In 1867, a boy named Frankie inherits a dog with a remarkable past. Tony was rescued from a war by a soldier named Colonel Jameson, and now she belongs to Frankie. But when Tony is stolen, Frankie must find the courage to bring her home, learning along the way what it truly means to be responsible for another living creature. This is a Victorian children's book with teeth. Leslie doesn't soft-pedal the harder emotions: there is real fear here, real loss, and the genuine weight of a child learning that love demands sacrifice. Frankie's journey unfolds through small choices about obedience and truth, and the bond between boy and dog is tested before it solidifies into something unbreakable. For readers who remember being young and believing that a dog could save your life, or that you might one day save hers.
