North to Benjamin

Eleven-year-old Edgar must move again as his mother escapes another failed relationship and they end up in Dawson, YT where his mom found work house-sitting. Edgar makes a friend in Caroline, and in Benjamin, an old, smelly Newfoundland dog, and when Edgar’s mother is about to create another disaster, he turns to Benjamin as his confidant, and magically Edgar discovers that he has no voice and can only bark like a dog. The two then face a predicament reminiscent of a Jack London story. This story of resilience, courage, adversity, facing challenges, and survival, with its mature content and need for teacher guidance, is suitable for guided literature circles and semi-independent reading studies.