Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Themes
Synopsis
AN OPRAH'S BOOK CLUB PICK FOR SUMMER 2024 The follow-up to the beloved #1 New York Times bestselling modern classic The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Familiaris is the stirring origin story of the Sawtelle family and the remarkable dogs that carry the Sawtelle name. It is spring 1919, and John Sawtelle's imagination has gotten him into trouble . . . again. Now John and his newlywed wife, Mary, along with their two best friends and their three dogs, are setting off for Wisconsin's north woods, where they hope to make a fresh start—and, with a little luck, discover what it takes to live a life of meaning, purpose and adventure. But the place they are headed for is far stranger and more perilous than they realize, and it will take all their ingenuity, along with a few new friends—human, animal and otherworldly—to realize their dreams. By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, mysterious and enchanting, Familiaris takes readers on an unforgettable journey from the halls of a small-town automobile factory, through an epic Midwestern firestorm and an ambitious WWII dog training program, and far back into mankind's ancient past, examining the dynamics of love and friendship, the vexing nature of families, the universal desire to create something lasting and beautiful, and of course, the species-long partnership between homo sapiens and canis familiaris.
Is Familiaris appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This sweeping historical saga spans from 1919 through WWII with themes of partnership between humans and dogs. Contains moderate peril including a major firestorm, wartime military dog training, and likely animal deaths given the historical scope and nature of the story.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include death, animal death, and grief (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens interested in historical fiction with dogs will appreciate this epic journey through early 20th century America exploring friendship, adventure, and the origins of a legendary family.