Product Description

Still grieving over the death of her hero, and missing her stolen horse and kidnapped younger sister, Kaya tries to earn the trust of a lone and starving dog who is about to have puppies. Includes historical notes on Nez Percâe children.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #709027 in Books
• Published on: 2002-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

Customer Reviews

A special friendship
In Kaya and the Lone Dog, the 4th book in the series, Kaya is still mourning the death of her namesake Swan Circling. Feeling very much alone and also feeling the continuous guilt of getting her blind sister Speaking Rain captured, she befriends a lone dog, whom Kaya thinks is very much like her, all alone. Though her family and friends object to her befriending the Lone Dog, for it is unusual for a dog to live alone, Kaya doesn't heed their warnings and forms a special bond with the dog. After Lone Dog gives birth to some puppies, Kaya feels more and more attached to the dog and her pups, like they are her family. It is almost like Lone Dog can communicate with her. However, as the pups grow older, Kaya begins to feel the inevitable. Will Lone Dog leave her? Kaya is hopelessly torn as she knows Lone Dog is a dog that want to be free to roam the wild. In the end, Lone Dog gives a very special gift to Kaya, so she could remember her.

Kaya befriends a wild dog
Kaya who's the new American Girl character, befriends a dog that calls Lone Dog. She wonders if it could live in her village. She's a Nez Perce indian. But maybe Lone Dog is too wild. One day while visiting her, Lone Dog growls and bares her teeth at a wolf. Lone Dog is going to have puppies. Kaya has to tell her brothers to not disturb Lone Dog and the puppies for she has befriended them. Kaya and Lone Dog soon get along real well. Lone Dog lets Kaya play with, hold, and love her newborn pups. Kaya is glad to have a new friend because her sister, Speaking Rain is still held captive. So dosen't this seem like Match Made in Heaven? Wrongo. Lone Dog and Kaya both have to move on with their lives. They were the best of friends. Even with the torturing of some boys in her village who call her "Magpie," a bird that thinks only of itself. At the end of Kaya and Lone Dog's relationship, Lone Dog sends a present to Kaya. One of her pups. Kaya names him Tatlo, and keeps him as her own pet dog. When her village has to migrate, Kaya has many happy memories of Lone Dog. And now Tatlo too.

Please note: in this book, Lone Dog resembles thus of a coyote or a wolf or a wolfhybrid or maybe even a husky. Thus, she is a dog, as in MAN'S BEST FRIEND.
If you are interested in a Kaya doll, Tatlo plushie, or more accesories go to americangirl.com

Cute Puppies
This story was so touching, and cute! I felt like I was right there with Kaya, visiting the brave Lone Dog and her puppies. I think Kaya's relationship with Lone Dog is very entertaining, and I can easily imagine the puppies in my mind's eye. The ending may not be what readers' desire, but at least it didn't end the way I originally thought it did.

Besides the dogs, this book contained the usual history pages, and pages describing what Kaya and her family/friends do around their Native American camp.

Dog-lovers who read the Kaya books will enjoy this book the way I did, and I personally think any Kaya reader will think of this as a great book about love and friendship (I apologize for how sappy I sound).