Contending for the best novel of 2008, David Wroblewski’s debut, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, captivates the reader right from the beginning. Lauded from writers as diverse as Stephen King (“flat-out love”), Richard Russo (“storytelling talent to burn”) and Margot Livesey (“beautifully written”), Wroblewski tells his story in the classic American mode (Twain, Steinbeck) – a tale that could be told late at night around a bonfire.

Centering on a boy, a journey and an almost magical group of dogs, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is the perfect book to spend the summer reveling in.

Grade: A

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel is currently available.