A Place to Call Home: Toby’s Tale

I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ever since I read the book Marley and Me, I have been looking for books that are about animals, or told from the animals point of view. Especially dogs, since I am a huge dog lover. And I am a big sap when it comes to animals, especially rescue animals.

It follows the story of Toby, a white German Shepard/wold mix, as he travels through series of homes trying to find his forever home.

I loved this book. But be forewarned, have the tissues ready. Because if you are anything like me, you will be a sobbing mess by the end of it. Animals have always had a soft spot in my heart. This book has an easy flow to it. Don't be concerned about the fact that it's aimed at middle school kids. It's still a book for all readers who love animals. From my understanding, this is the first in a series of books about rescue animals. If that's the truth, I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Do you like Charlotte Webb and her tales?
Then you are going to love this.

This is about a white German Shepherd dog, a rescue dog. Its all told from the eyes of this beautiful animal, his life, his woes and his rescue.

Not a dry eye in the house.
You need tissues.

Yes I know this is a children's book but we never grown up do we. AND we are a sucker for a sad story especially when it involves children or animals.

G A Whitmore has weaved a truly heartbreaking but lovely outcome in this story.

Can you survive to read it. Get the tissues at the ready. You have been warned.

Thank you to Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles via Net Galley for my copy

Really really loved the book. It was sad but it ended happily. Lots of emotional ups and downs. I have never read an animal book before because I have been only into books like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson series. This was really a good change and now I'm going to look for more animal stories.

- review by my 11 year old son.

A Place to Call Home: Toby's Tale

This book was difficult for me to get through because unlike most books that will hook me and keep me reading until I can no longer keep my eyes open, this one had me stopping many times and even walk away for a few days. That was because of the emotions that the story evoked in me. I am a very sensitive person so stories dealing with abuse to an animal leave me feeling both heartbroken for the animal and furious with the abusers and those who make excuses for them. That being said, this story is well written. Reading the story from the animals’ point of view was a nice touch. Although this wasn’t an easy book to get through, I am glad that I took the time to read it because it is definitely a story that needed to be told.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

This review will appear on the link below approx 21st February

German shepherd pups Toby and Tara were the last two of the litter left at the farm – their siblings had been sold recently leaving them alone with their mother. The farm was home to them, and young Michael, the boy of the farm would play with them whenever he could. The farmhand was kind as well as the farmer’s wife, but the farmer was constantly angry when he looked at the two remaining pups. He was disgusted they were white – he was afraid his reputation as a breeder would be harmed if people knew of the white pups. The day he decided to get rid of them for good was a day of change for Toby and Tara…

Days of fear and trauma for the pups came to an end when a new family adopted them – the two children, a boy and a girl, loved the puppies, naming them Marshmallow and Fluff. New friendships formed; Drake was an old dog who was extremely wise – Toby felt Drake was his best friend. But trouble and sadness was on the horizon once again. Toby began to think he could never trust humans – the danger from them made him fearful for his life. Would Toby ever find a forever home where he was loved and could love back?

What an absolutely beautiful novel! Based on a true story, A Place to Call Home is wonderfully told partially in the animals’ voices (mostly Toby’s) and tells of their feelings, their fears and their exhilaration at life, and how that can change in a heartbeat. We also learn about the bloodline which caused the two puppies to be born white. G.A. Whitmore has created a spectacular novel which can and will be enjoyed by both young and old alike – and especially by dog lovers. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Loved the story of Toby. This book could easily be taught in middle school and would interest children. Animals are easy to love and the love and reaper for animals is easy to relate to. The story of Toby will entrance children and adults alike. I would live to see this go into at least middle schools. Well-written, and easy to follow. The characters of the people and the dogs were well developed. Great plots!

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It's interesting to think that dogs go through the same traumatic experiences that we humans do but not all of us would give it a second thought. Toby goes through a lot before he finds his forever family and I for one was rooting for him all the way. It was heartening to see that in the book and hopefully in life, that there's at least one kind hearted person for every cruel one.

I truly loved this book. I could not stop reading it and several times it brought tears to my eyes. "A Place to Call Home" is the moving story of a rescue dog and his search for a family that truly loves him unconditionally.

Toby, a German shepherd puppy, starts out in an obscure little farm in California with his mother and siblings. His life is happy until one day he and his sister Tara are taken away because their fur is pure white and the owner thinks they are of no value and cannot be homed. The man does not want to keep them, so rather than being stuck with the two he decides it best that they be discarded. The two wee puppies are put into a box and taken off to be eliminated or so the breeder thinks. Kudos to his kind wife and an understanding, tender-hearted farmhand who devise a safe escape plan for them.

Through a series of events Toby finds himself a home which he thinks will be his forever home. The family who adopts him turns out to be less than loving and Toby finds himself being abused by the drunken adult male who lives there. Frightened for his life he's on the move once again not knowing where he will end up. He is full of fear, sorrow, and misgivings and unable to heal or rescue himself.

Toby's struggles to come to terms with his life: his deep-seated grief at the loss of his sister (unfortunately she died), his inability to trust humans because he may be hurt or abuse by them again, his fear of never finding a family or home where he feels protected and cherished and even if he can trust the animals that he encounters along his journey.

Love is a powerful motivator and healer. Luckily Toby is encouraged to open up his heart and to love once again and in so doing his life is changed for ever.

This heartwarming and inspiring story will have you engaged from the very first paragraph. It is based on a true story. The author herself rescued an abused dog from the Connecticut Humane Society and brought the dog home to be cared for and loved. This compelling story is perfect for young adult readers and especially for dog lovers no matter what their age. I highly, highly recommend this book and so look forward to the next one in the series.

Loved it! Accolades to the author for making this based on a true story of her own rescue dog from a shelter and writing it to help raise awareness for shelter dogs. Certainly needed. That was, in part, why I was attracted to this book. I have a few rescues myself. I am kinda partial to white dogs as well. My own little rescue girl, Bella, is a white dog too. I enjoyed this story and highly recommend it to animal lovers.

Toby narrates his story about his life starting with life on the farm with his mother and siblings. He and his sister are white German shepards who the family doesn't want so he gets rid of them. Toby and his sister are rescued by a couple who gives the dogs to her sister. From there Toby must learn to survive after he loses his sister and is abused.

This is a heartwarming story even though there were moments when I shed tears To see a dog's life through his eyes was well written by the author. It is a story that will give you pause the next time you visit the humane society for a pet. Hopefully, it will make you reconsider getting one there instead of a pet store.

This was a great story. Loved it.

A Place to Call Home is the heartwarming and inspiring story of an abandoned white German shepherd puppy named Toby and his cross-country search for a forever home. Narrated in part by the animal characters in the book, the reader experiences Toby's world through his eyes and those of the animals he meets on his journey.

At first, I was confused about where the story was going, but I picked up quickly. Once it started getting on with Toby's story, I was completely interested. It shed light on an area where most people don't care to look, and I'm forever grateful for that. As an animal activist, this book spoke to me on so many levels.

G.A. Whitmore's writing style is unique, and wonderful. She's a very talented author, and I grew to love her writing. I hope she writes more books in the future. Characters:
It was so heartwarming how the animals had to learn to trust again. As an abused puppy, you can imagine how hard it would be to love the same species who had recently beat you almost to death.

This book was such a great story. I'm so glad I read it. I had no idea this was based on a true story, and it was a pleasant surprise to find out. I love how she put the fictional backgrounds on the animals.

This is definitely a middle grade book. It deals with hard family matters (alcoholism), and serious animal abuse. I would say 11+. I am for sure recommending this to all, it doesn't matter if you like animal or not. There's important lessons that need to be taught, and this book is a great source.

The adventures of a forever home as told by a beautiful and loving doggie. If only dogs could talk.

I just finished this book and wiped the tears of joy from my eyes. This is one of the first books in a long while to bring tears to my eyes, from both joy and sadness. If you ever wondered what it felt like to be a rescue animal you need to read this book. (Just my opinion.)

Great feel good story. Liked the characters and the story flow. Good read. Given copy by NetGalley for honest review.

I love dogs, so it was a given I would enjoy this one. The book follows the story of Toby, a white puppy with a hard life in need of a loving home.
This book is not for the gentle of heart as there is abuse to animals and alcoholism involved, but I think necessary this stories are told as they are real and can help people take better decisions about animals and their rightful treatment: with respect and love.
If you like animals you will love this book. It's deliciously narrated, with POWs of different characters, dogs included, which I find gives the book a lot of deep and richness. A great read.

Wow! It is 3:20 in the morning, and I just finished ready A Place to Call Home: Toby's Tale. Toby's narration makes this a very powerful story. I was in tears at time and thought of the day I brought my own dog home as a puppy 2 years ago. This would be an interesting story to read aloud to a classroom of upper elementary students. I imagine it would spark lively discussions and create the opportunity for many creative classroom assignments.

A Place to Call Home is a heartwarming tale of a white Shepherd German in search of its forever home. I love the switching between Toby's narration and in 3rd person POV, it made me enjoyed the book better.

Toby's tale is a great educational tool to teach children the love of animals. I particularly love the messages delivered in the book:

1) Please opt for adoption. There are hundreds and even thousands of homeless pets sheltered at the animal rescue center, waiting for their forever home. Some might not be lucky to have one before their lives meet the ends.

2) Make sure you have the environment for them. Is your home safe for your pet? Are your family members and neighbors aware of you getting the new pet? Will there anyone who might cause danger to the animal?

3) Are you ready for a new pet? Most importantly, are you ready to take up the responsibility for the animal? They're not toys that you can abandon when you don't need them. Their lives are basically solely relying on us.

I adored the way the animals talk to each other. The writer portrayed them not as dumb animals but animals with love, happiness, fear and all sorts of feelings. The dialogues of the animals are fun to read too. Their interaction reminds me of some of the animal-themed CG movies which is funny.

Some part of the story (especially the last part) is actually based on what the author learnt about Toby. It pained me when I read the abusing part but I was glad that in the end Toby finally found his forever home.

Highly recommended to animal lovers and parents who want their children to appreciate the life of a pet and an animal.

I received this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley.com, to Outskirts Press, and to G.A. Whitmore.

This was a wonderful story about the lifetime journey of a dog named Toby. I loved that the author wrote the story from both the viewpoint of the dog and that of the humans in his life. It gave a very well rounded view of the tale. This is a very emotionally heavy story. My heart just broke over and over again while I read this book because it is so incredibly sad. So many parts are heartbreaking that I don't recommend this as a light read. The reader should be armed with a box of tissues. Still...I loved the writing and searched for other books by the author. I was disappointed not to find any and will be looking for future releases.

A PLACE TO CALL HOME: TOBY'S TALE
by G.A. Whitmore
Ms. Whitmore's passion for writing and her love of dogs come together in her series The Rescue Dog Tales.

This is an adventurous story written for teens. It is about two white puppies named Toby and Tara. The dogs are part German Shepard and part wolf. They're given away from their family since the owner is predjudiced
against them for being white dogs. It's interesting to see how the puppies both deal with their life challenges.
They cope bravely thru some tumultuos circumstances. Its a story of finding a forever home and joy.
What would our pets say to each other if they could talk? The author is very talented at narrating both as animals and as the people in the story.
I would like to thank Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book.

This is a heartwarming tale of dog rescue and adoption. I enjoyed reading about Toby's life. The story touches your heart and teaches lessons.