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Stay!: Keeper's Story
This is the story of a dog who tells his own tale. As a pup he is separated from his mother and siblings. This unusual dog learns about living on the dangerous streets and even makes up poetry. He finds human friends, has the chance to win fame and fortune, and is given the name Keeper. Through it all Keeper can’t forget his long lost-little sister. If only they could be together again, life would be perfect. But an old enemy is watching and waiting to make his move.
“Throughout this lighthearted saga of the narrator’s ‘dog days,’ the author proves she is as well versed in animal behavior as in human sensibilities.”— Publishers Weekly
“Throughout this lighthearted saga of the narrator’s ‘dog days,’ the author proves she is as well versed in animal behavior as in human sensibilities.”— Publishers Weekly
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
74 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Lois Lowry
143 books22.8k followersTaken from Lowry's website:
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always seemed to have their heads under the raised hood of a car. That left me in-between, and exactly where I wanted most to be: on my own. I was a solitary child who lived in the world of books and my own vivid imagination.
Because my father was a career military officer - an Army dentist - I lived all over the world. I was born in Hawaii, moved from there to New York, spent the years of World War II in my mother’s hometown: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Tokyo when I was eleven. High school was back in New York City, but by the time I went to college (Brown University in Rhode Island), my family was living in Washington, D.C.
I married young. I had just turned nineteen - just finished my sophomore year in college - when I married a Naval officer and continued the odyssey that military life requires. California. Connecticut (a daughter born there). Florida (a son). South Carolina. Finally Cambridge, Massachusetts, when my husband left the service and entered Harvard Law School (another daughter; another son) and then to Maine - by now with four children under the age of five in tow. My children grew up in Maine. So did I. I returned to college at the University of Southern Maine, got my degree, went to graduate school, and finally began to write professionally, the thing I had dreamed of doing since those childhood years when I had endlessly scribbled stories and poems in notebooks.
After my marriage ended in 1977, when I was forty, I settled into the life I have lived ever since. Today I am back in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living and writing in a house dominated by a very shaggy Tibetan Terrier named Bandit. For a change of scenery Martin and I spend time in Maine, where we have an old (it was built in 1768!) farmhouse on top of a hill. In Maine I garden, feed birds, entertain friends, and read...
My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. A Summer to Die, my first book, was a highly fictionalized retelling of the early death of my sister, and of the effect of such a loss on a family. Number the Stars, set in a different culture and era, tells the same story: that of the role that we humans play in the lives of our fellow beings.
The Giver - and Gathering Blue, and the newest in the trilogy: Messenger - take place against the background of very different cultures and times. Though all three are broader in scope than my earlier books, they nonetheless speak to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but with the world and its environment.
My older son was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. His death in the cockpit of a warplane tore away a piece of my world. But it left me, too, with a wish to honor him by joining the many others trying to find a way to end conflict on this very fragile earth.
I am a grandmother now. For my own grandchildren - and for all those of their generation - I try, through writing, to convey my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another."
"I’ve always felt that I was fortunate to have been born the middle child of three. My older sister, Helen, was very much like our mother: gentle, family-oriented, eager to please. Little brother Jon was the only boy and had interests that he shared with Dad; together they were always working on electric trains and erector sets; and later, when Jon was older, they always seemed to have their heads under the raised hood of a car. That left me in-between, and exactly where I wanted most to be: on my own. I was a solitary child who lived in the world of books and my own vivid imagination.
Because my father was a career military officer - an Army dentist - I lived all over the world. I was born in Hawaii, moved from there to New York, spent the years of World War II in my mother’s hometown: Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and from there went to Tokyo when I was eleven. High school was back in New York City, but by the time I went to college (Brown University in Rhode Island), my family was living in Washington, D.C.
I married young. I had just turned nineteen - just finished my sophomore year in college - when I married a Naval officer and continued the odyssey that military life requires. California. Connecticut (a daughter born there). Florida (a son). South Carolina. Finally Cambridge, Massachusetts, when my husband left the service and entered Harvard Law School (another daughter; another son) and then to Maine - by now with four children under the age of five in tow. My children grew up in Maine. So did I. I returned to college at the University of Southern Maine, got my degree, went to graduate school, and finally began to write professionally, the thing I had dreamed of doing since those childhood years when I had endlessly scribbled stories and poems in notebooks.
After my marriage ended in 1977, when I was forty, I settled into the life I have lived ever since. Today I am back in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living and writing in a house dominated by a very shaggy Tibetan Terrier named Bandit. For a change of scenery Martin and I spend time in Maine, where we have an old (it was built in 1768!) farmhouse on top of a hill. In Maine I garden, feed birds, entertain friends, and read...
My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. A Summer to Die, my first book, was a highly fictionalized retelling of the early death of my sister, and of the effect of such a loss on a family. Number the Stars, set in a different culture and era, tells the same story: that of the role that we humans play in the lives of our fellow beings.
The Giver - and Gathering Blue, and the newest in the trilogy: Messenger - take place against the background of very different cultures and times. Though all three are broader in scope than my earlier books, they nonetheless speak to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but with the world and its environment.
My older son was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. His death in the cockpit of a warplane tore away a piece of my world. But it left me, too, with a wish to honor him by joining the many others trying to find a way to end conflict on this very fragile earth.
I am a grandmother now. For my own grandchildren - and for all those of their generation - I try, through writing, to convey my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
March 15, 2016
Es una historia encantadora que me llamó mucho la atención por la portada y por la autora, que es Lois Lowry, la autora de mi libro favorito del 2015 "El dador de recuerdos". La historia está contada en primera persona por un perrito que es muy inteligente y tiene la capacidad de entender el lenguaje humano. La forma de expresarse y de ver a los humanos te hará reír muchísimo y te hará sentir que puedes entender y ver de una nueva forma el mundo de los perros. Muy recomendable, me encantó.
May 29, 2016
Man... I thought this book was really good. When I first looked at the cover I thought this book was going to be all sorts of easy but boy was I wrong! This book has a lot of big words such as pretentious or unobtrusive. There are even French words in there! After I finished this book, I realized that I shouldn't judge a book by its cover. This story first takes place between a board fence at the end of an alley beside the back door of a French restaurant. It is a book about this male dog that gets abandoned by his parents and as he get older, his life becomes full of adventure. Now, if you want to find out what happens in this story you'll have to read the rest. I would totally recommend this story to readers who like to read autobiographies!
April 5, 2013
My 8 year old son and I just read this book aloud and are utterly charmed by it. Lowry's sophisticated yet accessible style is captivating for adults and children alike. Her sense of humor is extraordinary. We laughed out loud many times and had to take pauses to catch our breath. Amazing tale (and tail). We decided we must own it forever (we read a library book), and it will reside on the shelf right next to "the Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo.
April 25, 2019
What a great read aloud for my daughter (8) and I to share. She adores dogs so the fact that it’s written from a dog’s perspective captured her immediately. What hooked me was the incredible writing. I doubt my daughter knew more that 60% of the words, and yet she thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved it when I’d be taking a breath and I heard “What does _____ mean?” And sometimes I had to look up the word myself. I think I’m going to have my 13 year old son read it to stretch his vocabulary.
My only complaint is that the illustrations were so far below the quality and intelligence of the narrative, I didn’t even show them to my daughter. They didn’t fit at all.
My only complaint is that the illustrations were so far below the quality and intelligence of the narrative, I didn’t even show them to my daughter. They didn’t fit at all.
August 20, 2007
I'm going to put this book in my tub of "dog stories," but it's going to take a pretty special 4th grader who will be able to deal with Keeper's advanced vocabulary.
February 23, 2010
I read this book in first grade with my mom when I was in Spain- so it has sentimental value- but it is a nice little story.
April 29, 2013
I love how she used the B-word correctly.
July 14, 2017
I can tell how perfect his tail is, too. This story is good and nice enough to smile and cry :)
May 19, 2019
I've been a fan of Lois Lowry since I first read Anastasia Krupnik many years ago, and I think she writes wonderful children's fiction. I also thoroughly enjoyed this book, but despite the way it was marketed and cataloged, it did not seem to me to be written for children. It's not that the story is in any way inappropriate for young readers -- it isn't, and I think a paraphrased version of it could be just as entertaining to children as it was to me. However, I think the advanced vocabulary, undefined French words, many of the references, and much of the humor inherent in both the phraseology and some of the situations would go over the heads of elementary school children and probably most middle schoolers as well. The first paragraph alone includes the words "poverty," "abandoned," "circumstance," "immodesty," and "affluence." It is the rare 5th grader who would be able to both read and understand every one of those words, and if they continued to the second page, the words "accompaniment," "sordid," "lichen," "proximity," and "perimeter" would likely eliminate even more young readers trying to follow the "five finger rule." Perhaps it could work well as a read-aloud for kids, but the adults reading aloud must expect to provide frequent definitions and explanations throughout the book.
Similarly, True Kelly's illustrations are delightful as always, but they don't always seem to fit what is being described in the text. The dishwasher named Pete is described as "a heavyset man" with "an interesting decoration" on his arm. In Kelly's picture, there is a man with a tattoo that perfectly fits the description of this "decoration," but he does not appear to be "heavyset" at all. The homeless man named Jack who becomes the dog narrator's first human companion (and who names him Lucky) is described as having "a long, uncombed" beard, and the story makes clear that he is getting on in years, but the illustrations on pages 36, 38 and 39 seem to depict him as a young man with a mere shadowy stubble around his mouth and chin. (He does look older on page 42, but he is still missing the long beard.) Furthermore, Kelly's whimsical illustration style, and especially the cover illustration, plus the sim size of the volume, made me expect this book to be geared towards 4th grade readers and younger when I first picked it up, which made its actual sophistication that much more of a surprise to me when I read it.
I almost get the sense that Lois Lowry originally wrote this story for adults but was advised by her editors and publisher that it wouldn't sell as such, and so it was given Kelly's child-friendly illustrations to make it look more appealing as a children's book. At any rate, I'm glad that I got to read this book as an adult, and I'd be glad to be proven wrong about its accessibility to children. I may just try recommending it to some of the more advanced 5th & 6th grade readers I know to see what they think!
Similarly, True Kelly's illustrations are delightful as always, but they don't always seem to fit what is being described in the text. The dishwasher named Pete is described as "a heavyset man" with "an interesting decoration" on his arm. In Kelly's picture, there is a man with a tattoo that perfectly fits the description of this "decoration," but he does not appear to be "heavyset" at all. The homeless man named Jack who becomes the dog narrator's first human companion (and who names him Lucky) is described as having "a long, uncombed" beard, and the story makes clear that he is getting on in years, but the illustrations on pages 36, 38 and 39 seem to depict him as a young man with a mere shadowy stubble around his mouth and chin. (He does look older on page 42, but he is still missing the long beard.) Furthermore, Kelly's whimsical illustration style, and especially the cover illustration, plus the sim size of the volume, made me expect this book to be geared towards 4th grade readers and younger when I first picked it up, which made its actual sophistication that much more of a surprise to me when I read it.
I almost get the sense that Lois Lowry originally wrote this story for adults but was advised by her editors and publisher that it wouldn't sell as such, and so it was given Kelly's child-friendly illustrations to make it look more appealing as a children's book. At any rate, I'm glad that I got to read this book as an adult, and I'd be glad to be proven wrong about its accessibility to children. I may just try recommending it to some of the more advanced 5th & 6th grade readers I know to see what they think!
August 27, 2014
A nice fiction autobiography of Keeper’s life styles, many names, and poems. On his first life style he lives the life of a feral pup (who likes pasta) and makes an enemy (Scar), who will appear off an on though out the book. The second life style he picks is a homeless man and they both make money (the homeless man gets money by using Lucky’s cuteness). In return Lucky protects him from rats. On his third life style he becomes famous and leads a life of the rich and now is called Pal. Then on to his fourth life style he decides that it’s time to re-find his sister. Even if he doesn’t speak he manages to get the humans going in the right place and proves him self to be a brave dog that any one would want at their side.
The book shows that Keeper decides who he will pick as a owner and when he does he can be quite loyal to that person as long as he is treat right and gets some pasta. He also quite smart.
The book shows that Keeper decides who he will pick as a owner and when he does he can be quite loyal to that person as long as he is treat right and gets some pasta. He also quite smart.
November 26, 2017
When I first saw this book I thought it would be a very easy read because of the simplistic cover. I was incorrect about the book being easy for students because there is a wide source of vocabulary being used. This story is told from a dog’s perspective, and his name is Keeper. Keeper constantly has problems that he has to overcome, but he is constantly doing it with his nose and tailed held high. Throughout the entire story Keeper never forgets about his sister Wispy, and continuously searches for her. This book can be used as a lesson to show kids that no matter what they are going through they should keep their head held high with a good attitude. I believe this is a great book for any aged reader because of how easy the story is to follow. I enjoyed it when I was younger, and I believe that if I were to re-read it now I would still enjoy it.
June 4, 2013
I read this one aloud and I don't think my son got a lot of the humor. It is fun that it is told in the dog's perspective but this lead to some of the jokes that may be too sophisticated for reader's who can follow the simple plot. Lucky/Keeper/Pal with his three names and companions has a tremendous vocabulary for a stray dog!
October 31, 2013
Finished reading this to my 6-year-old dog lover last night. She liked it a lot, and I absolutely LOVED it. So cute, sweet, funny. The dog narrator has quite a sophisticated vocabulary, and I found it interesting that my daughter would occasionally ask "what does that mean?" but other times, the unfamiliar words did not seem to interfere with her understanding. Adorable.
September 10, 2018
I read this one to the kiddos. Playful story written from Keeper’s point of view, a dog born in an alley, who dabbles in poetry, and finds himself migrating from one owner to the next. The underlying humor is quite sophisticated in addressing both canine and human idiosyncrasies.
February 26, 2009
this a good story for people who love animals
June 22, 2019
I love Lois Lowry! I read Number the Stars with my 6th graders every year for a decade, and my daughter loved the Anastasia books when she was younger. So when I found this book forgotten in a box in my attic, I knew I had to read it. I expected an easy read for younger kids, but this story was surprisingly sophisticated. I enjoyed the humor, especially when Keeper couldn't think of a word to complete a rhyme, because usually it was an obvious choice and the students would have fun coming up with those. I do think there is some high-level vocabulary in this book, so it may work better as a read-aloud. I like that though-- so many kids today are not exposed to a wide range of words. I also appreciated the fact that the story wasn't tamed or intentionally made to not upset-- what happened towards the end was scary and sad and it is OK for kids to read and feel these emotions. My favorite part, though, was the very end, and the play on the words tale/tail.
July 12, 2020
This book has layers for readers of all levels to enjoy. While my youngest enjoyed the compelling storyline, I enjoyed the clever details — the ironic humor, the cultural references, the poetry construction, and especially Keeper’s pretentious vocabulary 😆. Lowry is a gifted storyteller, and this was an altogether enjoyable read-aloud.
📝 Parental FYI: The beginning chapters use the word “bitch” in its formal definition, and Keeper at one point refers to his mother’s behavior as “trashy” when she starts spending time around a male dog. Just a heads up to be ready for conversations or on-the-fly editing 😉
📝 Parental FYI: The beginning chapters use the word “bitch” in its formal definition, and Keeper at one point refers to his mother’s behavior as “trashy” when she starts spending time around a male dog. Just a heads up to be ready for conversations or on-the-fly editing 😉
July 30, 2023
I first read this in my 5th grade class and I loved it so much. I picked it up at a bookstore and honestly, it still holds up. I love the personality of the main dog character, and this is genuinely one of the only kids' stories that makes me tear up. I think it captures all of the emotions and thoughts I imagined my dog having when I was younger in a really fascinating way. I think this would be a great introduction to more advanced vocabulary for a high level reader in elementary school, or even an adult who wants a really charming but also genuinely really good short story.
March 5, 2021
This is not my favorite Lois Lowry book (she has written some amazing stories) but it is still a delightful volume. This saga of a pup who finds himself under the oversight of several owners and who earns several names as the plot moves forward is easy to follow. From the pearls of homelessness to the wealth of a superstar to the stability of a loving home, "Stay!" paints a journey of dog from the pup's point of view.
July 7, 2025
from Goodreads
This is the story of a dog who tells his own tale. As a pup he is separated from his mother and siblings. This unusual dog learns about living on the dangerous streets and even makes up poetry. He finds human friends, has the chance to win fame and fortune, and is given the name Keeper. Through it all Keeper can’t forget his long lost-little sister. If only they could be together again, life would be perfect. But an old enemy is watching and waiting to make his move.
This is the story of a dog who tells his own tale. As a pup he is separated from his mother and siblings. This unusual dog learns about living on the dangerous streets and even makes up poetry. He finds human friends, has the chance to win fame and fortune, and is given the name Keeper. Through it all Keeper can’t forget his long lost-little sister. If only they could be together again, life would be perfect. But an old enemy is watching and waiting to make his move.
January 11, 2018
This was probably the first real book that I read waaaaay back in fifth grade, so I like to credit it to being the reason I enjoy reading as much as I do. This book, from what I recall, was amazing and very cute. Everyone loves a story about a dog.
October 20, 2018
My daughter’s favorite book (one of them, at least). She’s read it at least half a dozen times, so I read it, too. Cute story, not my favorite. But, I was impressed at the level of vocabulary. I had to look up some words! Glad she’s being exposed to that.
October 27, 2017
A gorgeous tale of a brave, loyal and utterly lovable dog, Keeper.
August 31, 2018
Stay!
Just another wonderful story by Lois Lowry! This is just a heartwarming story written by Ms. Lowry, told by a dog! ❤️
Just another wonderful story by Lois Lowry! This is just a heartwarming story written by Ms. Lowry, told by a dog! ❤️
September 7, 2018
Thankful for this book
I liked this book because it was sweet nice and 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎thank you for this book to read it was amazing
I liked this book because it was sweet nice and 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎thank you for this book to read it was amazing
June 27, 2019
I enjoyed the adult style of writing. It would be a good book for an advanced young reader as well as an adult
November 19, 2019
Cute story and adorable illustrations. I really enjoyed it. The ending was a surprise but that's a good thing. I love this book!
December 27, 2022
Lois Lowry is a wonderful writer. This book reaches the child, teen, adult.
Enjoyed it very much.
Enjoyed it very much.
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February 10, 20232 Copies
December 11, 2013
A young dog narrates this story abut his life from his puppyhood in an alley through periods with two different men to a happy home with a girl. (His names are Lucky, Pal, and Keeper?)
Unlike too many dog stories, in this one the dog lives!
I think it would be a good book to read aloud--the author has fun with language, and the dog narrator enjoys composing little poems.
It features warm, cartoony illustrations by True Kelley.
Unlike too many dog stories, in this one the dog lives!
I think it would be a good book to read aloud--the author has fun with language, and the dog narrator enjoys composing little poems.
It features warm, cartoony illustrations by True Kelley.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews