The Art of Racing in the Rain by Stein

This is a wonderful adult fiction book good enough for thougthful teen readers.
Enzo is a dog of above average understanding of his human companions. He is at the end of his life and hopeful of being reincarnated as a human as he narrates this tale, looking back over the years. Denny is his main human. He is a gifted race car driver, loving father and husband. His wife Eve dies a heartbreakingly from brain cancer and her parents try for three years using every trick they can come up with to gain permanent custody of their granddaughter, his daughter. For three years, using the skills of steadfastness, confidence and so on that make him a good race car driver, he perseveres. Throughout Eve's sickness, Denny's struggles and Zoe's life Enzo has been loyal, comforting, there at the right time, in the right way. Now with the court cases resolved and Denny embarking on a new career his job is done. JDW4/15