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

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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 | Oneworld

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. Dolphin lovers will appreciate this look at our complicated relationship with these marine mammals. 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. 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.

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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! Ultimately, it’s quite an adventure story and unique when it comes to dog stories. I salute McGowan’s efforts to create an exciting, realistic, and heartfelt story that keeps the reader guessing and gasping! I would certainly recommend for 10 and up, with some content advisory involving (natural but graphic) violence among animals. It certainly earns its place among the more engrossing animal adventures. 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. 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?

Dogs of the Deadlands by Anthony McGowan | Goodreads

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! 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 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. This gripping and unusual tale imagines how life might have evolved for the domestic animals forced to become wild in the aftermath of the Chernobyl disaster and the repercussions for their owners. 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!Her joy turns to heartbreak, however, when she is dragged from her bed in the middle of the night and evacuated to a safe place after a cataclysmic nuclear disaster: with her family but without her beloved puppy, Zoya. Will Zoya survive? If so, how will she make a life for herself in the wild? What about Natasha? How will her life be after losing everything including her beloved puppy? Will she ever be able to reunite with Zoya? The inhuman and human perspectives on the tragic tale come full circle in a bittersweet way. The sense of place is excellent, the characterisation perfect, and the plot is an utterly compulsive cover-to-cover. It has many twists and turns; some chapters are nail-biting, some will make you smile, and some will give you tears. Keith Robinson's illustrations are beautiful, making you want to imitate the “awww factor” once you see those adorable dogs.

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

Undoubtedly, McGowan is an accomplished author. All the characters of the book are masterfully drawn, be they animals or humans. The bond between Misha and his brother, Bratan, is beautiful. Right from birth, their mother impressed upon Misha that he has to take care of his brother as his legs are misshapen. Misha never faltered from his duty. Surprisingly, Bratan had an unerring sense of familial loyalty as well. Time and again, he managed to surprise both his family and us. Indeed, he is one of my favorite characters. It was heartening to see the dogs braving the forests of the deadlands. In the absence of humans, the woods were filled with lynxes, bears, catfish, and wolves, along with other predators. All these animals were doing their best to survive. Hence, it was a dangerous place for everyone. Yet, friendships cropped up at the most unexpected times. It was fun to see Misha and Bratan befriend a bear, the sworn enemy of dogs and wolves. The bond among the animals on the farm was heart-touching as well. Shepherd, Terrier, Saluki, Laika, Scrag, Shorty, and Sokha were a motley bunch. Circumstances brought this crew together yet theirs was a bond not to be trifled with. The transformation of Laika was as intriguing to witness as the growing proximity between Misha and Saluki. McGowan did a wonderful job of creating a character like Natasha. The Chernobyl Disaster had left an indelible mark on her. She lost her smile and her faith in humanity. The way the author shows her character development is amazing. It was indeed a treat to see her finally rediscover her true self. I have to mention I was deeply moved by Katerina Sobal as well. The lonely yet kind recluse indeed appeared to be Baba Yaga to me. Amidst the gore and trauma is a remarkable and intimate story of loyalty and love, resilience, survival and hope. Overall, Dogs of the Deadlands is a magical tale of love, loss, loyalty, hope, survival, separation, and reconciliation. It not only teaches us a lot about the animal kingdom but also gives us deep insights into humanity. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. People who love dogs and tales of survival would especially enjoy this book. Book Details 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. I loved the whole atmosphere of the Oxford Literary Festival. From breakfast, alongside some of the attendees, who were talking books with each other a mile a minute, to the public event at The Sheldonian where everyone was lively and engaged – I felt I had arrived in a kind of literary heaven.

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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 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? 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. The Oxford festival is the most elegant and atmospheric of literary festivals. It’s a pleasure to both attend and perform there. 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.