Publisher : Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, October 1, 2012
Category: Grades 5 & up/YA Crossover
Tour Dates: February, 2013
Available in: Print and Kindle, 320 pages
Like thousands of other children in post-Soviet Russian, five-year-old Mishka finds himself trying to survive on the streets of Moscow after his mother disappears and he has no home. Help comes from an unlikely source: a pack a feral street dogs! For two years, Mishka and the dogs protect and love each other, becoming a family in every sense of the word. When Mishka has the chance to rejoin the world of humans, will he want to? Inspired by a true story!
The Dogs of Winter by Bobbie Pyron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When I began reading this book, I will be honest. Based on the picture, I kind of expected a Jack London type story. I soon realized just how wrong I was. How on earth was I to know that I would be reading historical fiction (recent history, but still history) that featured an amazing story that was emotional and realistic? In fact, the author’s note at the end of the story, this story contains more truth than fiction. The book is written in first person, and I think this is a perfect story for young adults and older adults alike. It will introduce you to a recent period of history of which you may not have been aware. The tenacity of the dogs and the boy will enthrall you. Does it end happily? You know, I will leave that up to you to decide. I will say this much–it is a realistic ending.
There are a few brutal portions of this book, but there are no details that would offend anyone. There are no bedroom scenes, and the profanity is extremely mild. I cannot think of anything that was offensive in this story, and it was a very readable book. There were no boring portions of the story, and I believe that the author captured the emotions of the characters perfectly. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
About Bobbie Pyron:
(in her own words)
I was born in Hollywood, Florida on July 16th. My mother loved the ocean more than anything. When she was pregnant with me, she walked down to the beach every day to swim in the ocean, look for seashells and lie in the sun. When she went into labor, she was swimming in the ocean. I think that’s why I have always wanted to be a mermaid!
I was a shy, quiet child who worried about many things. My older sister, Lori, was much more carefree than I. She had a great imagination and made up lots of stories and games.
Everyone in my family loved animals. We always had a dog who was very much a part of the family. We made frequent trips to the zoo. My favorites were (and still are) the giraffes. I also LOVED reading. My father and I started reading the newspaper comics together before I started kindergarten. The first book I read on my own was Casey, the Utterly Impossible Horse, by Anita Feagles. I still have a copy of that book!
My father died suddenly when I was almost seven. Books became even more important to me after that. They not only provided a bit of an escape, they also helped me make sense of the world, and to not feel so alone. They still do!
By the time I was nine, I wanted very much to be an author when I grew up. My life took many twists and turns before I realized that dream. I went to college. For a time, I was a singer in a rock and roll band. I harvested gladiolas on a flower farm, trained dogs, worked in a bookstore. Then I went back to college and got a degree to work as a librarian. I’ve worked as a librarian now for over twenty-five years. Finally, I sat down and wrote my first novel. In October of 2009 that book was published!
I feel enormously lucky and grateful to be able to sit in my office, gaze out the window and write the stories about the people who live in my imagination. I feel especially lucky and grateful when I meet and hear from readers who tell me my books made them feel less lonely, and opened their hearts.
Bobbie’s Website
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BobbiePyron
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bobbie.pyron?fref=ts
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