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Willis’s
debut novel skillfully navigates the subject of parental
loss. Twelve-year-old Dill Macgregor has been hurting
since her mother died. She tries to keep her sorrow
hidden away, but her grief-stricken daddy, Lyon, and
granddad, GD, keep at her to talk about her feelings.
Then Lyon goes and gives away all of Mom’s animals
except one, Dead End the dog. Now that Mom’s gone, Dead
End has started roaming; Dill and GD believe he’s
looking for her. When farmers report dogs killing their
livestock, Dill fears Dead End is involved. If so, then
he’ll be shot and there will be one less thing to remind
her of her mother. Set on a Southern farm, the author
peppers her story with homey turns of phrases and strong
secondary characters, such as Cub,, Dill’s best friend.
Willis, an author, to watch, keeps the narrative tightly
focused on Dill and her resistance to facing her grief.
This well-told story, spiced with humor and facts on
animal care, has a satisfying, appealing conclusion.
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