"It was dusk on a winter day, and from high on the mountain came barking, drifting down above the snow like peals of a bell... just to say the light was leaving, but that was all right: here I am, I'm a dog, all is well." And so begins The Mountaintop School for Dogs and Other Second Chances, a charming novel about damaged souls looking for a "forever home." Longtime creative-writing teacher and novelist Ellen Cooney (A Private Hotel for Gentle Ladies) is not afraid to take risks, and she reveals the details of the protagonist's past in gentle and surprising ways.
Evie, a troubled 24-year-old, describes herself in a haiku after spending a few months attempting a dog-training job for which she has no background, experience or guidance: Came in as a stray/ Is not completely hopeless./ Please allow to stay. However, Evie soon learns all she needs to know about trust, unconditional love and second chances from the rescued pups in her care. The narrative alternates between Evie's point of view and the perspective of the "Warden," Mrs. Auberchon, another lost soul taking refuge in her job at the school. Both characters must share the narrative stage with a host of fully realized canine characters (inspired by the author's own pups): Tasha, a rottweiler abandoned on the road, Dora, a miniature schnauzer left behind when her owners moved, Alfie, a greyhound fresh off the track and others, all of whom embrace Evie and are sure to captivate the reader. --Kristen Galles from Book Club Classics