Books like Ole Blue by Dave Sargent

After a Cessna crash leaves teenage Brian Robinson alone in the Canadian wilderness, he must learn to survive, uncovering self-reliance and resilience amid a harsh, beautiful landscape.

After rescuing a wounded dog, Brian Robeson sets off northward, trusting instinct, to uncover danger in the Canadian wilderness.

Teen vampire Gene, thought he could lead a double life, is thrust into a deadly chase for the last humans by a ruthless vampire clan that suspects his true nature.

A young boy learns to use a hunting bow to make music instead of hunting.

When Blue goes missing, young J. D. goes off to find the dog.

A classic introduction to literature, perfect for students of all backgrounds and interests.

Grades 7-9

High School level

On the verge of being murdered, a child vanishes, and her tormentors, arrested for her disappearance, remember only a bright light and a tall blue man. Two abandoned dogs, being used as bait in a dogfight, see a bright light in the instant they are to be torn apart, and the men at ringside wake up naked and chained, with no dogs in sight. After a night of terror, a woman and three cats find themselves on an alien vessel, with no hope of rescue. The "Bluemen" hope to change their society with the help of a child, and Bess McPhinney is appalled to learn that she has been abducted to serve as a substitute mother on an alien planet, particularly since she has no children and no great fondness for them. Left temporarily on a "drop-off" planet, Bess and her Bluemen enhanced felines are taken in by the "Elpies," a species of man-sized telepathic reptiles. Simon, a man who has chosen to stay on the Elpies' planet for reasons of his own, becomes Bess' mentor in the Elpie way of life. As Elpies, humans, and alien augmented animals all play a part in nurturing a child badly in need of family, family is what they become. Their newly formed bonds and a simpler way of life seem idyllic until the return of two criminals, long thought dead, shatters the peace of the village with unthinkable violence. Four species face this evil together, and the outcome of their struggles will ultimately change the destinies of two planets.

Perrine's Literature—Structure, Sound, and Sense—Ninth Edition provides comprehensive tools for teaching and learning literary analysis, covering fiction, poetry, drama, and critical thinking skills in a concise, student-friendly format.

Roger Caras gives readers an insider look at dog shows, covering breeding history, judging criteria, grooming preparation, championship status and the political dynamics that shape the sport.