Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship by Tom Ryan

Nov 16, 2011 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fortunate to have an ARC copy. Loving it so far! Great appeal here - not just for hikers. Animal lovers, those interested in family relationships, the small town newspaper business, and the ability and courage to make life style changes. Should appeal to fellow middle agers out there that anything is possible if you persevere and follow your dreams!

Finished the book in october. A fantastic read for people of all ages, both male and female! A privilege to have Tom and Atticus at our library! A ja...more

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May 03, 2013 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

This sounds like a great book! Love stories with animals! Can't wait to read about the adventures of this little dog! You can learn alot from animals about perseverance and love!

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Jan 01, 2012 esterb rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: must-reads

I normally keep away from books about pets and their lives, because these books are mostly written after the beloved pet is dead and I know I’m gonna weep and weep and weep, not enjoying the read itself. Following Atticus by Tom Ryan however I couldn’t resist. First of all, it is an account of a miniature schnauzer (just like my dog). Secondly, after seeing the book in a catalogue I checked out the internet and found Atticus M. Finch’s and Tom’s blog and was happily surprised Atticus was still a...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Janice Nelson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Received my book and could not put it down. So well written and moving, so honest without any nonsense that weighs it down. A book that goes beyond all other dog books and is a guide for life. Very well written, quite readable and soon to be a bestseller.

We have a home in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Tom's beautiful descriptions make me feel like I am there, even though I am stuck here in our boring Boston suburb instead. Cannot wait to get back to the mountains this weekend. He inspir...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Kristina Franken rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads-tops-shelf, reading-challange

Excellent book. My 10 year old even wants to read it.

Following Atticus is a heart warming tale of healing and of friendship. I found that at times I could not put it down.

Comming from a "broken" family, I could idenify with Tom Ryan's upbringing and hesitant behavior toward being responsible for another life.

I found it very inspiring how Atticus was always looking to take care of Tom. I have seen the bond of master and pet time and time again and am glad that Tom took the time to write his re...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Lisa Litz-Neavear rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was a choice of the Dog Lovers' Book Club. I read more than half of it word-for-word, but skimmed the second half. This was tough for me to do, as I usually will finish a book I've already committed to! Perhaps because I have several novels waiting for me to read them, I just did not feel invested enough in Tom and Atticus to finish the journey. There was a sameness to the description of the mountains and their hikes. I'm wondering if I would have enjoyed this book more if I loved the...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Mike rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Miniature Schnauzer lovers

Shelves: not-for-me

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I wanted to read something lighter and chose this book because of the high rating and good reviews on Goodreads. Have to say this book is not for me.

Part autobiography (Tom) and part biography (Atticus the dog) the book tells the story of the author who gets hooked on hiking and hooked on having a dog, then forces the dog to go on what he himself admits are dangerous winter hikes. There is another reviewer on here who said this book would have made a good magazine article – and I agree with that...more I wanted to read something lighter and chose this book because of the high rating and good reviews on Goodreads. Have to say this book is not for me.

Part autobiography (Tom) and part biography (Atticus the dog) the book tells the story of the author who gets hooked on hiking and hooked on having a dog, then forces the dog to go on what he himself admits are dangerous winter hikes. There is another reviewer on here who said this book would have made a good magazine article – and I agree with that. Story was long and repetitive.

Here’s the spoiler part of why I stopped enjoying this story. I got tired of reading about views from mountains that “changed everything for me”. I “took a look and knew my life was changed forever”. Really?

It was OK to hike because you enjoyed the time alone with your dog. But when his good friend dies (whose funeral you didn’t go to because they didn’t want you to speak at the ceremony) and (I think out of guilt) you decide to hike mountains in winter to raise money for a charity in her honor – that is kind of OK, but then to set a random challenging goal – and stop working to do it over the winter – seemed a little self indulgent and odd to me. Then to force a miniature schnauzer to do this, too? There were a few occasions the dog refused to go on the hikes – I think he was telling you something. I mean, really – did the dog have the option to opt out? The author keeps pointing out how dangerous the weather was, and how he kept checking for pending storms, etc. and complaining whenever it did snow and they couldn’t hike. I think he added how conscientious he was so that people like me wouldn’t say – what the heck were you thinking? My response – get a job, and if you can hike on weekends or days off – then go hike. The world isn’t going to end because you don’t successfully climb 49 mountains in the 40 days of winter, or whatever it was. Make some money, and donate it to the charity yourself.

I eventually felt like I was watching one of those TV shows where the overweight moms force their young daughters to enter beauty pageants. The dog was getting all this recognition, and the owner was preparing to write a book and a blog about the dog getting all this attention.
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Mar 04, 2013 Laurla2 added it

Shelves: dog-books, nonfiction

"in the mountains atticus became more of what he'd always been, and i became less - less frantic, less stressed, less worried, and less harried."
"by refusing to subject atticus to less-than-favorable conditions, i kept myself safe."
"i thought about how such weather can strip a man of hope and his good sense and make him feel lonely and empty. i thought about how easy it would be to just sit down and stop moving through the wind and gloom."
"limitations are something we put on ourselves" this quot...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dog

This book really reminded me of another book I read a few months ago about a blind guy and his dog. While the pair in this book was not a working relationship, the relationship that single men have with their dogs was. They treat their dogs like equals, not all lovey-dovey like girls might. And this was more the guys story, the dog just happened to be there. Guy, going through some hard things in his life unexpectedly gets a dog dropped into his lap. At first, he doesn't want it, but of course,...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Daniel Schrader rated it 5 of 5 stars

Following Atticus raises no social, moral or ethical questions, reading the book won't deepen your understanding of science or history, it won't even take away to a fantasy world better rendered in big budget 3D. What Following Atticus will do is introduce you to a delightful friendship between a man and his dog(s).

It turns out that both man and dog are in need of a friend, and together they learn and grow in ways that make them both wiser, stronger and better than they would have been alone. Re...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Maria rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: dog lovers

Recommended to Maria by: library

Shelves: non-fiction

This book was on the reader's choice table at the library, so I picked it up. It's about the author and his little dog and how the dog impacted his life and how he came to get the dog. It's a pretty good story. At first, it's about how he got the dog and how they became a part of each other's lives and how Atticus taught him a lot about himself. He's the editor/reporter of his own newspaper in a small city. Then he gets into hiking the mountains of New Hampshire, setting records in hiking all of...more

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May 21, 2012 James Field rated it 5 of 5 stars

Have you ever wondered why some people drop out of conventional society and flee to a life of isolation in the wilderness? In this novel, Tom Ryan explains with fascinating detail how and why it happened to him. It wasn’t a sudden decision, but a gradual process inspired by his remarkable and tough little dog Atticus. Together, they headed for solitude in the mountains of New Hampshire, and the mountains seduced them in a way that changed their lives forever.

Tom Ryan was a newspaper editor which...more

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Feb 02, 2012 Jluskin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Following Atticus is about the extraordinary means by which one man searches for a clean slate. It is about the one, sumptuous breath drawn at the mountain top and about each labored breath taken to arrive there through arduous steps chosen, missteps forced, sidesteps required, back steps cursed, and every foot print followed — to clarity. Tom Ryan’s Following Atticus is a lovingly and well-crafted story that brings us along the often treacherous mountain trails of New Hampshire in winter to the...more Following Atticus is about the extraordinary means by which one man searches for a clean slate. It is about the one, sumptuous breath drawn at the mountain top and about each labored breath taken to arrive there through arduous steps chosen, missteps forced, sidesteps required, back steps cursed, and every foot print followed — to clarity. Tom Ryan’s Following Atticus is a lovingly and well-crafted story that brings us along the often treacherous mountain trails of New Hampshire in winter to the silent, sacred places where the author learns to allow himself to gaze upon life’s journey with eyes truly open.

A hardened former newspaperman, Ryan writes in his own inquisitive voice, sprinkled with the words of great writers, thinkers, and poets of the ages, for he seems to realize that as we ascend to the peaks we indeed stand on the shoulders of giants. Ironically, the clear view from the top is not really that of his beautifully described White Mountain panorama on a crisp winter’s day, but the view from deep within the heart. Ryan arrives in the Whites with his dog Atticus M. Finch, the sui generis schnauzer, having left his newspaperman’s life behind in colorful Newburyport, Massachusetts. There, he had told the stories of the local sinners and saints, the former seared by the light his publication cast upon them, while the latter’s decency was illuminated. One such saint was a close friend, whose loss to cancer inspired Ryan to embark on a quest to twice climb the White Mountains’ forty-eight four-thousand-foot peaks during one winter, raising money for cancer research in the process.

In the freezing nights and days on the trails, he forges a deep bond with Atticus, meets his own demons, confronts the tragedies and disappointments of his past and, through it all, finds love and the clean slate on which he is able to write his inspiring tale. This book is about seeking and discovering, and just how it feels to be there in the moment when that slate, wiped clean, is at hand.
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Dec 29, 2011 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. While there are oodles of dog-related memoirs out there, this is definitely one of the better ones I've read. Yes, the book is about the dog Atticus, but it's more about how Atticus spurs the growth and transformation of the author, Tom Ryan. I loved that the author tied in the concept of pantheism and included some of my favorite quotes from naturalists like Thoreau.

From Amazon: "Middle-aged, overweight, and acrophobic newspaperman Tom Ryan and miniature schnauzer A...more

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Dec 27, 2011 Ashley rated it 5 of 5 stars

It is unusual for me to read two books about animals so closely together. I just talked about Oscar the cat and his ability to comfort dementia patients and their families. Now I’m ready to talk about a spunky Schnauzer and his human, Tom Ryan. I don’t know where I first heard about Atticus and Tom, but when my friend Dena mentioned the book, it jogged something in my subconscious and I knew I wanted to read it. Well, after confirming that we’re still talking about Atticus in the present tense,...more It is unusual for me to read two books about animals so closely together. I just talked about Oscar the cat and his ability to comfort dementia patients and their families. Now I’m ready to talk about a spunky Schnauzer and his human, Tom Ryan. I don’t know where I first heard about Atticus and Tom, but when my friend Dena mentioned the book, it jogged something in my subconscious and I knew I wanted to read it. Well, after confirming that we’re still talking about Atticus in the present tense, I wanted to read it.

At first glance, Following Atticus is about a man and his dog and their adventures in winter hiking the 48 peaks in New Hampshire that rise more than 4000 feet. But this is just the mechanism for telling a deeper story of a friendship between a man and a dog, and what this friendship and their adventures together has taught the man. Too, Following Atticus is a tribute to Maxwell Garrison Gillis, Tom’s first Schnauzer. In fact, Atticus’ full name is Atticus Maxwell Finch, a tribute to both one of the greatest literary heroes of the twentieth century, and to Maxwell Garrison Gillis. Although Maxwell isn’t a presence throughout the book, his presence is felt throughout the book.

I confess I teared up a few times reading this one. Some stories about animals just do that to me, but in this instance I didn’t mind it. I feel like I know Atticus and Tom, and because as readers we are treated to such an intimate look at their friendship, the book made me hopeful. I had a little epiphany as I read it. See, I’ve been wanting a dog for ages. But I know I’m not living the right life right now to be a good dog owner and that it wouldn’t be fair to a dog to live with me. Reading Following Atticus I had a completely new thought. If I got a dog, would that be enough to help create a life that includes a dog? I think Tom experienced something similar, in a way. He integrated Atticus into his life immediately. But it was their experiences in the mountains that showed Tom that his life in Newburyport, MA, while good, wasn’t his true path. Hiking with Atticus helped Tom see himself in a new light and discover that there was a whole new life out waiting for him.

At one point in the book, Tom says, “Magic is where you find it; the only thing that matters is that you take the time to look for it.” When I read that, I had to put aside the book and write down that sentiment in the little notebook I keep with me all the time. I also quoted it as a Facebook status, and judging by the number of likes it received, this is a sentiment that we need to remember more often. I wasn’t expecting to be hit by a statement like that in this book. Anyone who dismisses Following Atticus as a book “just” about a man and a dog would be missing out on extraordinary story about friendship, self discovery, and the importance of living the life you’re meant to lead. Unexpectedly, Following Atticus is one of my favorite reads for 2011.

Tom keeps a blog about his adventures with Atticus. You can check it out here.

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Oct 07, 2011 Christina Tracey rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is definitely the best book I’ve read in a long, long time. Tom Ryan takes the reader on an achingly personal yet amazing journey with "Following Atticus". This is not just a typical dog memoir, and it’s not just a story about the adversities of hiking the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This book shares with us wonderful life lessons taught by a little dog… live in the moment, be close to nature, reflect, persevere when things get tough, give selflessly, love unconditionally. Atticus gen...more

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Oct 02, 2011 Beth Maddaus rated it 5 of 5 stars

"It's like looking into the face of God" is Tom's response as to what he sees when he and his little dog Atticus climb the rugged peaks of New Hampshire's 4000 footers. For Tom, and for his readers, the climb is more than an exciting adventure filled with difficult terrain, wildlife, and fearsome weather; the climb is about discovering who we were meant to be and how to find and nurture the inner self that leads us there.

I met Tom and Atticus on a trail one cool September morning in 2006. I had...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Louis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Before reading 'Following Atticus' I would suggest watching the video trailer for it. I was lucky enough to be at a recent book signing event on their tour and Tom has a wonderful soft spoken articulate tone that is nice to hear over the narrative of the book as you read.

I am a dog lover, my dogs are my best friends. I hike some of the White mountains with my dogs. This however, believe it or not, has nothing to do for how much I enjoyed Following Atticus. OK, maybe the dog part had an influence...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Tom Ryan is owner, writer, and editor of his own newspaper. Mr. Ryan’s paper is called “Undertoad”. Mr. Ryan was not really in the mark for a dog when he became the new owner of a dog. A member of the city’s zoning board had sent a mass email reaching out to everyone to see who could take a dog. Tom was going to just write back to he would be happy to advertise in his newspaper about the dog but the next thing Tom knows, he is responding that he will take the dog. Tom did not have Maxwell for ve...more Tom Ryan is owner, writer, and editor of his own newspaper. Mr. Ryan’s paper is called “Undertoad”. Mr. Ryan was not really in the mark for a dog when he became the new owner of a dog. A member of the city’s zoning board had sent a mass email reaching out to everyone to see who could take a dog. Tom was going to just write back to he would be happy to advertise in his newspaper about the dog but the next thing Tom knows, he is responding that he will take the dog. Tom did not have Maxwell for very long before he passed away from seizures. It was at this time that Tom realized that he liked having a dog and the company that a dog brought. This is where Atticus Maxwell Finch enters Tom’s life. You would not know it at first glance that such a small dog like Atticus would have such a big heart and determination but he does.

Tom and Atticus quickly formed a bond. Tom invited his brothers out to visit him. They had been estranged. That changed and the brothers were visiting each other. One of Tom’s brother’s David invited them to join him to hike all of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. There are forty eight of the mountains and they are over four thousand feet high. If you can accomplish such a great feat than you will be eligible to become a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Four Thousand Footer Club. Where you will receive a patch and a scroll. Tom and Atticus took on this task and soon they were hiking every mountain. It was during these times that Tom and Atticus really grew close and became good companions.

Reading this book reminded me of another great book about a man and the bond he shared with his dog, whom was a standard size black poodle named Charley. Yep, you guessed it. The book I am talking about is John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley. Only in this book, Charley is a mini schnauzer named Atticus Maxwell Finch. Atticus is the star of this book. He won me over when he and Tom were testing each other with the great cage and bath room incident. I knew than that Atticus was smart. To be honest at first I would not picture author, Tom Ryan with such a small dog but as I got to know both Tom and Attics better, I realized that they were meant to be together and made a perfect fit. The best choice I made was Following Atticus!
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Sep 16, 2011 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, animal-stories

Middle-aged, and overweight, Tom Ryan and miniature schnauzer Atticus M. Finch are an unlikely pair of mountaineers, but after a close friend dies of cancer, the two pay tribute to her by attempting to climb all forty-eight of New Hampshire's four-thousand-foot peaks twice in one winter while raising money for charity.

In a rare test of endurance, Tom and Atticus set out on an adventure of a lifetime that takes them across hundreds of miles and deep into an enchanting but dangerous winter wonderl...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Joyce rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Joyce by: I received an advanced reader's copy and have pre-ordered my own copy.

If you love the mountains…If you’ve never seen a mountain…If you love the stillness of winter…If you’ve never seen a snowflake…If you love the sound of wind through the trees…If you’ve never seen a forest…If you are surrounded by loved ones…If you’ve never felt connected to your family…If you know exactly what you want in life…If you’ve never found your niche…If you cry at anything…If you’ve never shed a tear…If you love a dog or other creature…If you’ve never had a pet…If you have faith…If you’...more If you love the mountains…If you’ve never seen a mountain…If you love the stillness of winter…If you’ve never seen a snowflake…If you love the sound of wind through the trees…If you’ve never seen a forest…If you are surrounded by loved ones…If you’ve never felt connected to your family…If you know exactly what you want in life…If you’ve never found your niche…If you cry at anything…If you’ve never shed a tear…If you love a dog or other creature…If you’ve never had a pet…If you have faith…If you’ve never found anything to believe in…If you...(fill in the blank)…then, you will want to read "Following Atticus". Tom Ryan could be any one of us whose childhood wasn’t storybook perfect. Fully committed to single-handedly running his newspaper and reporting on the wheeling and dealings common to small-town politics, he was content with the life he’d created for himself.
Reluctantly, he opened his home to a little dog, Maxwell, in his time of need. When Max passed on, Tom found that the emptiness he’d left behind wasn’t just physical but emotional. The search for another dog wasn’t easy but, Atticus M. Finch is perfect for Tom Ryan. The transformation of his life begins in earnest once this little puppy enters his home.
In every journey of the human spirit, there comes a point when the old life no longer fits and it’s time to move on. It’s ideal to share the journey with a good friend and Atticus is Tom’s faithful companion and teacher as they take on their new adventures. Like any good teacher, Atticus leads by example and shows Tom how to reconnect with himself and with nature.
Following Atticus is a true story of a dog, a man, friendship, hiking, promises, forgiveness and faith. If it awakens your spirit of adventure and you decide to head to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, just be forewarned that Tom & Atticus will likely decline your offer to hike together. It’s nothing personal but, nature is the preferred companion on their hikes.

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Jul 25, 2011 Bryan Flagg rated it 5 of 5 stars

First off, I must say I was one of the very lucky people to receive an advanced copy of this book. Tom Ryan has one of those gifts not given to all writers. He has that gift of being able to play with your emotions within a short span of time. He'll have you concerned, crying, excited, tense, crying again, yet smiling, and all before the chapter's end. Tom has allowed us in to a world of what some might think make believe, but in the White Mountains of NH, there is no make believe - it's all tru...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fabulous! I wasn't sure how I would like the book at 1st but had heard such GREAT reviews that I picked it up @ work (we sold copies of it) and started reading it. Breezed through it and LOVED it! What a wonderful story not just of a man and a dog, but of a friendship and a journey together. The story was so inspirational to me that I bought a copy for myself so that I can read it and re-read it and read it again. Hope to see my local bookstore host Tom and Atticus sometime in the near future. T...more

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Nov 15, 2011 JoAnn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Beautifully written. Heartwarming. You will love little Atticus and Tom. A must read. I just could not put this book down. When finished, I felt like I had lost two friends.

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Sep 14, 2011 Danny Choriki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, daily-life

I enjoyed reading Following Atticus. Most importantly, it is a heart warming tale of about the redemptive nature of love, how it manifests itself in the mundane that sometimes comes from places that one would never expect, in this case, the casual reply to an email. I share with author Tom Ryan a love of mountains - including the White Mountains, journalism in a small town and small dogs with large personalities.

As a narrative, the story telling isn't overly compelling. This is most likely due...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Following Atticus is one of those books that just warms your heart and makes you want to shake up your life and try something new. The story of Tom Ryan and his dog Atticus is moving and inspiring and I cannot imagine anyone not falling in love with Atticus while reading this book.
Ryan does a great job of describing Newburyprt, Massachusetts, the town he lives in at the beginning of the book. He runs his own newspaper, The Undertoad, and does his best to hold local politicians accountable for th...more Following Atticus is one of those books that just warms your heart and makes you want to shake up your life and try something new. The story of Tom Ryan and his dog Atticus is moving and inspiring and I cannot imagine anyone not falling in love with Atticus while reading this book.
Ryan does a great job of describing Newburyprt, Massachusetts, the town he lives in at the beginning of the book. He runs his own newspaper, The Undertoad, and does his best to hold local politicians accountable for their actions. I loved the descriptions of the town and the people, it seemed there is always something interesting going on in the town for Tom to write about.
Once Tom gets Atticus they begin climbing the White Mountains of New Hampshire together and the way Ryan described the beauty of the area made me desperately want to go to the mountains so I could experience the joy he felt hiking there. The way he brought nature to life with his words was the best part of the book for me, I loved every detail.
In the book Ryan also discusses his personal life, especially his troubled relationship with his father. I really felt for the problems he had with his father and dealing with a childhood that was not the happiest and appreciated the stories he told about his own life. It made the bond between him and Atticus seem all the more important and special.
There are so many wonderful parts to this book: it is an adventure story, it is Tom Ryan's account of his life and the changes he made to make it better, it is a travel guide to a beautiful part of New Hampshire, and most importantly it is a story of a man and dog coming together and being there for each other when they both needed it the most.

My favorite lines of the book:

"Is it any wonder why many of those who were thought to be prophets throughout history found their peace wandering the desert, climbing mountains, or out at sea? It's the natural world that heals the soul."

"Magic is where you find it; the only thing that matters is that you take the time to look for it."

I would recommend this wonderful book to anyone and everyone. It is uplifting, inspiring, and filled with love and friendship.(less)

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Feb 14, 2013 Tifnie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: autobiography

I originally bought this book for my mother-in law to read. I chose this book like I choose most of my books by cover and by title. I mean, who can’t resist an adorable dog in booties?

Following Atticus is about unlikely heroes in not only the author, Tom Ryan, but also a little dog names Atticus F. Finch. The story takes place in a quaint town of Newburyport, New Hampshire where Tom Ryan is the owner of an equally small newspaper called The Undertoad. A newspaper that is all about the emotions a...more

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Oct 07, 2011 Christina Tracey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

This is definitely the best book I’ve read in a long, long time. Tom Ryan takes the reader on an achingly personal yet amazing journey with "Following Atticus". This is not just a typical dog memoir, and it’s not just a story about the adversities of hiking the White Mountains of New Hampshire. This book shares with us wonderful life lessons taught by a little dog… live in the moment, be close to nature, reflect, persevere when things get tough, give selflessly, love unconditionally. Atticus gen...more

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Jul 21, 2012 Bill Warden rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

Okay --- so 5 stars is the maximum you can give a book, and I've given a number of books 5 stars. Is it possible to go ahead and give this one 6 or 7 stars? IT WAS AMAZING!!!

I typically don't read non-fiction, so I wasn't expecting too much when I picked up this book from the library. I'm really glad that I did, and I'm glad that I chose to start reading it. If you are not inspired by Tom & Atticus, then you should re-read this book. A little miniature schnauzer climbing 4000 foot mountains?...more

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Feb 10, 2012 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: animals-dogs-cats-horses-other

Tom gets this little dog (Atticus) after his first one dies. The first dog he had was named Maxwell. Tom works and owns his own newspaper.

This is a amazing story about Atticus a little miniature schnauzer who climbs the mountains with his owner Tom. Tom likes Atticus to be his "own dog" so he gives him his own name, Atticus Maxwell Finch. Maxwell after his first dog who died. They are always at each other's side. Atticus becomes famous and goes through some rough times with a few surgeries, one...more

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