Genre: Grief

I received this book for free from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Perfect for fans of Charlotte’s Web and The One and Only Ivan, Saving Winslow is an uplifting modern classic in the making about a young boy who befriends an ailing newborn donkey and nurses him back to health, from New York Times bestseller and Newbery Medal winner Sharon Creech.

Louie doesn't have the best luck when it comes to nurturing small creatures. So when his father brings home a sickly newborn mini donkey, he's determined to save him. He names him Winslow. Taking care of him helps Louie feel closer to his brother, Gus, who is far, far away in the army.

Everyone worries that Winslow won't survive, especially Louie’s quirky new friend, Nora, who has experienced loss of her own. But as Louie's bond with Winslow grows, surprising and life-altering events prove that this fragile donkey is stronger than anyone could have imagined.

Written in the spirit of Creech favorites Moo and Love That Dog, this standout tale about love and friendship and letting go will tug at the heartstrings.

One of the coolest things about being a blogger is occasionally you will get the chance to review a book by an author you grew up reading. Sometimes of course, reading books you loved when you were younger doesn’t always turn out as well but its Sharon Creech. She changed my life a million times over when I was a child so it is safe to say that I loved Saving Winslow.

But of course, writing a review for a book you loved is not fun even though you get to share your love for it because writing is hard and you (read: I) are a lazy bum.

Saving Winslow is the story of Louie, who doesn’t really do the whole nurturing animals thing well. But one day, his father brings home a sickly newborn donkey and Louie takes a shine to this adorable animal.  Everyone tells Louie that Winslow won’t make it and that he shouldn’t get attached but Louie does not care what everyone thinks. HE cares about Winslow and damnit if Winslow isn’t going to make it. 

Winslow, of course, is a magical donkey. Not so much because Winslow has actual magical powers but because he really does help people deal with their grief and sadness. From Nora, Louie’s skeptical new friend, to his neighbor who has also suffered through a lot, to Louie himself who misses his older brother dearly. Winslow is also a quirky donkey who loves his human boy deeply.

Honestly, I might be a grown-ass person (even though I don’t really feel like one) but there is something so powerful about stories that feature animal-human relationships. Some of the best stories involve animals and Saving Winslow is no different.

My mostly vague review aside, Saving Winslow is a story about a boy and his donkey, dealing with grief and new friendships. You should read it if you’re a fan of books like Because of Winn-Dixie.

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