A Home for Abigail: Everyone Needs a Forever Home

By: S. Marriott Cook
Publisher: Jabberwocky Books
Publication Date: May 2015
ISBN: 978-1-63413-279-4
Reviewed by: Diane Lunsford
Review Date: June 10, 2016

S. Marriott Cook nudges the heartstrings of any lover of animals in her heartfelt story of A Home for Abigail.

Abigail’s story begins on a terribly sad note. She is a new mother of eight pups and her master wants nothing to do with her. He drives her to a random street and stops his car; looks up the street, then down. When he is certain there are no witnesses, it’s time to finish what he set out to do. “...Come on...” the man said as he pulled the dog from the car. As soon as the dog was on the ground, the man slammed the back door closed. He jumped in the car and sped away. If only Abigail had a voice, perhaps that man would have been the one who would be brought to justice...

Abigail didn’t start out as Abigail. Rather, her name was Whitey. She was a gentle soul and might have been a great mother to those eight puppies, but never had the chance. She was thirsty, hungry and very weak. A glimmer of hope is immediately snuffed when that mother with two young boys recedes. Abigail looks like a pit bull. Even with a tail wag, that lady wasn’t going to have anything to do with her. All pit bulls are vicious, aren’t they? Further down the road, Abigail finds a place to rest. When the kindly lady pulls over and opens her car door, Abigail isn’t certain the reception will be any better than the last. Thankfully, the lady coaxes her into her car. The next stop would be the vet. After a thorough examination and the confirmation that Abigail had given birth earlier that day, Sandy is convinced she is the one to nurture this sweet dog back to a place and life filled with love and trust.

It is abundantly clear from the onset of this story that Ms. Cook is a lover of animals and she portrays amazing kindness and empathy throughout the storyline. Even though Abigail is a pit bull, I applaud Ms. Cook for her discounting the ‘vicious’ that stigmatizes this breed. Rather, there is ample nuance throughout the story that focuses on her kind and gentle ways. This is a tender tale full of heart and the illustrations complement the story line nicely. In addition, this is a story that will appeal to many age groups. I think it would certainly be a great read for parents to expose their children to; especially if they are planning to add a dog to the family (and even more so if it is a rescue). Well done Ms. Cook.

Quill says: A Home for Abigail is a tender tale devoted to a sweet dog who is one of the fortunate ones to have found a home filled with love and care.

Author Interview

For more information on A Home for Abigail: Everyone Needs a Forever Home please visit the book's website at: www.ahomeforabigail.com