Buddy’s Tail

Who is Buddy Boutonniere? For his two best friends, MacKenzie and Javier, who have lived in the dusty city of Yucca Dunes their whole lives, this question means a lot. Buddy is exceptional in the fact that he is perennially caring, always loyal, and is an incredibly fluffy canine. A poodle does not belong in the desert, but then again, Buddy does not quite fit in anywhere. His negligent owners have no place for him in their lives and without MacKenzie (better known as Mac) and Javier, he would have starved a long time ago. And as if things could get any worse, his owners are moving, leaving Buddy to the highest bidder. That is, until he meets the green-eyed lady who treats him with more kindness than he has ever received from a human being his whole life.

The lady cannot buy Buddy for the price his owners ask, but Buddy makes it his duty to finally rid himself of his caretakers and let himself be happy. It is a long journey, though, filled with compromises, self-discovery, and the realization that the world cannot just be seen through black and white (no pun intended). Though Buddy’s Tail is meant for children, it is a deeply textured novel with lessons that will outlast its reader demographic. Buddy’s Tail is a wonderful book that leaves readers with a sweet and poignant sigh at its closure.