A Life-Touching Story That Can Be Read in Less Than Three Hours?

Some would call this impossible. All you have to do is read Notes From The Dog by Gary Paulsen; it's 130 pages long and great for all ages, kids and adults.
I love how this book, for being so short, packs such a punch in the life-lessons department. And they're not introduced all cheesy and blunt, like in some books. The author really takes the time to introduce all these ideas about living life like there's no tomorrow in a fun way that would get the attention of just about anyone: be you a workaholic adult, a kid struggling in middle-school, or just one of those people who reads for fun *ahem, crazies!*
We start off with two friends in middle school, Finn and Matthew. They live with Finn's dad because Matthew's parents divorced and while they get situated in their new apartments Matthew didn't want to spend his short summer break adjusting. While Matthew seems to have the easy life in school, sports, and just being a kid, Finn has more trouble having fun. He's really shy and doesn't know how to talk to people, so he lives in books instead. One of his only friends besides Matthew is his dog, Dylan, named for Bob Dylan.
Then the new neighbor comes along, also named for a Bob Dylan song: Johanna (the song is Visions of Johanna). Johanna is a breast cancer survivor who is enjoying living life, and also a graduate student going to school nearby. Matthew and Finn immediately fall in love with Johanna and how she seems to enjoy everything, even plans that backfire.
The three have all sorts of adventures, from first dates to gardening to a summer job as a construction worker to notes from a dog. And that's where the title comes from; Finn's dog starts showing up with little life lessons printed on paper in his mouth. Finn knows they're not really from his dog, but they help him get through the day and discover how to be a better person and be comfortable in his own skin.
Of course, Johanna still has cancer. And when her health takes a turn for the worse, Finn and Matthew may have to complete some of the crazy plans Johanna had wanted to get around to without her.
I feel like this is one of those books where the author starts writing this book and chooses a title then the book takes on a completely different theme and the title makes no sense. But then again, maybe not, because the title hints at how little notes and good things can make a difference in someone's life, and that is how the book starts out: affecting people in a good way and changing lives, one step at a time. ♠♠♠♠