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 PyronMy 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.
View all my reviews
About Bobbie Pyron:
Bobbie was born in Hollywood, Florida and spent her growing up years up in the panhandle, swimming in the Gulf of Mexico and dreaming of being a mermaid. She has degrees in Psychology and Anthropology, and a
Her first book, a novel for teens titled The Ring (WestSide Books), was published in October of 2009. Her second book, A Dog’s Way Home (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books), was published to starred reviews in March of 2011. The Dog Writers Association of America recently awarded Bobbie the Maxwell Medal of Excellence and the Merial Human-Animal Bond Award. It was also named a Banks Street Best Books of the Year.
Her new book, The Dogs of Winter (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic), came out October of 2012. The Dogs of Winter is a Junior Library Guild Selection and a Kirkus Best 100 Children’s Books of the Year. Bobbie lives in Park City, Utah with her husband, three dogs, and two cats.
Bobbie’s Website.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BobbiePyron
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bobbie.pyron?fref=ts
Buy it:
Amazon.com: Hardcover or Kindle
Barnes & Noble: Hardcover or Nook
Book Depository
Follow the Tour!
Thanks for taking part in the tour. I'm so glad you loved The Dogs of Winter as much as I did. I rarely read books over but this is one I will.
ReplyDelete