Roam - by Alan Lazar (Paperback)

About the Book

Nelson is a bright-eyed, inquisitive half beagle, half poodle. He lives with Katey and Don, newlyweds whose marriage is straining under the pressures of domesticity. One day Nelson follows his nose and gets lost-- and we follow his journey home for eight years. An affirmation that no matter how far or how long you may travel, there's always a place you can call home.

Book Synopsis

They Say You Never Forget Your First Love . . .

Nelson is a bright-eyed, inquisitive half beagle, half poodle. He lives with Katey and Don, newlyweds whose marriage is straining under the pressures of domesticity, but Katey's devotion to Nelson buoys the pup even as he worries his home may be falling apart. One day Nelson follows his nose and gets lost. Though he searches frantically for his beloved Katey--and she for him--he can't seem to find his way home.

Roam follows Nelson on an incredible eight-year cross-country journey. He rides shotgun with a truck driver, lives in the woods with a pack of wolves, loses his hind leg in a terrible accident, and escapes death in a shelter. Though he develops a cynical eye and a world-weary demeanor, underneath it all he remains a fearless and courageous spirit, and maintains the belief that one day he'll make it back to Katey.

A deeply moving story of survival and enduring love, Roam confirms the unbreakable bond between humans and their best friends. It is an unforgettable tale of love lost and found, the trials that test families, and an affirmation that no matter how far or how long you may travel, there's always a place to call home.

Review Quotes

"Lazar's debut novel takes us on a harrowing canine journey where human beings can break the heart of a good dog---and yet the desire to live with and love humans is unquenchable." --Jacqueline Sheehan, NY Times bestselling author of "Lost & Found

""Incredible journeys are a perennially popular subset of dog stories...and Lazar crafts a good one. He captures the interior and exterior lives of humans and dogs (and even wolves) with a sure hand." --"Library Journal

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"A sweet but simple tale, Lazar's novel will appeal to animal lovers nostalgic for the stories of their youth." --"Booklist"

"Musician Lazar's debut is a thoughtful portrayal of the dog's worldview, emotions, and nature, written largely from one dog's perspective and tracking his walkabout adventures across the country after his nose leads him away from his first owner and 'Great Love, ' Katey.... A touching page-turner for dog lovers." --"Publisher's Weekly"

"I loved the curious, adventurous spirit of Nelson. ROAM shows some of the things I love most about dogs--their unconditional love, loyalty, instinct, connection to Mother Nature, and of course, their powerful noses! We can all learn and take something away from his journey." --Cesar Millan, "The Dog Whisperer"

"Alan Lazar knows dogs, and to know a dog is to love a dog. ROAM compassionately explores and celebrates the heart and mind of man's best friend and the special bond we share" --Patrick McDonnell, "New York Times" bestelling author of THE GIFT OF NOTHING

"With the mesmerizing simplicity of a classic silent film, ROAM tells the heart-breaking (and yes, heart-warming) story of Nelson, an adventurous and brave little dog as memorable as John Grogan's Marley, Kate DiCamillo's Winn-Dixie and even Chaplin's Little Tramp . Without a word of dialogue, Lazar tells an epic tale almost entirely from Nelson's point of view, but his canine hero's stirring quest is no different than Quixote's--a death-defying, wonder-inducing search for love." --David Frankel, director of "Marley and Me" and "The Devil Wears Prada."

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""A canine version of "Black Beauty"." --"Kirkus Reviews

""Lazar has crafted an adventure guaranteed to capture the interest of the reader--who hopes, like Nelson, that the dog will somehow make it home to Katey."""--"Bookpage"