Wander

He just appears one day--a grayish dog with white-tipped ears and a tail that wags like crazy. And he keeps coming back, until it feels to James and his younger sister, Sary, as if the old stray is their very own. Soon they've given the dog a name, and after that both children are bound to protect him against all odds. Even if it means keeping him a secret from Dad.

Home has been a lonely place since Mom died last winter. Dad spends too much time apart from James and Sary, and though their aunt Lorrie does her best to add cheer, a painful silence fills their house. But now a frisky companion has become part of their lives, and if James and Sary can figure out a way to bring the dog into the family, maybe joy and comfort will tag along with him.

Susan Hart Lindquist has always resided in California, where the rural countryside has been the setting for many of her stories, including her latest novel Summer Soldiers. Growing up, Lindquist lived with her parents and sister, as well as a cousin, an elderly aunt, a fat yellow dog, and an assortment of cats. Every summer the family headed north to stay with friends on their ranch and that is where she learned to ride horses, catch fish, and herd sheep.
 
A great deal of the action in Lindquist's stories takes place outdoors, especially since she loves the woods and mountains. Although she craves the wilderness and wide-open spaces, as well as being close to the ocean, she also enjoys the hustle and bustle of city living. In a city filled with lots of people, lots of noise and lots of good food and music, Lindquist often experiences a feeling similar to that of being outdoors -- as if she belongs to something much bigger and more important than herself.
 
As a child, everything about school was difficult for Lindquist. In addition to being a reluctant reader, Lindquist preferred to daydream and often forgot to do her homework -- two bad habits which, ironically, helped her develop skills that came in handy when she began writing fiction. All of her daydreaming gave her the opportunity to practice using her imagination, and inventing excuses as to why her homework wasn't done gave her the chance to concoct some pretty good stories!
 
Lindquist currently resides near San Francisco, not far from some of the places that were originally settled during the late 1800s by her grandparents and great-grandparents. She is the author of two previous middle-grade novels, including Wander.