Edgar Sawtelle

Edgar Sawtelle is the fourteen year-old protagonist in the novel "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle." He has an exceptionally rare gift of being able to communicate with and instruct dogs that are raised on his family's Wisconsin farm. Mute and being unable to speak, Edgar must instead rely on hand signs in order to speak with his family and command the dogs. He works alongside his father, Gar, and his mother, Trudy.

Edgar is very close to his father and his mother, but the arrival of Gars brother Claude changes everything. Edgar is suspicious of his uncle. Claude's drinking and his ideas creates a rough relationship between Edgar, Gar, and Claude.

Edgar also discovers his father dead at the dog workshop one day, and he is unable to help him. Claude moves back to the farm against Edgar's wishes. Edgar would much prefer that he and his...