A fiercely original verse novel for middle-grade readers and beyond from Zana Fraillon, the Carnegie Award-shortlisted author of The Bone Sparrow.

'Tender and gritty' THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

'Beautifully written ... ambitious and absorbing' BOOKS + PUBLISHING

Be strong. Be fierce. Life is more than a concrete floor. 

Scruffity is born into a harsh, grey world. What he yearns for most is Family. But no one wants him. Just as his chances of adoption grow thin, Scruffity is set free by a boy as unwanted as he is. 

He learns how to run, to dig, to howl and, biggest of all, to love. But then tragedy strikes ...

How does a dog find his way home when he never had one to begin with?

• A heartfelt, wondefully written and totally compelling story of love and belonging
• Told through the eyes of a young pup, Scruffity, who will tug at your heartstrings
• Themes of friendship, loss and hope are woven through a gripping narrative 
• Stunning illustrations by Sean Buckingham