{"product_id":"grounds-for-hope-neil-s-plakcy-9798349526046","title":"Grounds for Hope: Smiling Dog Cafe","description":"\u003cp\u003eAt a quiet Brooklyn café watched over by painted dogs and warmed by just the right cup of coffee, two teenagers arrive-lost, hurting, and unsure where to turn next.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this deeply compassionate third entry in the \u003cem\u003eSmiling Dog Café\u003c\/em\u003e series-fully enjoyable as a standalone-author Neil S. Plakcy shares two powerful novellas about grief, resilience, and the unexpected ways we find our way home.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eGrounds for Hope\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003c\/strong\u003e Miguel is alone on the streets after his father is deported back to their violence-plagued homeland. Cold, hungry, and nearly out of hope, he's led to the café by a mysterious pit bull named Baxter-and taken in by Betty, the wise café owner whose coffee and compassion help restore his sense of safety and purpose.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eFinding Grace\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003c\/strong\u003e Tanya is reeling after her mother's decision to walk away from their life to \"find herself.\" Angry and unmoored, Tanya is gently nudged toward the café by Kiyomi, a calm, three-legged Samoyed-and slowly begins to rediscover her strength, her voice, and her path forward.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis tender volume celebrates how healing begins-in community, through ritual and memory, and with the quiet guidance of a dog who always knows exactly who needs help next.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCome in from the cold. The coffee's brewing, and the dogs are waiting.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Neil S. Plakcy\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798349526046\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Samwise Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/04\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 356\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.05lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.74d","brand":"Neil S. Plakcy","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47136769540351,"sku":"9798349526046","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_a0f22e67-e30e-4cae-8217-4ad28aed2baf.jpg?v=1755024258","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/grounds-for-hope-neil-s-plakcy-9798349526046","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}