In 2008, David Wroblewski’s debut novel became an instant best seller and received honors from Oprah’s Book Club. Wroblewski’s fictional account of a family who breeds dogs in a quaint northern Wisconsin town, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, chronicles a mute boy’s struggle to understand the enigmas surrounding a family tragedy. Wroblewski, who grew up in rural Wisconsin not far from where the novel is set, creates a dynamic tale that pulses with life and explores the mysteries that are sealed inside all of us.

A strong poetic voice permeates Edgar Sawtelle, despite the title character being a mute boy who spends most of his time communicating with a fictional breed of canines. Edgar is a sweet, beautiful character whose personal quest to avenge his father’s death makes him comparable to Hamlet. The world of dog breeding that Edgar inhabits stretches much deeper than simply a tale of a boy and his dog. Edgar’s experiences and the family dynamics that weave throughout the book will cause readers to question the limits of language. Although it is almost 600 pages long, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle draws you in from the onset and holds your attention throughout as Edgar is forced to confront the terrible truths that cause youth to lose their innocence. Author David Wroblewski will visit Milwaukee this weekend, speaking at Boswell Book Co. on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. and visiting Next Chapter Bookshop on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.