Ice Dogs will be a tricky book to review, as it hasn’t become a new favorite and actually took me a couple tries to get into.  But, it’s not one of the books that I just set aside, or pass on reviewing because I can’t find enough positive to say…it’s more that this is a really good book for which I am not the audience.

But, even that is odd, because I thought I’d be the audience.  As a kid I went through a dog book’s stage, and read everything I could get my hands on by Jim Kgelgard or Jack London. Oh, plus Where the Red Fern Grows, which I’d be remiss if I left out!  All beautiful books featuring dogs, and the connection to the wild.

Ms. Johnson has written a book with a great deal of beauty and heart, as well, so let me see if I can untangle how I felt about it.

First off, I loved it when the fourteen-year-old main character, Victoria, talked about her dogs, and mushing.  It’s very poetic and you can really feel the connection she has with them and the beauty that Alaska is for her.  I also really enjoyed the camaraderie that eventually grew between her and the boy, Chris, that she finds on the trail and must work with in order to survive the freezing backwoods bush of Alaska.  The portrayal of Alaska and it’s people was a unique look I haven’t seen before, and the steps Victoria takes to keep them alive and the grit she shows throughout their ordeal where inspiring.  I also appreciated the growth that Victoria shows by the end, and the way that character’s emotional arc and physical hurdles dovetail together.

So, what didn’t connect?  That’s a little harder to say.  I think I found Victoria’s voice inaccessible and difficult to connect with.  I also had a hard time at first engaging with the story, since it didn’t feel like we had anything in particular at stake or a driving plot building until the end of chapter four.  And for me, the story’s resolutions weren’t quite big enough to warrant so much build up.  Of course, that’s a matter of personal preference…this all is, actually…but the extra challenges thrown at the kids as their time in the wild lengthened felt like they were emotionally recycled, and more could have been done with less space.  However, it did pull me along and keep me coming back until the end, and as I said, I suspect that what didn’t work for me could be another reader’s favorite feature.  The book is very well crafted, and some parts really sing!

Despite it being very much a dog book, I’m going to risk the cat’s wrath and ask Apricot-kitty what she thinks:

“Devil dogs, that’s what they are.  Which makes that girl the devil’s handler, I suppose.  I may not care for the dogs, but the girl has my respect.  Managing that team of filthy husky furballs was no easy task.”

I’ll have to agree with her there, and it bears emphasizing that while Victoria’s voice may be hard for some to connect with, she is an inspiring character and perhaps the strongest girl I’ve read about in some time.  So, there you have it, and I hope you enjoy!

For more Marvelous Middle Grade Monday reviews, spotlights and interviews, stop by Shannon Messenger’s blog, and enjoy the new reads!

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