When Friendship Followed Me Home

By: Paul Griffin

Narrated by: Paul Griffin

Length: 5 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

A boy's chance encounter with a scruffy dog leads to an unforgettable friendship in this deeply moving story about life, loss, and the meaning of family.

Ben Coffin has never felt like he fits in. A former foster kid, he keeps his head down at school to avoid bullies and spends his afternoons reading sci-fi books at the library. But that all changes when he finds a scruffy abandoned dog named Flip and befriends the librarian's daughter, Halley. For the first time, Ben starts to feel like he belongs in his own life.

Then everything changes, and suddenly Ben is more alone than ever. But with a little help from Halley's magician father, Ben discovers his place in the world and learns to see his own magic through others' eyes.

Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, this audiobook is a must-listen for dog lovers and fans of emotionally resonant middle grade novels like One for the Murphys and Okay for Now.

"Full of pace and laughter, bruises and heart. Paul Griffin is the sort of writer you're torn between telling the whole world about and keeping all to yourself." (Markus Zusak, author of Printz Honor Winner The Book Thief)

“Friendship is an absolutely beautiful, heart-expanding book. I cried, but more than that I felt this giant balloon of love for everyone. This story convinced me all over again that love and imagination are life’s biggest magic. It’ll make you want to grab hold of everyone important to you and lick them on the nose.” (Rebecca Stead, author of Newbery Award winner When You Reach Me)

"Some books change the way you see the world. Some change the way you breathe. This book will leave you breathless.This is Paul Griffin's best book yet - and that's really saying something." (Patricia McCormick, author of National Book Award Finalist Sold)

©2016 Paul Griffin (P)2016 Listening Library

Critic reviews

A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice

A People magazine Popular Pick

A Summer 2016 Kids’ Indie Next Pick

A Publishers Weekly Best of Summer Pick

"[T]his bittersweet, well-paced book...left me with faith that people can feel discarded, as though everything they love will be taken from them, and still end up whole, if they are touched by love of friendship." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Griffin writes beautifully about family, friendship, belonging, and loss in a story that is sure to leave every reader with at least a tear in his or her eye, if not a pile of soggy tissues." (Examiner)

"If you have middle schoolers who are too young to fully grasp John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars and love dogs, give them this sweet tearjerker." (School Library Journal)

Spectacular

I had to read this for a school project and I’m so glad I didn’t choose a different book, I mean this story is one of the most heart warming story’s I’ve ever read! All the characters in this book are so nice! And I hope that other people think so too!

When friendship rolled me home

This book started slow. I wondered if it was too dark for my nine year old. But it really took off midway and I'm glad I stuck it out! What a poignant story! I recommend listening first before sharing with the young ones though. It delves head first into some serious life and death issues.

Love all of it

I loved everything about this! The speaker the speeds and mostly the book! Overall I give it 5 stars!!

My favorite book

It is so sad and sweet and I love flip and Hailey like the comic