Finding Gobi: Young Reader's Edition: The True Story of One Little Dog's Big Journey

 

Paperback, ebook, audiobook, audio CD 

August 29, 2017

by Aaron Rosenberg (Adapter), Dion Leonard

• Age Range: 8 - 12 years
• Grade Level: 3 - 7
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson 
• ISBN-13: 978-0718075316

Bring home the incredible true story of a friendship so strong that it crosses the globe! You will love the inspiring tale of Gobi, a lost dog who kept pace with an ultramarathon runner, Dion Leonard, across a vast desert. Follow their unlikely friendship through the challenges of an 80-mile race and Dion’s struggle to bring Gobi home for good.

Finding Gobi: The True Story of One Little Dog's Big Journey is the incredible true story of Dion Leonard, an athlete who was befriended by a stray dog while running an ultramarathon through the Gobi Desert. Named for the desert in which he found her, Gobi became Dion’s closest companion for 77 miles of the 155-mile race across China. The scrappy little pup ran mile after mile alongside Dion, through treacherous conditions and across raging rivers. He let her sleep in his tent and share his food, and eventually, his focus shifted from winning to the newfound friendship he and Gobi shared.

They crossed the finish line together—not first, but together—and Dion decided to bring Gobi home to Scotland. Just before they were about to leave, however, Gobi disappeared, setting off a worldwide search for the stray. In a town of more than 3 million people, the search seemed hopeless, but this tale of friendship will surprise and delight you as you find out what happens!

Join the almost too-good-to-be-true story of hope, friendship, and beating incredible odds in Finding Gobi: The True Story of One Little Dog's Big Journey by Dion Leonard. 

My thoughts: (Review by Jenna)  FINDING GOBI is a seriously good book. I have no idea when the last time I sat down and read an entire book in one day. The story about Gobi and how she attached herself to Dion is amazing. At first, he didn't like her all that much then she started to grow on him and by the end of the race he started to make preparations to take her home to Scotland. And from China that is like a LOT of red tape. While they were trying to prepare to cut through all that red tape, she ran off. 

When the book got to this place, I started to worry that the family she was staying with in China was abusive because she had to have a hip replacement and had a scar on her forehead and when he first found her she was wary of people coming to the door. Especially certain people who caused her to bark and go crazy. Mainly the people she was staying with. Like she was afraid of them.  She allowed Dion's best friend to come, she liked him. 

I really enjoyed this story and I hated to put it down. I will definitely read it again.  I really like that it was a real story.  It is also available in a children's book for 'read to me' children or a book for adults with more detail. You won't want to miss this one. Great read! 

I was provide a free copy. All opinions are my own.