No one knew what to do. No one knew how to save him. The crew thought he was lost. But a large black ship dog fearlessly leaped into the frigid water… The dog saved the sailor's life.

One might think it'd be difficult to impress an inductee of the International Swimming Hall of Fame like Lynne Cox when it comes to swimming, but after seeing a video of a trained Newfoundland pup jumping from a helicopter into Italy's waters to save a civilian, Cox knew she had to witness the dogs in action firsthand. Cox's intrigue brought her to Lake Idroscalo, where she met Al, a water rescue dog in training, and the rest of the Italian School of Rescue Dogs. Cox and Al bonded over their shared passion for the open waters, and readers will fall in love with Al alongside Lynne; this memoir is an endearing reminder that dogs are just as heroic and courageous as they are fun-loving and affectionate. (HH)