Second Chances: A Marine, His Dog, and Finding Redemption

In his first book, Craig and Fred, former U.S. Marine Grossi described how he smuggled his dog out of Afghanistan and the impact this had on his life. In his new memoir, Grossi describes becoming a frequent public speaker. When he was invited to the Maine State Prison to tell his story, he felt a pull that made him consider offering to teach creative writing to a select group of imprisoned people. A number of former military servicemembers at the prison were training Labrador retrievers to become assistance dogs for disabled veterans, and some wanted to learn to explore writing as well. Over the months, the men formed a bond and gained tremendous self-esteem and a sense of making reparations for their crimes. Although sometimes the dialogue sounds like a treacly group therapy session, Grossi’s inspiring memoir reminds readers that second chances shouldn’t only be for celebrities or the very young, but also for those who have made mistakes and paid the price.