Callum Murdoch did not travel all the way from Scotland to Upper Canada to work as a common farm laborer. Callum is a scholar, who dreams of becoming a teacher or a lawyer. When his father dies, so do the 15-year-old’s options, and he is forced to live with his uncle’s family — pioneers who are carving a farm out of virgin wooded land. An impulsive decision to rescue a beaten dog from her abuser costs Callum his small reserve of cash, but the good will behind his act pays off. This realistic portrait of the physical demands and relentless work of establishing a pioneer farm combines everyday family life with an unexpected element of fantasy, as it becomes increasingly clear that “Dog” is far more than your average canine. (Ages 10–13)