Summer of Riley

Content Warning: This book deals with discussions of animal euthanasia.

William is at the dog pound with his mother, Dorothy, and best friend, Grace. It has been two months since his grandfather died; William thinks his mother is letting him get a dog to cheer him up. He chooses a Labrador Retriever named Riley. William learns that Riley’s previous owners moved, which is why they surrendered him. The dog is very well-behaved, and William instantly loves him. While they are there, Grace points out that Dorothy and the man who works at the pound seem to be interested in each other.

William and Dorothy take Riley home, and William points out various fixtures of the neighborhood to the dog, including their neighbor Mrs. Peachwood’s house. They call her Peachie, and she is away at the moment. At home, William sees the fishpond that he and his grandfather were building before he died. The pond is unfinished and is now just a big muddy hole in the middle of the yard. William misses his grandfather. Dorothy wants William to either finish building the pond or cover it up, but he is too sad to make that decision.