THE DOG WHO DANCED

Do you devour it all at once, or limit your listening to make it last longer? Either way, this story unfolds with delicate perfection. Justine Meade has lost her beloved Sheltie, Mack, to a trucker who leaves her in a roadside rest area. Mack finds a home with Ed and Alice Parmalee, who are still stunned by the death of their daughter. Christina Delaine gives us all of Justine’s love and longing—for Mack and for her other lost connections. In alternate chapters, Fred Berman details Mack’s journey, and that of the Parmalees. Both narrators portray grief and hope, despair and great love with professionalism and sensitivity. They reach that elusive “audio grail,” staying entirely out of the way of the story. Wilson’s perfect ending is a delicious dessert after a satisfying meal. R.L.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2012]