Category: Drama Publisher: PublishAmerica
ISBN-10: 1591292247
Type: Fiction
Pages: 15
Copyright: Jun 1 2002
Buddy is blind-the victim of animal abuse. The
violent encounter has left the poor dog homeless,
scared, and alone. Trapped inside the dark labyrinth
of his own mind, the mongrel has led a bleak
existence-until a chance meeting with the Jack. The
Jack, a fearless Jack Russell terrier, befriends the
sightless Buddy and bravely leads him on a perilous
quest for a land called home. An engrossing and
often lyrical novel, Buddy & the Jack pays tribute to
classic animal tales such as Watership Down and The
Call of the Wild. It is a story of friendship, loyalty,
and the most unlikely of heroes.
The story takes place in the fictional community of Mt. Canaan, Pennsylvania, a sleepy Victorian hamlet and tourist detour. Straddling the border between the hard coal regions and the Pocono Mountains, the timeless appeal of Mt. Canaan's cobblestone streets and quaint shops provide a welcome respite from the manufactured kitsch of the Pocono resorts.
Visitors to the town marveled at its history and Old World charm, until the day the feral dogs appeared. Now the streets just don't seem safe for man -- or beast -- certainly not for a blind dog.
Buddy is blind. A violent encounter with a madman left him that way. Stumbling about the lightless corridors in his own head, the stray mongrel led a bleak existence -- until a chance meeting with the Jack.
The Jack, a young scrappy Jack Russell terrier, takes an instant liking to Buddy and becomes the mongrel's own "seeing-eye dog." Together, they embark on a perilous journey in search of a place where they can live in peace.
And when Buddy's captured by animal control officers and slated to be euthanized, The Jack single handedly takes on the vicious feral pack and their seemingly supernatural alpha male. But he soon learns the real enemy may be man himself.
From the desolate coal fields of rural Pennsylvania to the provincial streets of Mt. Canaan, Buddy & the Jack is a sweeping tale of adventure, friendship, and the most unlikely of heroes.
Excerpt
"At the darkened entrance, he
paused, mindful of the danger which awaited him just within. He growled a
warning to the stranger. He wanted no trouble, and a confrontation even less.
Inside, the stranger stirred. He sucked in air from between his teeth and
the Jack’s supersensitive hearing easily detected it.
He remembered the raccoon – the dead raccoon, lying twisted and broken
on the roadside. Doom washed over him. The world seemed such a
dangerous place.
So be it, thought the Jack. He lowered his head and rushed blindly into the
shack. Growling and snarling, and carrying on quite raucously as if some
form of madness had seized his brain, he stabbed the darkness like a knife.
The shape of a large man fell upon him. For an instant, the Jack was
captured in a pair of thick, gloved hands. But the gloves proved cumbersome,
and he managed to slip the man’s uncertain grip. A bare forearm – pale and
thin like a sick chicken – flashed beneath the Jack’s nose. He attacked – gave
the arm a tug with his teeth."
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Reviews for "Buddy & the Jack"
Reviewed by Jen
8/16/2002
I liked the subtle humor in the midst of this drama with a heartwarming ending. This is a unique work. I enjoyed every page!
Reviewed by Sandra McGarrity
5/24/2002
I give it a 9 until I read the entire book, I'm sure it will rate a 10. I like the phrase, "Buddy's empty sockets were the portals to a ghost ship". Well written. It captured my interest immediately. I will buy it for my animal lover daughter who used to work with the SPCA. I never read animal stories but I've got to know what happens to this poor guy.
Reviewed by Erin Moore
5/21/2002
Nice interesting story. I don't usually read stories about animals, but this seems like something that draws the reader in. You want both Buddy and The Jack to be safe and happy, I'll definitely have to read the book now. Great job, and best of luck!
Reviewed by Lea
5/2/2002
Once I started I couldn't put the book down -I thoroughly enjoyed this story and learning about all of the characters and their interaction with 2 very special dogs.
Reviewed by Lexi
1/2/2002
I've been lucky enough to read the entire Buddy & the Jack. It's great--a beautiful dog story without being one bit sappy. The plot is enganging, the characters are the kind who come alive and the writing is lyrical, yet easy to read. Much more than just a dog story,Buddy and The Jack is a very special book.
I am a dog lover and this story will put many lumps in my throat, I am sure. This is one that I want to get. I used to have a little blind Shit-Tzu (sp?) who was the most precious, brave, and loving, little dog. I hope your novel goes very far and gets a wide audience.
A page-turning novel about a relationship between best friends that is interrupted because of betrayal , deceit, sexual promiscuity and pregnancy happens!
