Eleven-year-old Samantha wants a dog. Well, a bigger dog. She has a little West Highland terrier, but she wants a BIG dog. Do dreams really come true? In her backyard one afternoon there appears a very big, very friendly, black dog that Sam thinks is magic because he makes her feel peaceful inside. The problem is that Sam knows her mother does not like large dogs and will not let her keep it. What is she going to do? She can't hide him forever.

In the meantime there is Stella, an elderly lady who wakes one morning in a nursing home. She is missing her much loved dog but cannot speak to tell anyone. Also, living in the nursing home means not taking pets along.

Samantha and her mother visit the nursing home with their small pet where they find the residents love dogs. Maybe this is where the big one will belong, Samantha thinks. Her best friend helps her scheme and plan about what to do with the loveable stray before her mother finds out, but things start going all wrong. Through it all there is a surprise waiting for Sam.

This is a 'can't-put-it-down-until-having-read-the-whole-thing' book. A very wonderful, captivating read written for young readers but anyone could enjoy it.