Seven Perfect Things: A Novel

Thirteen-year-old Abby Hubble lives in an unhappy home in the Sierra Nevada foothills with her mother, Mary, and her father, whose behavior makes life difficult for them both. When Abby witnesses a man dumping seven puppies into a nearby river, she rescues them and takes them to an abandoned cabin, promising to return. Elliot Colvin, a grieving widower seeking solace, retreats to a hunting cabin he hasn't visited since before his wife's illness. There he discovers seven puppies and Abby, a determined girl with an indomitable heart. As their friendship deepens, Abby imagines how much better life could be if her mother were married to Elliot instead of her father. When Abby's father moves the family hundreds of miles away, Abby and her mother must decide how long they are willing to defer happiness. The novel explores joy, how to recognize it, and the courage required to hold onto it.