The story of Edgar Sawtelle / Wroblewski, David

Edgar Sawtelle, born mute, lives contentedly on his parents' Wisconsin farm helping raise a unique breed of dogs developed by his grandfather to embody the qualities of companionship and wisdom, but the death of his father and his belief that his uncle had something to do with it, force him to flee to the forest with only three yearlings for companionship, where he struggles to survive until the need to confront his uncle leads him home again.

Edgar Sawtelle, born mute, lives contentedly on his parents' Wisconsin farm helping raise a unique breed of dogs developed by his grandfather to embody the qualities of companionship and wisdom, but the death of his father and his belief that his uncle had something to do with it, force him to flee to the forest with only three yearlings for companionship, where he struggles to survive until the need to confront his uncle leads him home again.

A tale reminiscent of "Hamlet" that also celebrates the alliance between humans and dogs follows speech-disabled Wisconsin youth Edgar, who bonds with three yearling canines and struggles to prove that his sinister uncle is responsible for his father's death.