Aloha Crossing

Pamela Bauer Mueller Middle Reader, Young Adult and Historical Novel Writer

photo credit: Jeff Hoffman

Author Biography

2008 Georgia Author of the Year Pamela Bauer Mueller was raised in Oregon and graduated from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. She worked as a flight attendant for Pan American Airlines before moving to Mexico City, where she lived for eighteen years.
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Synopsis:

A year has passed since puppy raiser Diego handed Aloha’s harness over to her blind partner Kimberly Louise. Now Diego is traveling to Georgia to visit his beloved friend again!

This heartwarming story follows the exciting cross-country adventures and moving scenarios of a diverse group of family and friends. Although Aloha is a central figure in this intriguing story, she shares the stage with human actors who make this more than a tale about a blind woman and her guide dog. Learning from the devoted Aloha’s example, they discover they are capable of weathering any storm and triumphing over every setback.

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“From the opening chapter where Aloha rescues Kimberly Louise from
the wheels of an unseen car, through the consequences of a horrific storm and finally to the riveting last chapter, we identified with the unfolding relationship forged between a blind person and canine partner. We thrilled as teenager Diego evolved from Aloha's puppy raiser to Miss Kimberly Louise's friend and eventually to hero. With more than 65 years of guide dog partnership between us, we reveled in Kimberly Louise’s joy in meeting Aloha, and their evolution as a team. Pamela Bauer Mueller has provided the reader with an exciting and exuberant story about a blind woman, her guide dog and the youngster who raised her for a career of love and service.”

Ed and Toni Eames, authors of Partners in Independence: A Success Story of Dogs and the Disabled

Sequel to Hello, Goodbye, I Love You: A 2004 IRA Children’s Choice Selection

Book Excerpt:

Prologue - Aloha Crossing

Aloha was struggling to breathe. Sleet-like wind and rain slapped her face, stinging her eyes, forcing her to turn away from the wind. She fought to keep afloat—soaked, cold and pelted by wind-driven rain.

She battled the angry river to swim toward the house. But with each stroke the current carried her further away from Kimberly Louise. Captured by the current, she was dragged under again and again. She tried grabbing onto floating pieces of wood but couldn’t get a grip.

An undertow--a sucking, sweeping backwash--took her further away from the shore. Up, then down, slammed with spray, ripped inward, then shoved out. She kicked hard. A strong tide tugged at her hindquarters. Branches and other obstacles loomed up in front of her and banged against her heaving sides and injured leg.

The wake tide caught her and sucked her under again, spinning her body around and around before she could fight clear of it. Her lungs were almost bursting. With her mouth and throat full of water, Aloha fought and splashed in a delirium of terror. The hurricane’s roiling clouds seemed like an avalanche bearing down on her.

When she finally surfaced, sputtering and panting, she gasped for just enough breath to fill her lungs. Her groping forepaws felt the impact of a submerged rock, and with her last ounce of strength she crawled feebly onto a narrow sand spit, where she collapsed and lay shivering, panting, and struggling for breath.

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Author Comment:

I wish to dedicate this book to Lions Clubs International, “Knights of the Blind”: the largest service organization in the world, with 1.3 million men and women in 200 countries and territories working together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the globe. My husband Michael and I are honored to be members of this awesome organization.