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

Product Information

A reader said this book was "both savage and beautiful" and I agree. The author also said this is Call of the Wild meets Watership Down meets War and Peace — and "if it doesn’t frighten and excite you, and eventually make you cry, then I've failed." The Carnegie medal winner McGowan is superb at stories about children who do not have all the advantages.’ Sunday Times Chernobyl, 1986. Natasha’s world is coming to an end. Forced to evacuate her home in the middle of the night, she must leave her puppy behind and has no idea if she’ll ever return. Some time later, growing up in the shadow of the ruined nuclear power plant, pups Misha and Bratan have to learn how to live in the wild—and fast. Creatures with sharp teeth, claws, and yellow eyes lurk in the overgrown woods. And they’re watching the brothers’ every move… This visceral story of heartbreak and survival…has the memorable feel of a classic.’ Guardian, Best children’s and YA books of 2022 Is dolphin-assisted therapy so beneficial to patients that it’s worth keeping a wild dolphin captive?

Dogs of the Deadlands | Oxford Literary Festival Dogs of the Deadlands | Oxford Literary Festival

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!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. Set in the immediate aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster and the years following, it’s a raw, unflinching and blisteringly well-written story of dogs Misha and Bratan and their life in the wild woods surrounding the power plant. One time later, growing up in the shadow of the ruined nuclear power plant, pups Misha and Bratan have to learn how to live in the wild and fast. But will the dogs survive without humans? And can a human live without them? This was a real emotional read and I admit to shedding a tear or two in a few places. The relationships between both humans and dogs, and dogs and other animals is beautifully written. I particularly loved the bond between brothers Misha and Bratan.

Dogs of the Deadlands by Anthony McGowan | Goodreads Dogs of the Deadlands by Anthony McGowan | Goodreads

It was a privilege for me to visit the festival to receive the Bodley Medal. As an incidental blessing I saw Oxford at its most mysterious and atmospheric. It was a day of piercing cold and as I walked through the twilight from the Sheldonian to Christ Church, the streets were empty and the whole city was shutting itself away. Christ Church was silent except for the footfall of unseen persons around corners and the sounds of evensong creeping from behind closed doors. For the first time I understood thoroughly the power of college ghost stories. Weaknesses: I'm not much for narratives told from a dog's perspective, and I somehow missed where Misha was the son of Zoya. After the whole regurgitated worm thing, I found it a little hard to concentrate.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. 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. Helena Lee Interviewed by Adam Rutherford Who Gets to Tell the Story? Amplifying Overlooked Voices in Britain Today with East Side Voices Lincoln College: Oakeshott Room 12:00pm Sun 2 Sunday, 2 April 2023 See this event 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? 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.