Friendship

An experienced Iditarod racer, Gary Paulsen brings his love of the sport to readers on a personal level in this intimate essay about the life of a litter of pups born to pull sleds across the snowy frontier - and the marvel he experiences as he watches them grow and learn.

Bone and his sister, Squirrel, are stray dogs born in a shed. Left mother-less as puppies, the two dogs survive together for a while, but are soon wrenched apart, and Bone must now go on, alone.

Charlie is a boy who has suffered a terrible loss. And, as he's healing with the help of his dog, another tragedy occurs.

Flora, Ruby, Olivia, and Nikki don't understand it. Someone - they don't know who - is leaving books on their doorstep. Each comes with a mysterious message asking them to read the book and do something new. Before they know it, the four friends have a secret, girls-only book club...and are finding out new things about themselves and one another.

Christmas is coming to Camden Falls, and Flora and Ruby don't know how to feel about it. It's their first Christmas without their parents, and the memories are both happy and sad. Luckily, Flora and Ruby are surrounded by people who care about them - from their grandmother, Min, to their friends Olivia and Nikki, who are dealing with problems of their own.