Dogs of the Deadlands: SHORTLISTED FOR THE WEEK JUNIOR BOOK AWARDS

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Dogs of the Deadlands will not be for everyone, but for those who are willing to go on this journey, it will be well worth the reading. This is NOT a fluffy dog story full of cuteness. This is brutal, dark and dog-eat-dog... so to speak. I'm hoping McGowan has a comic or light-hearted book lined up for us next, I'm sure he needs it as much as we do! This is recommended for 10+ and I would definitely agree with this, as it doesn’t shy away from the hardships and reality of the dogs survival. Many poor creatures meet their ends in the name of dinner! The fight for supremacy in the wilds is often portrayed as realistically brutal too. Zoya is one such puppy, a Samoyed left behind by a traumatised little girl, taken away to the city and promised a swift return which never comes. It also shows us Misha, born in the wild to a dog and raised among savagery and Darwinian 'survival of the fittest' principles.

DOGS OF THE DEADLANDS | Kirkus Reviews

The second challenge this book faces is in its weaving of its characters’ stories. To be realistic, the author tells several different dog stories (since dogs don’t live as long as humans), and then weaves in one brief human story while putting the primary human mostly on hiatus. Natasha plays a much smaller role than I expected at the beginning, and by the time her adult story is really told, the main action and arcs of the dogs are mostly finished, so it feels like an afterthought, thrown in for denouement. While the end is ultimately satisfying, there are multiple ends throughout the book, which keeps you guessing exactly how the author wants this to wrap up. This is a strength for some, but could be considered disjointed or incomplete for others. The author mentions War and Peace as an inspiration, and having read that tome this year, I can say that that’s not for everyone: it’s a very difficult task to weave so many arcs together and still satisfy your (young?) readers. The dogs’ arcs are compelling, but the humans’ feel rushed, despite the difference in lifespan. He would grumble about the decline and fall of the old Soviet Union. "Once the people were in charge. Now only oligarchs. Billionaires. Thieves," he would mutter." - This example. so much wrong in these two sentences. While I don't want to go down the road explaining the history in this review... and while some people in occupied countries might have thought (or still think), this is absolutely disgusting message to send to the kids. If the story is meant and aimed for adults, or young adults and the author feels the need to include politics (which is not bad thing per se), some knowledge of the era, country and its history would be beneficial. And it certainly didn’t disappoint.The book is pretty epic in its timespan and follows two stories; that of human girl Natasha, who is forced to flee the devastation of Chernobyl and that of her pup, Zoya, and the other dogs that are left behind. A stimulating and rewarding on-stage conversation; a lively informed and tolerant audience; privileged access to the great treasures of the Bodleian, and finally, wonderfully interesting dinner companions to help me conclude the best day I have enjoyed at any festival – anywhere. McGowan never lets up in the trauma either. Once one foe is dealt with, another soon comes upon our dogs. Your heart isn't allowed to relax, and the scenes of animal violence can be quite graphic at times.Dogs of the Deadlands: THE TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK by Anthony McGowan asks about several topics and themes, such as companionship, nature vs nurture, and the power of hope. Aimed at a younger audience, it joins this rich seam of literature and surely deserves to become a timeless classic too. Dogs of the Deadlands by Anthony McGowan is one of those books that is both savage and beautiful and I have no doubt will stay with me for a long time. The story begins on Natasha’s birthday where she gets the most amazing present of all: a little Samoyed puppy that she names Zoya. But disaster soon tears Natasha away from her puppy as the Chernobyl nuclear power plant’s reactor number 4 explodes and Natasha and her family must evacuate and leave everything behind, including Zoya. Growing up in the shadow of the ruined nuclear power plant, pups Misha and Bratan need to learn how to live wild—and fast. Creatures with sharp teeth, claws and yellow eyes lurk in the overgrown woods. And they’re watching the brothers… The story then follows Zoya, who finds life in the woods, starts a family, and then we see her son and his journey. It is a book about struggle, some of it very harsh as Misha tries to survive. It’s also about coming home and making a life even in the midst of hard times. We also see Natasha grow up and become a focused and sullen scientist, but one with deep wounds. Those wounds can only heal if she can take a step outside of herself and build the relationships she desperately needs.

Dogs of the Deadlands” by Anthony A Book Review by Kajori: “Dogs of the Deadlands” by Anthony

This book’s strengths come in the tales of camaraderie and survival among the dogs and wolves, culminating regularly in small skirmishes and epic standoffs. The author spares no one harm, so the reader is kept in suspense to see whether their favorite dogs will make it through. Another strength is its setting; I read this in the summer in the US Midwest, but certainly you can feel the cold USSR (note: Chernobyl is in modern Ukraine) and its forests, including the area around Chernobyl, whose wildlife have had to adapt to more than just predators. There are also multiple coming-of-age stories within the main thread, done fairly well, especially as the dogs are concerned. Another strength is the sheer ambition of writing such a story, and the amount of research that likely went into both the area and the nature of dogs and wolves (and other wildlife). I feel like I know a lot more about my own dog after reading about Misha and the others! Is dolphin-assisted therapy so beneficial to patients that it’s worth keeping a wild dolphin captive?

It’s great to see these kids “so enthusiastic about committing high treason.” (historical note) (Historical fiction. 10-12)

Dogs of the Deadlands eBook by Anthony McGowan | Official

Such a sad story, based on the true events of Chernobyl, and the pets left behind when humans evacuated the area, leaving their dogs to either starve or survive in the savage wilds, alongside the wolves, bears and other occupants. Although parts of the novel follow Natasha as she grows up and examines how the loss of her pup changes her as she gradually loses hope, the bulk of the action takes place away from humans. We're given brief insights into how Zoya survived those early days but this is really Misha's story, beginning when he and his malformed brother, Bratan are the only survivors of their litter. Anthony McGowan never patronises his young readers with long explanations or heavy information, with this being a subtle but powerful indication of the birth defects and neonatal deaths caused by radiation poisoning. As the pups grow they experience important life lessons and the dramatic scenes of peril are complemented by the day-to-day pressures of finding enough food to survive. There is humour to be found here too, with their first savoury soup meal sure to amuse and disgust in equal measure!

The night in Oxford was the most beautiful event I have ever done. Not just the spectacular setting (of the Sheldonian), but an unforgettable evening.

Dogs of the Deadlands review — surviving Chernobyl Dogs of the Deadlands review — surviving Chernobyl

Quite the unusual read, this – an unexpected drama set in a unique situation. The plot is split between Natasha, a young girl who has only just been given a brilliant white puppy when Chernobyl goes belly-up and her home is evacuated, and dog forced to stay behind, and Mother, a feral mistress of the hunt and the two survivors of her latest litter. To be fair, Natasha only crops up every few chapters as a reminder she's there, and we see the hole in her heart the abandonment of Pripyat and her pup created. The core thing is watching Mother, Misha and the semi-lame Bratan grow together as a family unit. And while they have each other they don't have it all their own way – lynx, bear and wolves are definite threats, and Bratan's hind legs hampering his speed don't help either. Dogs are a man’s best friend. However, what happens when there are no men available for a dog to befriend? Do they survive and if they do then how? Conversely, what happens to a person who is compelled to lose their dog, their best friend?Anthony McGowan has managed to capture a really pure type of animal communication here; the whole thing just works so well with the description and the simple inference of what's meant. The highs and lows have you celebrating and mourning in turn and it feels perfectly wrapped up. As much as I'd like to read more about Misha's later years the book just works with what's contained within it. Suspension of disbelief does come into play a little but honestly, I'm all there for it. It's a little like junior magical realism? It's perfect for me as I like to see hope overcome all the odds. As with any great animal story, there is a degree of anthropomorphism, as it’s hard not to see the dogs’ personalities through human characteristics but the wild behaviour of the animals is not sugar-coated though and comes across as very realistically animal in nature. Natasha’s life is emotionally blighted by this loss, as we see in chapters interspersed with the heart of the story which is of how Zoya survives in this fierce, cold and terrifying landscape where it is not just predators she has to fear. She makes it in the wild, mating with a wolf and raising two cubs, Misha and the radiation damaged Bratan and when she is finally killed in a battle with a lynx the story becomes theirs. Natasha never really gets over the pain of abandoning Zoya and we see how this affects the life she leads and the person she becomes. For the dogs, this is a tale of treading the balance between their domestic instincts and the wildness needed to survive in a tough and hostile environment. Dolphin lovers will appreciate this look at our complicated relationship with these marine mammals.