Lila and Hadley

by Kody Keplinger Narrated by Sandy Rustin

Overview

Hadley is angry about a lot of things: Her mom going to jail. Having to move to another state to live with her older sister, Beth,
even though they haven't spoken in five years. Leaving her friends and her school behind. And going blind.

But then Hadley meets Lila.

Lila is an abandoned dog who spends her days just quietly lying around at the local dog rescue where Beth
works. She doesn't listen to directions or play with the other dogs or show any interest in people. So when Lila
comes and sits by Hadley (which is hardly anything, but it's more than she's done with others), Beth thinks
maybe Hadley can help Lila. She tells Hadley they'll bring Lila home as a foster dog and Hadley can teach her
to follow commands, walk on a leash, and be more of a people dog so she'll be ready to be adopted.

Only working with Lila is harder than Hadley thought, and so is the mobility training she starts taking to
help with her failing vision. It feels like Lila is too stubborn to train and like learning to use a cane is impossible.
But unless Hadley can help Lila, she'll never be adopted into a home. If Hadley could just let go of her anger,
she might be able to save Lila ... and herself.

New York Times bestselling author Kody Keplinger weaves an unforgettable story about discovering true
friendship, finding home, and the possibilities of forgiveness.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for New York Times bestselling author Kody KeplingerLila and Hadley"A funny, moving tale, at once unsparingly realistic and upbeat." —Kirkus ReviewThe Swift Boys & Me"A fine, honest and heartfelt coming-of-age tale." —Kirkus Reviews"Keplinger gives appropriate gravity to Nola's feelings of hurt and helplessness, while tempering her distress with reassuring outlets in her parents and two new friends. A believably bittersweet ending delivers an emotional understanding of the necessary changes we all undergo while growing up." —Booklist"Keplinger's book is a heartfelt exploration of the nature of friendship, pain, and healing." —Children's LiteratureThat's Not What Happened"An original and engrossing narrative about scars, recovery, and how the stories we tell can both sustain and hobble us." —Publishers Weekly"Echoing highly publicized tragedies, this taut, emotional story goes behind the headlines to reveal lives impacted by school violence." —Kirkus Reviews"A timely, thought-provoking read...." — School Library Journal"Unique... This is a must-read." —PASTE magazineRun"Bo and Agnes' unlikely friendship rings true and strong." —Kirkus Reviews"A good unlikely friendship story with compelling characters and a nuanced portrait of disability and small-town life." —School Library Journal"There's plenty to recommend . . . though the most effective thing here remains Agnes' and Bo's voices and the strength of their realistically tumultuous relationship." —BooklistThe DUFF"A well-written, irreverent, and heartfelt debut." —Publishers Weekly"A complex, enemies-with-benefits relationship that the YA market has never seen before . . . Her snarky teen speak, true-to-life characterizations, and rollicking sense of humor never cease in her debut." —Kirkus Reviews"What's best here is Bianca's brazen voice. Even when confused, she is truer to herself than most." —BooklistLying Out Loud, a companion to The DUFF"Just like the recipients of Sonny's fibs, readers will find themselves duped by her creativity, unabashed courage, and hilarious snark. Until it all blows up. Fierce, fresh, total fun." —Kirkus Reviews"Readers will cringe as Sonny digs herself deeper and deeper into trouble, then applaud when she learns how to develop trust in her relationships with parents, friends, and of course, a hot romantic interest." —VOYA"Sonny is a realistic and very human character, and even though she is a liar, her motivations are all too believable." —School Library Journal

Kirkus Reviews

2019-12-08
Hadley, 12, legally blind, angry, and not a lover of dogs unexpectedly bonds with Lila, a depressed pit bull waif.

Hadley feels as if she's lost everything, and now she's losing her sight. With her mom in prison, she must move to Kentucky to live with her estranged older sister, Beth, last seen when Hadley was 7. Accompanying Beth, a dog trainer, to Right Choice Rescue and wandering among the penned trainees, Hadley spots Lila, considered unadoptable, looking equally miserable. Observing them connect, Vanessa, the owner, talks Beth into taking Lila home for Hadley to train. Still furious with Beth and their mom, whose letters and phone calls she ignores, Hadley works with Lila and grudgingly allows Beth to guide the training. Her vision worsening (she has retinitis pigmentosa), Hadley eventually agrees to mobility classes. Learning to use a cane is challenging, especially while holding Lila's leash in one hand. Her persistence—Hadley's strong suit—is a plus. New skills breed independence and self-esteem. Hadley becomes less defensive and judgmental, and the sisters haltingly reconnect—then Vanessa, now Beth's girlfriend, says it's time to find Lila a home. (Vanessa is black; Hadley and family are presumed white.) It's a pleasure to watch smart, wryly self-aware Hadley turn obstinacy into strength. From glum to stubborn and affectionate, Lila radiates doggy authenticity. A former Kentuckian and legally blind, Keplinger knows this territory, literal and figurative, inside out.

A funny, moving tale, at once unsparingly realistic and upbeat. (Fiction. 8-12)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940177720913
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	04/07/2020
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

Read an Excerpt

I don’t know what makes me do it — I sure didn’t plan to — but I find myself crouching down in front of the kennel. And then I’m talking to the dog.“Hey,” I say.It doesn’t move, but I think its eyes are looking my way.“Bad day?” I ask, as if the dog can answer. And I don’t know, maybe it kinda does. Its face certainly looks like it’s saying, “Yes. Terrible day.” I nod at it. “Me, too. A whole lot of them lately.”Slowly, I reach my hand through the bars. I know Beth would probably tell me this ain’t safe, — I don’t know this dog or what its temper is like, — but I do it anyway. I move my fingers in a beckoning gesture. For a minute, I don’t think the dog’s gonna come to me. Not like I blame it. I didn’t wanna move from my bed today, either.But then, it’s like it takes a second to make up its mind, before but it starts to stand. It moves towards me real slow, as if second-guessing every step. I ain’t sure what comes over me, but I hear myself cooing to it, softly saying, “Good dog. There we go. Come on.” And silly as it might be, it works.The dog reaches me at last. It stares at my face for a minute. Its eyes are real big and brown and... sad. That’s the only way I know how to describe them. Sad and maybe... lonely? Then it lowers its huge head to sniff my palm. Once it’s done checking me out, I reach up and scratch behind one of its ears.And then we both let out this sigh. Right at the same time. Like whatever has just happened has lifted a weight. Like we’re both relieved.That’s how I meet Lila.

Videos