Lassie Come-Home

📘 About This Book

Lassie is Joe's prize collie and constant companion. But when Joe's father loses his job, Lassie must be sold. Three times she escapes from her new owner, and three times she returns, until finally she is taken to the remotest part of Scotland -- too far a journey for any dog to make alone. But Lassie is not any dog. Lassie Come-Home was a publishing phenomenon when it appeared as a short story in 1938 and then as a novel in 1940. Now, Rosemary Wells and Susan Jeffers have crafted Eric Knight's original novel into a powerful new chapter-book edition. Through masterful storytelling and deeply affecting art, they take us back to a Lassie before Hollywood, before TV, and introduce this unforgettable, heartrending tale to the minds and imaginations of a new generation of readers.

📖 Summary

Lassie Come-Home by Rosemary Wells, featuring art by Susan Jeffers, brings Eric Knight's unforgettable 1938 short story and 1940 novel back to life in a powerful new chapter-book edition designed for modern readers. The narrative centers on a magnificent prize collie named Lassie, who serves as the constant companion and pride of a young boy named Joe. Their deep bond forms the emotional heart of the story, establishing a foundation of loyalty that is soon tested by harsh financial realities. When Joe's father loses his job, the family faces hard times and is forced to make the heartbreaking decision to sell Lassie to a new owner. This marks the beginning of a remarkable journey driven by devotion and canine perseverance. Even though she is placed with a new master, Lassie's heart remains with Joe. She demonstrates extraordinary determination by escaping from her new owner three separate times and navigating her way back to her original home. Each return highlights the unbreakable connection between the dog and the boy. However, the situation escalates when Lassie is eventually taken to the remotest part of Scotland, an immense distance that seems entirely too far for any dog to travel alone, especially in reverse. Yet the core premise of the book is that Lassie is not just any dog. This new chapter-book adaptation introduces children and families to the original version of the Lassie legend, stripping away the later layers of Hollywood and television adaptations to reveal the raw, heartrending power of the source material. Through masterful storytelling by Rosemary Wells and deeply affecting artwork by Susan Jeffers, readers are transported to a simpler yet emotionally intense world where animal loyalty transcends geography and hardship. Spanning 76 pages, this illustrated edition is crafted to capture the imaginations of a new generation, offering an accessible entry point into a classic tale of love, endurance, and the extraordinary lengths to which a faithful friend will go to return home.

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