Finder is a tawny-colored dog who just wants to please his
new owner, Uncle George, and his friend, Thomas. He knows his job is to be a
hunting dog, but he can’t help from running away from the dangerous animals he
is supposed to be searching for; he also hates the sound of guns and the smell
of blood.
Fortunately, Thomas and Finder are able to help each other
out. Uncle George tells Thomas that instead of going to school next fall, he
will be heading down to the mines to earn his keep now that both of his parents
are dead. Thomas knows that there is no way out of his current
predicament—despite his desire to go to school—and soon realizes that Finder
may be able to find a job in the mines too.
Finder’s job is to pull the sledge to the coal car, but one
day, his role in the mines becomes much more important; he is able to smell
smoke and warn Thomas and the other miners of imminent danger.
Finder, Coal Mine Dog
transforms the events from the 1909 Cherry Mining Disaster into page-turning
chaos. Finder becomes a crucial piece in this story’s history, as he is the one
who ultimately helps lead Thomas to safety and also the one who helps find
those still trapped in the mine. In reality, 259 men and boys died in this
disaster, and Cherry, Illinois commemorated the centennial anniversary of this
horrific event six years ago. The mining laws in Illinois were changed as a
direct result of the lives that could have been spared in this disaster, and Finder, Coal Mine Dog helps solidify the
miners’ spot in history.
Click
here for the full summary of
Finder, Coal Mine Dog.
Labels: Animals, Dog Chronicles, Historical Fiction