These 8 Books Prove That Animals Can Be the Main Characters Too
Photographed by Sela Gonzales
These fiction and nonfiction reads explore the connections between humans and their animal companions.
Pets can be more than just a man’s best friend; they can be main characters, too. If you want to read a story where your furry companions take the lead, here are some books, both fiction and nonfiction, that put animals center stage.
The Art of Racing in the Rain
Written by Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain is narrated from the perspective of Enzo, a philosophical golden retriever mix who observes human life, family devotion, and legal struggles as he stays by his owner’s side. His owner, Denny, is a professional race car driver.
The Traveling Cat Chronicles
Nana, a stray cat with a bent tail, embarks on a road trip across Japan with his owner, Satoru, to visit old friends. Written by Hiro Arikawa and published by Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House, The Traveling Cat Chronicles is narrated partly through Nana’s eyes.
Lily and the Octopus
Following a writer and his aging dachshund, Lily, Lily and the Octopus is a novel with elements of magical realism that explores the intense bond between a human and his pet. The story imagines Lily’s terminal illness as a literal octopus clinging to her, which her owner must fight off. The book was written by Steven Rowley and published by Simon & Schuster.
The Call of the Wild
A classic adventure novel, The Call of the Wild follows Buck, a domesticated St. Bernard-Scotch Collie mix who is stolen from his California home and sold as a sled dog in the harsh Yukon during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush. The novel was written by Jack London and published by Macmillan Publishers.
A Street Cat Named Bob
Written by James Bowen, A Street Cat Named Bob is a true story about a homeless London street musician recovering from addiction who finds an injured stray ginger cat. Caring for Bob gives James a renewed sense of purpose and turns both their lives around.
Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog
A bestselling memoir written by John Grogan and published by William Morrow, Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog recounts the 13 years Grogan spent with an uncontrollable Labrador retriever named Marley.
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World
This true story chronicles the life of Dewey Readmore Books, an abandoned cat who finds a home at the Spencer Public Library in Spencer, Iowa. Written by Vicki Myron, Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World tells how the cat transforms a small-town library, helps revitalize a classic American town, and becomes famous around the world.
Where the Red Fern Grows
Set in the Ozark Mountains, Where the Red Fern Grows is a classic story about a 10-year-old boy named Billy who works for two years to buy a pair of Redbone Coonhound hunting dogs named Old Dan and Little Ann. Through their shared adventures, Billy and his dogs develop an unbreakable bond. The novel was written by Wilson Rawls and published by Doubleday.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Street Cat Named Bob, Marley & Me, and Dewey are all true memoirs written by pet owners. The remaining five books are works of fiction featuring both realistic and fantastical storylines.
Most of these titles are written for adults and young adults due to mature themes like grief, addiction, and terminal illness. However, classics like Where the Red Fern Grows and The Call of the Wild are frequently read by younger audiences and middle-grade readers.
Lily and the Octopus, Where the Red Fern Grows, and The Art of Racing in the Rain all heavily tackle themes of aging, severe illness, and loss. If you are looking for lighter or more uplifting reads, memoirs like A Street Cat Named Bob or Dewey are great alternatives.
If you want something timeless, Jack London’s The Call of the Wild takes you back to the 1890s Yukon Gold Rush. Wilson Rawls’s Where the Red Fern Grows is another classic set deep in the Ozark Mountains.
Yes, almost all of them have popular film adaptations. Classics like The Call of the Wild and Where the Red Fern Grows have multiple movie versions, while modern bestsellers like Marley & Me and The Art of Racing in the Rain became major feature films.