the LoneDogs of Scrabble

The LoneDogs of Scrabble (a Canine TreeLeg Chorus) uniquely sports a separate dog narrative (indicated by small dog icons) which is threaded throughout the book, seamlessly interwoven into the human narrative. Four dogs are sentient beings and protagonists in LoneDogs, and their distinctive perspective on the human world is deftly brought to life through their language. The subtitle reflects a hint of this by use of "e;TreeLeg"e;, which is one of three canine words used to refer to humans. Although the canine voice is mostly understandable in context, a "e;Dog Dictionary,"e; is included in the rear of the book. The human relationships in LoneDogs are far-reaching with quick-paced dialogue, likeable characters, and multilayered relationships. The human story, set in rural Pennsylvania, begins with Jonas, a highly creative thirteen-year-old boy who aspires to be a writer and overtly asserts his own style. In school he meets Roy, a sharp-tongued teen from Oklahoma with an acerbic disdain for the immaturity of his classmates. The plot centers around three culturally dissimilar teens and their families, who interrelate through a gamut of emotions in a continuum of events. The overall elegance of Redwood's writing style is ingeniously illuminated by a "e;shifting viewpoint narrative"e; where the voice of the human and canine narratives change with the character in focus. The LoneDogs of Scrabble has already reached a wide appreciative audience of young adults, seniors, and dog /animal lovers. Indeed, it is a tour de force of creativity, and decidedly an upbeat and adventurous page turner for multi-generational readers and has been touted as a "e;modern Mark Twain."e;