A home for Goddesses and Dogs by Leslie Connor

Here is the publisher blurb: "It’s a life-altering New Year for thirteen-year-old Lydia when she uproots to a Connecticut farm to live with her aunt following her mother’s death. Aunt Brat and her jovial wife, Eileen, and their ancient live-in landlord, Elloroy, are welcoming—and a little quirky. Lydia’s struggle for a sense of belonging in her new family is highlighted when the women adopt a big yellow dog just days after the girl’s arrival. Wasn’t one rescue enough? Lydia is not a dog person—and this one is trouble! He is mistrustful and slinky. He pees in the house, escapes into the woods, and barks at things unseen. His new owners begin to guess about his unknown past. Meanwhile, Lydia doesn’t want to be difficult—and she does not mean to keep secrets—but there are things she’s not telling... Like why the box of “paper stuff” she keeps under her bed is so important...  And why that hole in the wall behind a poster in her room is getting bigger... And why something she took from the big yellow dog just might be the key to unraveling his mysterious past—but at what cost?"

I picked up this book because I really enjoyed another book by Leslie Connor - The Truth as told to Mason Buttle.  Earlier in 2011 I also read and thoroughly enjoyed Waiting for Normal.  Both are books I would add to my top 100 titles for senior primary and junior high school readers, but while I did enjoy A home for Goddesses and Dogs it did not hit the same emotional highs and lows I felt with these other two titles. Ms Yingling gave this book 3 stars out of five. Colby Sharp included this title in his list of best books for 2020.

You can listen to an audio sample from Chapter one on the US Publisher web page.  Warning (Chapter 26) - sensitive readers may find the description of the badly hurt baby goats very distressing.

An almost-orphan and a rescue dog share lots of heart in a winsome coming-of-age story. Kirkus

This novel will surely be a big and important story when it reaches the children who need it most. The Children's Book Review

Full of dogs, warmth and love, this is another great read from a talented author. Waking Brain Cells

Even though these are much shorter books and written for a slightly younger audience, I would pair A home for Goddesses and Dogs with these two books which explore the theme of dogs and their healing powers:

White Fur Flying

Waiting for the Magic

You should also look for Small Mercies which explores forming new relationships when children have to move in and live with other relatives after the death of a parent. 

Small Mercies