Sounder

William H. Armstrong's Newbery Medal-winning novel, Sounder, tells the poignant story of a poor African-American sharecropper family in the 19th-century South. When the boy's father is arrested for stealing food to feed his hungry family, the boy and his loyal coon dog, Sounder, embark on a journey of resilience and growth. The narrative explores profound themes of racial injustice, poverty, and the enduring strength of family bonds, while also highlighting the boy's quest for education and self-improvement amidst immense sorrow and loss. It is a powerful, emotionally resonant story suitable for mature middle-grade readers.

Angry and humiliated when his sharecropper father is jailed for stealing food for his family, a young black boy grows in courage and understanding by learning to read and through his relationship with his devoted dog Sounder.