Description
<p>When Jessica Bryant pesters her wealthy parents to allow her to have a dog as a pet, the answer is a resounding "No"; but they soon come to regret their decision when thier home is broken into one evening whilst they are out and their daughter kidnapped and held for ransom. The kidnappers, in the form of four seedy and incompetent characters wearing Disneyland-type masks, take her hostage and keep her incarcerated in a place from which there appears to be no escape. However, they reckon without the resourcefulness of our heroine, and the courage of a wonderful stray dog who comes to her aid and whom she names 'Murdo'. And so begins an exciting and humurous accounting of the couples' adventures together as they consistently foil and outwit the abductors whilst on the run together.<br /> This is a lovely story of the friendship between a girl and a dog, bringing out themes of responsibility, camaraderie, redemption, salvation and self-sacrifice. It includes some wonderful dialogue sequences as Jessica teaches her new four-legged friend how to communicate with her, with additional delightful conversations between the animals when a rabbit and a sparrow join forces with them in an effort to outwit the kidnappers and restore Jessica safely back to her parents' home. </p>
Story Behind The Book
Anna Murray was born in Kenya and, with her brother and parents, had a fairly idyllic early childhood, riding horses and enjoying the love of family and friends. that she was born on the mythic Friday 13th didn't seem to bother her at all. But then her father became ill and sent her to meet her mother. Anna was angry that he didn't come with her and didn't tell her mother that he wasn't feeling well. three weeks late, he died and young Anna blamed herself for his death....
One day she confided this to her mother, who told the child that her actions would not have made any difference. Still, Anna grieved the death of her father. Her mother took over the Highlands Hotel in Molo and Anna and her brother rode horses and went hunting together. She spent many long hours with her best friend Bella. But the political climate in Kenya changed when the country won its independence. Fearing for the safety of her family, Anna's mother sent her daughter off to South Africa. Anna was only 12 at the time she was put on a boat for South Africa with a woman and her four sons. She had no idea when or if she would ever see her mother again.....