Sign-In
Cart
A Dog Named Enzo: A Novel of Love, Loss, and Growing Up
Paperback
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: May 19 2026
Pages: 182
Weight: 0.55
Height: 0.39 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
A Dog Named Enzo: A Novel of Love, Loss, and Growing Up
Nine-year-old Olivia Hayes is a quiet observer in a loud world. She'd rather sketch the oak tree outside her window than join the chaos
of kickball in the cul-de sac. Words don't come easily when it matters most, and other kids always seem to be tuned to a frequency she can't quite
Then the family adopts Enzo, a gentle, brown-eyed rescue dog with a wary gaze and a past no one fully knows. Enzo doesn't need her to be chatty or brave or normal. He just curls up beside her, listens to the rustle of her pencil on paper, and follows her from room to room like she's the only map he trusts.
Over the next seven years, Enzo is there for everything that counts-new schools, awkward sleepovers, whispered worries about not fitting in, and late-night storms that rattle the windows and her nerves. As Olivia grows from nine to sixteen, stumbling through friendships,
first crushes, and the fragile distance that sometimes opens between parents and children, Enzo is the steady heartbeat
at the center of her life.
But dogs don't live as long as girls do. When Enzo begins to slow down, Olivia has to face the hardest part of loving someone completely: learning how to carry that love forward when the one who gave it to you is gone.
Told with warmth, honesty, and quiet emotional power, A Dog Named Enzo: A Novel of Love, Loss, and Growing Up explores how a rescue dog can, in his own way, rescue the girl who loves him.
Perfect for readers who:
- Love emotional dog stories
- Enjoy heartfelt coming-of-age novels with strong family dynamics
- Connect with quieter, introspective main characters
What you'll find inside:
- A tender, realistic portrait of a girl's life from age 9 to 16
- A deep, believable bond between Olivia and her dog, Enzo
- Honest exploration of grief, anxiety, friendship, and identity
Tone & audience:
- Warm, moving, and ultimately hopeful
- Ideal for older middle-grade, teens, and adults who enjoy character-driven stories
Themes:
- Love and loss
- Finding your voice when you feel out of place
- How the animals we love become part of who we are
Also from
Wadas, Joseph
The Marriage You Will Remember: How to Build A Thriving Relationship Through Every Season of Life
Wadas, Joseph
Paperback
The December Silence - The Speech That Was Never Given: A JFK Assassination Political Conspiracy Thriller
Wadas, Joseph
Paperback
The Doubt Test: Is This Cold Feet or a Real Red Flag? The Engaged Person's Guide to Pre-Wedding Anxiety
Wadas, Joseph
Paperback
Also in
Young Adult Fiction
The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel: (A Modern Visual Adaptation of Homer's Epic Tale of Greek Mythology for Young Adults)
Hinds, Gareth
Paperback
Piper at the Gates of Dusk: (A Young Adult Dystopian Adventure of Survival, Identity, and a Divided Future World)
Ness, Patrick
Hardcover
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (National Book Award Winner)
Alexie, Sherman
Paperback
Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories
Gansworth, Eric
Smith, Cynthia Leitich
Hart, Kate
Hardcover
Once Upon a Broken Heart Collector's Edition: [Limited Stenciled Edge Edition]
Garber, Stephanie
Hardcover