DOG BONE SOUP by Bette A. Stevens
Book Blurb
DOG BONE SOUP is not only the title of Bette A. Stevens’s debut novel; it ranks high among the paltry meals that the book’s protagonist, Shawn Daniels, wants to forget. Plodding through mounting snow and battling howling winds, Shawn is ready to leave it all behind—living in poverty, Dad’s drinking, life in foster care, the divorce, the bullies…. Travel with Shawn Daniels through the guts and the glories of life in DOG BONE SOUP, a Boomer’s coming-of-age saga. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but mostly you’ll be glad you read it.
Book Review (from AmazonUK)
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Written
By Amazon Customer on 3 April 2017
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
Beautifully Written
The poignant story of Shawn and his family opens as he leaves home to serve in the armed forces. Looking back over his childhood he recounts his father’s struggle with alcohol addiction, and the poverty his family endured.
Shawn and his brother have daring adventures on their bicycles, collecting bottles along the roadside, exchanging them for cash, and buying pop, ice cream and other sweet delicacies…
As money becomes tighter, Shawn uses his ingenuity to put FREE food on the table, by milking their neighbours cows in early morning, taking windfall apples from a lady who refuses to give them these fruits, preferring them to rot…
The families money struggles also force their mother to make soup out of bones that would have been given to dogs.
However, Bette’s book is never depressing. It is filled with the innocence of a childhood spent amongst the New England countryside, and a love of Nature. I absolutely loved her writing style, and I have no hesitation in recommending it to others.
Author Bio
Inspired by nature and human nature, author Bette A. Stevens is a retired elementary and middle school teacher, a wife, mother of two and grandmother of five. Stevens lives in Central Maine with her husband on their 37-acre farmstead where she enjoys reading, writing, gardening, walking and reveling in the beauty of nature. She advocates for children and families, for childhood literacy and for the conservation of monarch butterflies—an endangered species (and for milkweed, the only plant that monarch caterpillars will eat).
Stevens is the author of AMAZING MATILDA, an award-winning picture book; The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too!, a home/school resource incorporating hands-on math and writing; and PURE TRASH, the short story prequel to her début novel, DOG BONE SOUP—coming-of-age story and family drama set in 1950s and 60s New England.
A lovely review of Bette’s book.
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I also enjoyed this book. Great review, Kim. 😀
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An excellent review, Kim. It captures the spirit of Bette’s Book. Dog Bone Soup was a pleasure to read and I couldn’t agree with your review more!
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I’m so happy to see Dog Bone Soup featured on your blog. A fabulous book.
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Wonderful books by talented author, Bette A. Stevens, are must reads. I have enjoyed reading all Bette’s books, Best wishes for much success, Bette! ❤️ Thank you, Kim, for spreading the word about Bette’s lovely books. 😊
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It’s my pleasure! 😀
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Reblogged this on Bette A. Stevens, Maine Author.
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Thank you for sharing, Bette! 😀
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So many wonderful quotes! I’m inspired and sharing… 🙂
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Thanks for sharing, Kim! 🙂
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Thanks, Natalie! xo
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Thanks, Kim. I reblogged this with the following note:
Bette A. Stevens writes with the soulful insight of young man who feels his world’s challenges in extraordinary ways. I’m happy to see Kim Cox review Dog Bone Soup and award it the five stars it richly deserves. Please read Kim’s review and add Dog Bone Soup to your reading list.
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Thank you, but I didn’t write this review. This is a review from amazon that Bette sent to me for my new Book Review Sunday blog to promote authors.
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Thanks so much for the shout-out, Stephen! xo
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Reblogged this on Stephen Geez Blog and commented:
Bette A. Stevens writes with the soulful insight of young man who feels his world’s challenges in extraordinary ways. I’m happy to see Kim Cox review Dog Bone Soup and award it the five stars it richly deserves. Please read Kim’s review and add Dog Bone Soup to your reading list.
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Thank you for the reblog.
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Thanks so much, Stephen! 🙂
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Thanks so much for featuring DOG BONE SOUP on your blog, Kim. Have a beautiful week, my talented and super-supportive #RRBC author friend! xo
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YW! My pleasure! 😀
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