Seven Perfect Things

by Catherin Ryan Hyde

Really good.  The narrative of this book is presented from the point of view of three characters:  Abby, age 13; her mother, Mary; and Elliot, a recent widower.  Abby and Mary both live in an unhappy home because of Stan (father and husband), who is extremely controlling and abusive in other ways. 

Abby sees a man throw a burlap bag into the river.  When she sees movement in the bag she jumps into the river and retrieves it before it sinks to the bottom.  She finds seven puppies inside.  She takes them to the pound, only to learn that there is no room and they would have to be put down.  She remembers an abandoned cabin not far from her home—a cabin that had been broken into—and takes them there to care for them.  A few days later the owner of the cabin, Elliott, goes there to mourn, only to find that his cabin and shed have been broken into, items were stolen, and there are seven puppies in the shed.  Abby and Elliot meet and develop a friendship.  Abby imagines what it might have been like to have had Elliot as a father.  When Mary and Elliot meet, Abby is even more helpful, but there is her father....  

I really liked Elliot’s even temperament, his perceptiveness, his calm demeanor, and his willingness to help.  I also liked Abby’s maturity. 

There is some confrontation and abuse in this book but no language.

nm