After the death of his mother, eleven-year-old Josh goes to live with his uncle, Calum, who has a farm on a remote island. Uprooted and lonely, Josh finds solace in his love of animals. So one day, when he finds a tiny Border collie pup left to drown in the river, he decides to rescue it and keep it as his own. But money is scarce and a dog that can't earn her keep would not be welcome by Calum, and Josh must raise his new friend, Reggae, in secret.

As the pup grows and demands more attention, Josh's schoolwork suffers, despite the help of the local vet's daughter, Yvonne. Josh must decide as well what to do with Raggae - he cannot keep her hidden forever - and decides that he will train her for the local sheepdog trials. But the training is tough and time-consuming. Can Josh and Reggae bring it off in time? All is going well until someone discovers Josh's secret and will stop at nothing to ruin their chances ...



Joe Friedman, born in Chicago, has lived in London for many years, where he divides his time between writing and practising psychotherapy. He is author of the children's series Boobela's World, and is actively involved in running creative workshops for children in the 7 - 11 age range.

Tim Archbold was born and brought up in Northumberland. As well as writing and illustrating children's books, his work has appeared in the Radio Times, Good Housekeeping, BBC Gardener's World, Good Food and Country Living; and he has worked with Hampton Court, Museum of London, Ashmolean Museum and National Maritime Museum Greenwich.



'Thought-provoking and stimulating'



'This is a wonderful story about a boy's determination and very hard work to make his dream come true. It's about standing up to bullies, and knowing when to stop'



'The story has great pace and the ending is satisfying but not over the top - things are just as they should be. It left a smile on my face for days'



'Relevant to modern society, this charming tale should be well received by the 8+ age group at which it is aimed, holding their attention right up to the end of this charming tale'