Howls of the Forgotten by Linda Bondy is a striking tale centred around the life of a wolf dog named Sabean, her lived-in experiences, and the people and creatures she meets. The author was inspired to write the story following an unfortunate occurrence she witnessed involving a dog.
The main character in Howls of the Forgotten, Sabean, is very relatable, and so is the story itself. Perhaps it’s because the author employs:
- Personification, which humanizes Sabean’s character, and connects and draws the reader into her world
- Vivid imagery and a strong narrative voice, which help emphasize and convey her struggles and later, triumph
In the author’s words:
“I thought when I retired; I’d write a story about some of the unfortunate people I encountered. One morning, I saw a young German Shepherd, about eight months old. She was stopping traffic on the road to look into the cars for her master. She was probably just another unwanted dog someone had abandoned in the country and forgotten.
After work, I drove where I’d seen her last; I was shocked to see the dog dead on the side of the road; someone either didn’t see her or didn’t bother to drive around the animal. I vowed to give that poor dog a life she was denied by writing a story about her; I would make her a Shepherd/wolf cross to give her strength and country smarts.
I call her Sabean.”
