The Incredible Journey

by Sheila Burnford

Book Overview

Fans of Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern Grows, and Shiloh will love this timeless classic about two dogs and a cat that embark on a journey to return to their owner and inspired the movie Homeward... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440413249
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Yearling
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.7" x 0.4" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Three very different friend set out for home. No map just traveling west.

Three family animals attempt wjhat others fear impossible. The story shows the power and strength of love. A Bull terrior, Labordor retriever and a cat three bonded family pets. Bonded by love to a family three hundred miles away across Canada terrotory unseen by walking human. Like a ship following stars in truth only going home.

Wonderful!

I first saw this movie on Disney when I was about 9. Recently, over 20 years later, I was in Half Price Books and spotted the book so I bought it. I was intending to give it to my 10-year-old niece, but then I started reading it. I had tears in my eyes. It was so inspiring. This book is very symbolic of the Christian walk--through the wilderness, into the "Promised Land". We all need each other--nobody is an island. We cannot go it alone. Like the animals in this book. They stay together and help each other all along the way. You can learn so much from this book!

The classic story of three pets' dangerous journey home

The Incredible Journey tells the story of three animal companions - a young Labrador Retriever, an aging Bull Terrier, and a feisty Siamese cat - who embark on a dangerous journey home through the Canadian wilderness. They had been staying with a family friend while their real owners were temporarily residing in Europe, but they lit out for home on their own after their current keeper left for vacation. The plan was for the couple who took care of the house to look after the pets, but fate conspired to make them think Mr. Longridge had taken the animals with him. Thus, as the animals made their way west toward their old home, no one at all knew they were missing. Sheila Burnford's narrative is surprisingly realistic. Animals can't survive for weeks without food, and the only food available in the Canadian forests in early autumn is other animals. The cat is especially good at snaring warm snacks, and the Lab is capable of chasing something down from time to time - and luckily, both are willing to share with the old Bull Terrier whose age is catching up with him. It's a little sad to read about the demise of so many birds and rodents, but this book describes the animals' captures and kills rather straightforwardly. Of course, the trio also benefits from a few encounters with humans (although the Bull Terrier learns that his charms don't always win over the person on the other side of the door). These make for some emotional passages of their own, but the trio only stay in one place long enough to refresh and recover themselves. The woods hold many dangers, which the animals could never survive on their own. Indeed, each one of them suffers trials that threaten to end their journey altogether, and the friends are also separated at times. Whatever happens, though, the drive of the young Lab as he leads his friends ever westward toward his image of home overrides individual pains and fears. The commitment and bravery the animals show toward one another in the face of several very real threats is inspiring and heart-warming. If you love pets or animals in general, this is a really emotional story - not only the ending, but several sections throughout the whole book. The friendship and teamwork of these three very different animals is touching and wonderful to watch and experience. The Incredible Journey is nothing less than a classic that all animal lovers should have in their personal library.

This is the best book ever

The Incredible Journey is the best book I have ever read. It is the best suspense book, too. I think Sheila Burnford is the best descriptive writer I've ever read.This book is about two dogs and a cat . They have to go two hundred and thirty miles to find their owner at a river canoeing . The owner left them home and had somebody look after them . The person showed up late and the animals went to find their owner. The animals have to deal with wild animals like bears and porcupines. They also nearly starve while trying to be with their owner at the river. All in all, I think you should read this well-written book. You will find out how much animals love people and it teaches us to work together. There is so much more in this book. So, if you like suspense this is a great book to read!