Fortuna

In a sun-scorched Spanish village, a weary stray dog wanders searching for water, only to be met with fear and hostility. The townspeople believe Fortuna is rabid, a threat to be chased away or killed. But when she finds refuge in the garden of Don Salvador, an elderly man with kind eyes, everything changes. Fortuna discovers not just shelter, but a family in Don Salvador's young grandson Juanito. Their bond forms the emotional heart of this tale - a friendship between boy and dog that feels like it was always meant to exist. When Juanito is kidnapped, Fortuna must transform from outcast to hero, using instincts and devotion to become the child's only chance at salvation. This is adventure fiction with its priorities in the right place: it's about finding your people, about loyalty that asks for nothing in return, and about the courage that lives in the smallest hearts. For readers who believe that the creatures who love us most are often the ones we almost turned away.