Sounder
Sounder
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1969
Book Brief
116
Novel • Fiction
Southern United States • 1890s
1969
YA
10-14 years
890L
Super Short Summary
Sounder by William Armstrong tells the story of a young boy in a struggling African American family in the rural South. When his father is arrested for stealing food to feed his family, the family's loyal dog, Sounder, is injured trying to protect him. The boy searches for Sounder and learns to read and write with the help of a kind teacher, while dealing with the trials of his father's imprisonment and the dog's recovery.
Melancholic
Gritty
Emotional
Inspirational
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
31,880 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Sounder by William Armstrong receives praise for its poignant depiction of a Southern African American family's struggles, capturing the essence of resilience and hope. The prose is lauded for its lyrical quality, but some find the pacing slow and the narrative bleak. Overall, it is regarded as a powerful, if somber, exploration of hardship and familial bonds.
Who Should Read Sounder?
Potential readers of Sounder by William Armstrong are often drawn to poignant, coming-of-age stories that explore themes of courage, family, and hardship. Fans of Where the Red Fern Grows and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry will appreciate its emotional depth and historical context. This novel appeals to both middle-grade and adult readers interested in introspective, character-driven narratives.
31,880 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
116
Novel • Fiction
Southern United States • 1890s
1969
YA
10-14 years
890L
We’re just getting started
Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!