differently, afraid that maybe I’d been misinterpreting her signals for an entire lifetime. If nothing else, I believe her thoughts come across to me more clearly now. So, as you join Bella in her quest, understand that you won’t be able to resist smiling, laughing, sighing and crying. And hoping for a happy ending --- although the odds are stacked heavily against it. One thing is for sure: From the beginning, I knew the book was going to be too short by far.

Reviewed by Kate Ayers

As with other Cameron books, predictable but this one doesn't hold interest like a Dog's Purpose, a much better book. The dog's point of view while occasionally charming becomes tedious and sometimes annoying and the plot is thin and predicable. Certainly not The Incredible Journey, a great book by Shiela Burnford. But I'm a sucker for any dog story, especially a dog that gets separated and I read on...

Very satisfying outcome. I have 3 dogs ~ 2of them spent most of their lives being bred in puppy mills.Living in cages, no health care, not enough food... Reading about this dog's journey reminds me how attached they are to their person and how attached we are to them. Well done Mr. Cameron. Note: Castle Rock, CO just voted to lift ban on put bulls. 3/2018

This is a delightful read from page one. I have had a 4 legged creature in my life since childhood.(now 78) When situations warrented fish. They have always taught me so much about life and given so much love. For 6 years I volunteered at a rescue center and yet this book has given me new understandings of a dogs perspective of life. Thanks bunches---and my 67lb. 1yr old puppy Brocky thanks you too.

I don't read fiction. I picked this up thinking it was non-fiction. However, I absolutely LOVE this book. As a dog lover and owner, I have enjoyed this book immensely. It is refreshing, it is funny, it is sad and it is happy, it is heartfelt. It is well written and unique. I highly recommend it to anyone who owns and loves a dog.

I was lucky enough to get an advance readers copy from the Publisher. Once again, W. Bruce Cameron has struck literary gold. The story is about Bella, who is sent away from her people due to breed discrimination. It tells the story of Bella's remarkable journey through the mountains of Colorado to be reunited with them. The story is sad in parts, but also uplifting, and very funny. I highly recommend this book for dog and cat lovers alike.

Loved the attempt to see the world through a dog's eyes. Although I realize it's anthropomorphic, I have to think of some of the novel's dog's thoughts when I see my own dog doing (or not doing) something. A lot of fun and heartwarming.

Bruce Cameron has done it again! A touching, beautiful, poignant story of a dog finding her way back to her true love. Chris text you along on my heart pounding journey filled with excitement, humor, and pathos. The pages keep turning because you have to find out what happens next.

Highly recommend this for anyone who is a member of the human race – or literate dogs for that matter !!!

I honestly didn't think I could become a bigger fan of W. Bruce Cameron's body of work than I already was -- after all, I do own a copy of every single title he's ever published --but then he went and outdid himself again with the beautiful and deeply moving novel A Dog's Way Home.

For anyone familiar with Cameron's uncanny ability to probe the canine mind and pen words any pooch would proudly stand behind, you'll not be disappointed here. This time, the story centers around sweet, brave, lovable, heroic Bella, a stray pit bull mix rescued from a life on the streets by a young man with a heart of gold named Lucas.

Lucas works at the local VA Hospital. He has plans to start med school in the fall and helps to care for his mother, who is herself a veteran. Mom proudly served our nation in a tour of duty in Afghanistan, and she carries with her the scars and wounds, many of them not visible to the naked eye, that so many of our valiant service men and women return home with.

Due to several different layers of bureaucratic red tape -- i.e., an apartment lease that forbids dogs and a Denver city ordinance that permits Animal Control to microchip a suspected pit bull and then euthanize the animal upon its second capture -- Lucas, Mom and Olivia (Bella's people) arrange a new temporary living situation for Bella outside the Denver city limits.

But Bella doesn't understand why she has been separated from her family and from her beloved person, Lucas. She wonders if it's because she was a bad dog. The descriptions of Bella's interior monologues in these moments, where she ponders the reasons why humans do things and then she makes plans to do everything she believes will inspire Lucas to come get her and take her home, will melt even the most hardened of hearts.

So Bella sets off on a long and remarkable adventure to find her way home, through treacherous circumstances and over dangerous terrain, the whole time guided by her pure and abiding love for her person and her unwavering determination to be reunited with him.

**SPOILER ALERT: (Do not read ahead if you haven't yet read the book and don't want to know anything about the end!) I just have to say, the part at the end when the veterans and the doctors and various staff members at the hospital collectively take a stand against the powers that be in order to save Bella is where I lost whatever composure I had remaining. I read that part aloud to my mom (who also volunteers at our local VA Hospital!), and she lost her composure, too.

So naturally, I then pulled up my the store account and ordered another copy for my mom, because now she wants to read it, and I don't loan out my W. Bruce Cameron books.

I tell everyone about them, of course, and I even buy them their own copies -- but I don't loan out mine. That Polonius guy in Hamlet said it best: "Neither a borrower nor a lender be." (Thanks, Shakespeare.)

And thanks, W. Bruce Cameron, for doing it so superbly once again.

I'm a sucker for a good first-person dog book, and this one improved as the story went along. It's in the tradition of The Incredible Journey, but adds plenty to the genre, particularly the relationship between Bella and "Big Kitten," which was my favorite aspect of the book. Recommended for all dog lovers.

I just finished reading my book. I won't give up anything since I'm sure some haven't read it completely. I will say, it's beautifully written. As if there were any doubts. I laughed, was on the edge of my seat, cried and could visualize everyplace that was in the book. W. Bruce Cameron and Cathryn Michon, you both have outdone yourselves! Thank you for another wonderful read along with my signed copy. ?❤??? Gunnar and I give thumbs and paws up!

This is a refreshing book reminding the reader about what is important in life. The relationships Bella has with Mother Cat, Big Kitten and humans, both good and bad, apply to all of us. Her courage, generosity and fortitude can be goals for everyone but the reader is always made aware that Bella is a dog nonetheless. It is moving without being treacly.

Could a new dog book top A Dog's Purpose? Simply put - no. Could A Dog's Way Home be just as good? Absolutely! Purpose will always be my favorite but Way Home was a wonderful book and I will start re-reading it shortly as I did with Purpose and Journey. The story line was well presented and easy to follow. We've all read the stories of dogs and cats that find their way home and it is always said 'wonder what they went through during their time away'. Well, this book spins a story of what happened to one dog that is exciting at times, tender at times, and truly believable. Well done!

I absolutely loved this book. It was an awesome change of pace for my husband and me, since we usually read mysteries and thrillers. However, this also had its tense moments. I quickly found another "dog" book by this author to read and enjoyed it also.

W. Bruce Cameron has done it again. First time I saw I immediately grabbed it off the shelf. I flew through it in only 4 days. It has everything I'd want: cliffhangers, animals, friendship, and I cried tears of joy and sadness. It was absolutely AMAZING! Almost as good as A Dog's Purpose, which also would be a great read if you liks this book!

Most books don't hold my interest. My only regret with this one is that I didn't start reading it earlier. I had to force myself to put it down after 19 chapters and resume the next day in order to finish. I laughed, a lot. Bella's language is too funny. I cried for a brief moment, but no spoiler alerts here. It was relatable, realistic, and well worth the read. W. Bruce Cameron has done it again. I can only hope there is another movie.

Written from the dog's perspective, it was an updated version of Homeward Bound, where the dog must find his way home across a great distance. The difference here is that several people interact with Bella in the two years she is missing.

This book was beautiful. I found myself smiling through it. Bella is possibly one of my favorite literary characters; pure and good and believable. I loved A Dog's Purpose and I loved this one too. I really can't choose which one I enjoyed more.

I was going to give A Dog's Way Home 5 stars, and certainly, as far as story is concerned, it DOES deserve 5 stars. But then I remembered that I caught what seemed like a lot of mistakes for professional writing-- mainly typographical errors and misordered words-- all of them in roughly the final quarter of the book, as if the proofreader had for some reason stopped doing their job by that point!? So, that is the reason I gave only 4 stars to the book. That said, the STORY of Bella and her "supporting cast", if you will, as she makes her way back home to her people is WONDERFUL, and I absolutely LOVE it!

Loved, loved, loved this book. Could not put it down. This book goes on my favorite list. I loved it was written in the perspective of the dog. I can't help to now think about what my dogs are thinking. Dog lover's this is a must read.

I was thrilled when the publisher contacted me to read A Dog's Way Home before it was out! Bruce Cameron is my favorite author and with this book, he does not disappoint! It's a story about Bella, a mixed breed stray, and HER human. It's told by Bella herself, and boy does she have some adventures! As a banned breed, she gets taken from her person and this is the story of her journey to get back to him. I highly recommend reading this book if you're an animal lover, or if you're not, you WILL be! GREAT Summer read.

Another Homerun for W Bruce Cameron! This is an amazing tale told from a cat loving dogs perspective! No one else writing today can capture the essence of how dogs think and their sweet natures like Bruce can. I will recommend this book to everyone I know as well as all of his books!

I love dog books. I have always had a place in my heart for dogs and dog books. This was by far the moust touching of them all. I could not put it down! The images scrolling through my head during this story were ones I never want to forget. Thank you W. Bruce Cameron!

It's a rare thing to cry happy tears at the end of a dog book, but this is no ordinary dog story. Cameron deals with a lot of very heavy and important subjects in this book, Breed specific legislation which has needlessly broken many hearts, service dogs, veterans' issues, feral cats, and there is the corrupt ACO. One of my best friends is an ACO--a GOOD one--but I recent run-in with a bad one is fresh in my mind and I am glad the good guys won this one. It's a beautiful book and one of the best I've read in a long time.

Mr Cameron's writing is amazing. I'm never disappointed! I'm already deciding which of his books I will read next. Keep up the good work. His books have made me look at my dogs in a whole different light.

I was lucky enough to be randomly chosen to read A Dog's Way Home before it was released and I absolutely LOVED it! A Dog's Way Home was written from the point of view of a pit bull mix dog who unfortunately lives where these dogs have been banned. You will travel with Bella through her long journey home trying to get back to her "person". Just like W. Bruce Cameron's best seller A Dog's Purpose, I could not put this book down. I love reading a story that gives the dog's view of life. If you are a dog lover (or even if you just like them a lot) you will LOVE this book!

I actually was lucky enough to find this at the library. But i will purchase one of my own. I LOVE this book, all of his books !!!!!! I was so sorry when it was over, eagerly awaiting more books by W. Bruce Cameron. Just love them.

I was lucky enough to be picked by the author to read this book and review it. I loved this story told by the dogs view. It was about Bella a mixed breed dog that is taken from her family and her journey back to them. I read it in one sitting, could not stop. I laughed and cried all through it. Not only was it a wonderful story, it touched on many issues that we face today, PTSD amid our veterans, breed discrimination and the feral cat problem we have. Mr. Cameron has done it again. I didn't think anything could be as good as A Dog's Purpose but I was not disappointed. I have read many of his books and have never been disappointed and you won't be either.

I thoroughly enjoyed Bella's story. A wonderful tale that will keep you reading when you should have called it a night a long time ago. The devotion, love and fortitude of Bella can be seen in many support animals across our great Nation,

A Dog's Way Home is yet another amazing book written by W. Bruce Cameron. The storyline keeps you constantly interested in what comes next and also really informs the reader about breed discrimination along with the importance of shelter adoptions and being a responsible pet owner.

I have always loved your books. I love this book as well, except for 2 parts. One part had me crying, lol but I kept on reading. The 2nd thing I was offended. I did not see the reasoning behind adding sodomites to the book. You have never before and I almost quit reading it, but I paid good money for it and so kept on reading. Was glad to get passed that part of the book. But you put images in peoples mind when they read, and the kissing etc again offended me. I have not quite finished the book yet, but I wanted to take out the time to tell you, I really don't appreciate trying to normalize sodomites behavior. I am a Christian and only read good clean family type books or Christian. I love everybody, but don't love the abomination. Call me a hyprocrite all you want, I have a right to say how I feel about anything, especially when I purchase something, that ends up offending me. If your book discription mentioned about sodomites being in your book, I would not have purchased it. So in your future books I hope you warn people if you are going to go that way in your books.

I love all of his books, and this one as well. Mr. Cameron has such an insight into a dog's mind that you cease being a human and become part dog yourself as you read, and who wouldn't want to be more like a dog? Be sure to have some tissue handy for the last chapter.

What can I say, W. Bruce Cameron does it again! This new book written from a dog's point of view not only makes you laugh & cry, but deals with issues of concern in today's society. I read this book in 2 days didn't want to put it down!

I saw the cover on this book and thought it would be a story about a dog. I read the brief introduction and it is about a Pit Bull. No thank you! Why deceive people into buying this book? Just put a picture on the front cover of a Pit Bull and let people make up their own minds.