SOLVED. Orphaned Girl and Her Lost Dog [s]

[Ririchiyo]

Genres: Adventure, Tradgedy, Love?

Sorry, the description will be very vague and likely inaccurate :(

It starts with a young girl (main character) and an older girl (family friend) in a restaurant - I remember they were eating pepperoni pizza together. And the older girl was being supportive to the younger one...
I remember the description of the older girl as having long, straight black hair, and smelling of candles because she made them for a living? I think her house was full of rainbow candles. And the young girl felt safe with her and wanted to stay with her, but I think the older girl told her she couldn't.

The young girl goes to her aunt and uncles house... And she isn't happy there, even though they treat her kindly, it's awkward because her parents aren't around.

She is looking for her dog - her dog is the one who is blamed for her mothers death, because her mum fell down a hill and broke her neck while running after the dog or something? I think her farther is still alive.

So throughout the story she looks for her dog because it is very important to her.,,
And she finally finds a dog that she believe to be it, but later she discovers that it's actually the wrong one because a marking on the original is actually on the wrong side of the found dog or something? Anyway, she decides to keep it reguardless, because she loves this new dog.

Thank you :)

[Kris]

Ririchiyo, what year did you read this book?
Is it for children or young adults/teens?

What kind/breed of dog is he?

Do you remember the cover art?

What's the location - U.S./country, small town/big city, etc.?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Ririchiyo, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[bookel]

Underdog by Marilyn Sachs.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

This sounds like the right book. Moving to Solved.