Twelve-year-old Abby lives with her family on a farm in northern Vermont where the Pecks have been settled for three generations. Their nearest neighbors, the Otises, have also lived there for three generations, but a feud has existed all that time, with the two families refusing to speak to each other. Grammy Peck often told the children: “The Pecks and Otises have always hated each other and always will.”

When Abby's dog Hobo is found dead from gunshot, Abby is sure that Cal Otis is responsible. The Otises feed the deer that come into their yard and have been known to shoot at deer-dogs. However, Abby forgets this trouble when the boys bring home some baby raccoons and, later, a baby fawn. Abby loves every animal she sees and knows how to care for them and to give them tenderness and understanding. Through a surprising development with the Otises, Abby learns a hard lesson, but she never forgets Hobo.

The events in this story are based on true happenings, and the picture of life in Vermont is real and vivid. As in all of Lois Lenski’s regional books, her rare understanding helps the reader to see beneath the surface and appreciate the adventure, excitement, and beauty of this small New England town.

From the dust jacket