From the New York Times–bestselling author. "A rousing, slightly surreal tale of rescue and redemption, this effort will appeal to animal lovers everywhere." —Kirkus Reviews All Hal had ever wanted was a dog. "Never!" cries his mother. "Think of the mess, the scratch-marks, the puddles on the floor." But on the morning of Hal's 10th birthday, the unbelievable happens. He's allowed to choose a dog at Easy Pets, a rent-a-pet agency (a fact his parents keep from him). The moment he sees the odd-looking terrier, he knows he's found a friend for life. But no one tells Hal that Fleck must be returned. When Hal wakes up on Monday morning, Fleck is gone. If dog and boy are to stay together they'll have to run away . . . From the renowned Eva Ibbotson comes a tale laced with humor and brimming over with heart, stunning in its beauty of the love of all things dog. "Ibbotson's final book is a story with the heart of Lassie and the satirical bite of Roald Dahl . . . as funny as it is satisfying." —Booklist "Readers who have grown to love Ibbotson's bighearted heroes and larger-than-life adventure stories will relish this final novel . . . In true Ibbotson form, the lives of unlikely acquaintances are colorfully threaded together." —Publishers Weekly "In this—her last book—Ibbotson maintained her flair for characterization, madcap action, and a rollicking plotline . . . This satisfying novel combines humor with heart to great effect—a lovely parting gift from the masterful storyteller." —School Library Journal