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Dog-Eared Reads: William H. Armstrong’s “Sounder”

By Vanessa Rodriguez

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: A Labrador peers from its box on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. First held in 1891, Crufts is said to be the largest show of its kind in the world, the annual four-day event, features thousands of dogs, with competitors travelling from countries across the globe to take part and vie for the coveted title of 'Best in Show'. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 05: A Labrador peers from its box on the first day of Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre on March 5, 2015 in Birmingham, England. First held in 1891, Crufts is said to be the largest show of its kind in the world, the annual four-day event, features thousands of dogs, with competitors travelling from countries across the globe to take part and vie for the coveted title of 'Best in Show'. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images) /
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Published in 1969, “Sounder” surrounds an  African-American sharecropper family in the south. This book aches with the black families struggle in the 1950’s. Hard to put down, its layered themes and symbolism will have you reaching for your tissue box.

The book starts with a man hunting with his dog, “Sounder.” The only character in the book with a name. The novel uses this to establish identity with the characters. We see that the man’s young son yearns to be a part of society. Throughout the book, he is looking in on the other world. Perhaps, it is because he feels like an outsider, being that he’s a young black boy in the south. It is for this reason that Armstrong doesn’t give his human characters names, creating some sense of difference against the backdrop of the segregated south. Also to give his characters a formless shape to the events of the book.

When the father struggles to put meat on the table, he resorts to stealing a ham from work. The family enjoys the spoils until men come to arrest him. Sounder attempts to defend his master, only to be shot by a shotgun. The boy finds him sometime later with his leg, an ear, and eye shot off. Sounder is now unable to bark and has difficulty walking.

The dog, Sounder, symbolizes the hardships of poor southern life in the 1950’s.

His voice is taken, and he faces trauma after trauma. Much like the lives of his owners. The once fighting, barking dog is made silent. The creative irony of a non-barking dog named Sounder should read as those who have something to say being forced into silence.

We see Armstrong’s gifts for narrative in this coming of age story of the boy. He longs to be able to read and is fascinated with the stories of the bible. He loves tales of triumph over scrutiny and togetherness. One day he finds a book shortly after being hit on the hand, while looking for his father. Afterwards, a school teacher finds him and offers to teach him how to read. By the end of the book, the boy is able to read. His adversity over literacy being one of the few accomplishments in the story, bringing resolve to much of its heartbreak.

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The boy’s father returns, but Armstrong is not done with these characters. At the close of the book, there are resolutions found while others lost. This book will bring on mixed emotions, and considerations of how we approach the world in the face of hopelessness and adversity.

“Sounder” went on to win the Newbery Award in 1970. It comes at no surprise, seeing as the books themes and motifs are highly pragmatic. You don’t need to have an incarcerated father to relate to a boy who dreams of days filled with joy and tolerance. It is the highs and lows of the family that will strike a chord with any reader. Pick up this read if you’re looking for poignant and powerful.

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