The Incredible Journey
Recommended. Age: 9+. A Catholic review of this book for parents.
Our review
Two dogs and a Siamese cat miss their family and set out across 300 miles of Canadian wilderness to get home. They face rivers, wild animals and hunger, and kind people help them along the way. They never give up on each other. A loyal, brave animal story with a few hard scenes of animals fighting and dying, Recommended. Age 9, set by Common Sense Media's 9+.
For parents
Age 9, set by Common Sense Media's 9+ (Lumen's read-alone age is also 9). Read it aloud from 7. Common Sense Media notes two fairly graphic wild-animal deaths and several attacks on the pets; Wikipedia lists a lynx, a bear and her cub, a sheepdog, a border collie and porcupine quills. Ask: how did the three friends take care of each other? Who helped them along the way, and how can we help strangers too?