A Dog Called Flow

Oliver is desperate for a dog - to give him unconditional friendship and a much-needed distraction from his troubles. A dog would keep him company on his long Lake District walks and could be trained to take part in the local dog show. Most of all, a dog wouldn't judge him.

Oliver is struggling at school. He has trouble with reading and writing and his teacher isn't very understanding. No one knows what's wrong and to top it all, he is also being teased by his classmates for being kept behind at lunchtime to finish his work. After a particularly bad day, the pressure becomes too much and Oliver decides to ignore his parents' decision and acquires a sheepdog puppy from a local farmer. However, keeping the dog a secret is harder than he expected. And things are about to become even more challenging when disaster strikes on a walk on the fells…

This is a powerful story that clearly leads its reader through the struggles of dyslexia. But it is also an adventurous tale of a boy and his dog and the powerful friendship between them. Thoroughly enjoyable to read, and also a great story to understand one boy's experience of dyslexia, its impact on his school life, friendships and family. 

Reissued by Troika Books, this classic tale was first published in 1994.

Read Pippa Goodhart's blog post on her first book, A Dog Called Flow.