Friday Memes: The Dog Ray by Linda Coggin

Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice.

The Dog Ray by Linda Coggin. 193 p. Candlewick Press, November, 2016. 9780763679385.

Publisher synopsis: By turns humorous, poignant, and moving, this tale of a girl who comes back to Earth as a dog is a nuanced portrait of death, love, grief, and hope.

When my death came it was swift. Swift as a running horse. It wasted no time.

Daisy, age twelve, has died in a car accident. She finds herself in the afterworld, which resembles nothing more than a job center. Her soul is being returned to Earth, but not as a human being—she’s returning as a dog. A dog who retains Daisy’s thoughts and pluck and is determined to get back to her parents and to get back home. What she doesn’t expect is that life as a dog named Ray would come with such worries—and moments of jubilation—as she grows to care for others in a whole new way. Told in a compelling first-person voice, Linda Coggin’s incredible novel touches on loyalty and freedom, connection and acceptance, and is sure to stay with readers long after the story is done.

First Line(s): When my death came it was swift. Swift as a running horse. It wasted no time.

Page 56: She's not a boy. She's a girl," the old man says. "I remember her from when I was sleeping in some park or other. Shad some sort of name that made me think of the weather. But I can't for the life of me remember what it was."
     Oh, please don't remember, I think. I really don't want to be stuck with Misty for the rest of my life.