When Friendship Followed Me Home

· Sold by Penguin
5.0
5 reviews
Ebook
256
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

A breathtaking middle-grade novel about happiness, loss, and an unforgettable dog named Flip


“This story convinced me all over again that love and imagination are life’s biggest magic.” —Rebecca Stead, author of Newbery Award winner When You Reach Me
 
Ben Coffin has never been one for making friends. As a former foster kid, he knows people can up and leave without so much as a goodbye. Ben prefers to spend his time with the characters in his favorite sci-fi books…until he rescues an abandoned mutt from the alley next-door to the Coney Island Library.
 
Scruffy little Flip leads Ben to befriend a fellow book-lover named Halley—yes, like the comet—a girl unlike anyone he has ever met. Ben begins thinking of her as “Rainbow Girl” because of her crazy-colored clothes and her laugh, pure magic, the kind that makes you smile away the stormiest day. 
 
Rainbow Girl convinces Ben to write a novel with her.  But as their story unfolds Ben’s life begins to unravel, and Ben must discover for himself the truth about friendship and the meaning of home.

Paul Griffin’s breathtaking middle-grade debut will warm your heart as much as it breaks it.  

 


"Full of pace and laughter, bruises and heart. Paul Griffin is the sort of writer you're torn between telling the whole world about and keeping all to yourself."—Markus Zusak, author of Printz Honor Winner The Book Thief

“‘Friendship’ is an absolutely beautiful, heart-expanding book.  I cried, but more than that I felt this giant balloon of love for everyone.  This story convinced me all over again that love and imagination are life’s biggest magic. It’ll make you want to grab hold of everyone important to you and lick them on the nose.”   —Rebecca Stead, author of Newbery Award winner When You Reach Me

"Some books change the way you see the world. Some change the way you breathe. This book will leave you breathless. This is Paul Griffin's best book yet—and that's really saying something." —Patricia McCormick, author of National Book Award Finalist Sold

"When Friendship Followed Me Home is both a beautiful book, and an honest book; it is, in fact, beautiful because it is honest. We see the pain of loss, and the glory of community. We see love in its many forms, and we witness the truth that love goes on despite all barriers. Cheer for Ben and Halley: it is kids like these who are our hope.”  —Gary D. Schmidt, author of Okay for Now

Ratings and reviews

5.0
5 reviews
Soto Family
June 27, 2016
Though the cover and title of this book seem to focus on the dog in this story, it's actually mostly about Halley (like the comet). Sparing the details, this book grabbed my hand and led me through a roller-coaster ride of emotions; I laughed out loud (and, since we we were at the store, everyone looked at me weird) and wanted to cry, but this was definitely a good book! I highly recommend you read it, although it might break your heart.
2 people found this review helpful
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About the author

Paul Griffin is the award-winning author of Ten Mile RiverThe Orange Houses, and Burning Blue. He lives, trains dogs, and writes in New York City.

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