Finding Gobi by Dion Leonard
Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN 9780008244521
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Finding Gobi is a gorgeous true story
of loyalty, friendship and the lengths people go for their pets.
Dion Leonard, an Englishman, is competing in the gruelling Gobi
Desert marathon when he meets a homeless dog. There is an instant
connection and Dion names her Gobi. Gobi becomes his running partner
during the race but after the race is over, Dion must head back to
England. Gobi, however, is unforgettable and Dion and his wife
commit to bringing Gobi to England. This is no easy feat but thanks
to crowd funding, local Chinese people and the media, Dion and his
wife proceed to bring Gobi home.
Gobi is an easy to read story told from the perspective of
Dion and Gobi. The story explains the steps Dion has to take in a
very child-friendly manner and we see how much Gobi loves Dion from
her comments. Readers will fall in love with Gobi and will be
cheering for her every step of the way. The story takes place in
China, making it a good class novel for Year 6. Students can map the
journey, create reports on the Gobi Desert while investigating
different perspectives. This book is highly recommended for readers
aged 10+ and adults will enjoy it as well.
Kylie Kempster