Middle

When Temple Grandin was born, her parents knew that she was different. As a baby, she was silent and unresponsive; as a toddler, she threw violent temper tantrums but never spoke a word. It wasn't until years later that she was diagnosed with autism, a brain disorder that makes communication difficult. Temple's father wanted to put her into a mental institution. But her mother believed in her, and so Temple went to school instead.

Peg Kehret has long been known to her readers as the author who loves animals.

In this loving memoir, she recounts the joys and challenges of her life on a small animal sanctuary.

She rescues a mother cat and her kittens who were shot with a pellet gun, and discovers a black bear on her porch, staring at her through the window. She studies the animals and birds she encounters, attempting to improve the lives of band-tail pigeons and starving deer.

When it comes to animal rescue, the rescuer is often a human rescuing an animal. But it can also involve an animal rescuing a human. This book tells true stories from both sides amazing feats of courage, kindness, and love:
-Tossed out on the side of the road, Lucky was one unlucky cat until Jen adopted him. One stormy night, Lucky gets the chance to show his devotion when an escaped prisoner crashes through the front door and attacks Jen.
-A toothless old dog named Poochie puts herself in the direct path of a charging alligator in order to protect her friend.