A Dog Called Homeless, by Sarah Lean

Sometimes, a dog seems like the only one that understands what you're going through. In Cally's case a stray wolfhound, that she calls Homeless, is the only other witness when the her mom's spirit appears. Since her passing, Cally has filled the void by trying to the be center of attention at school and home, so all are surprised when she accepts a challenge to remain silent. She no longer sees the point in explaining herself since no one believes her when she tells them that she has seen the ghost of her mom.

Cally works through feeling disconnected from her dad and moving out of her beloved house and into a new apartment with the help of her partially deaf and blind newfound friend, Sam, and his mom, Mrs. Cooper. She's free to be silent around them without ridicule and opens Sam up to a new sense of freedom from his mom. The pair ultimately find out the connection between Homeless and Cally's mom.

Dog lovers will adore A Dog Called Homeless and it's fitting for those coping with loss. Lean focuses on the fact that life can be hard at times, but a good friend and a good dog can make all the difference.