Join us every Friday in July and August and learn about the Decoda staff’s summer reading picks. Today Stanley, owner of Gail Hanney, Director, Fund Development, is sharing his summer reading pick.

The book Sounder by William H. Armstrong tugs at my heart. It’s about a boy and his loyal dog, Sounder.

Being a fellow dog, I felt Sounder’s bravery and loyalty deeply. Full disclosure: I’m afraid of windstorms, fireworks, and vacuums, but I’m loyal—some might even say I cling like Velcro.

Sounder depicts a time of hardship for African-Americans. The boy’s father struggles to feed his family and steals a ham. He is arrested, and Sounder is shot by a deputy while trying to protect him. Sounder then disappears, and the boy searches for him tirelessly.

Is Sounder alive? Does he return? Spoiler Alert: There wouldn’t be much of a book if that didn’t happen.

Why I like this book

Sounder is the only character named. Sounder gets his name from his deep bark. His bark is so strong that it “sounds” through the woods, helping his master track. I relate to Sounder as “Stanley Bark” is my full name and people can hear me throughout Vancouver’s West End.

Literacy is incredibly important to me. As an honorary Decoda team member, I appreciate the boy’s determination to learn how to read, sparked by finding a book in the trash and meeting a teacher who guides him. This illustrates how literacy has the power to change one’s life.

The bond between the boy and Sounder is profound. The boy’s journey to find his father in a prison camp and pursue an education is filled with moments of hope and despair, with Sounder faithfully by his side throughout.

Sounder won the Newbery Award in 1970 and was adapted into a major motion picture in 1972. I say that is bark-tastic. Four paws up for Sounder!