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

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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. 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. Dolphin lovers will appreciate this look at our complicated relationship with these marine mammals. 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. This visceral story of heartbreak and survival...has the memorable feel of a classic.’ Guardian, Best children’s and YA books of 2022

Dogs of the Deadlands by Anthony McGowan: Book Review Dogs of the Deadlands by Anthony McGowan: Book Review

Every literary festival stays in an author’s mind for slightly individual reasons. I shall remember the Oxford festival for: 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. 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.I sped through this though, caught up in visually arresting scenes of destroyed forests, starving and brutalised animals but also comradeship and loyalty, love and trust. Every so often a story comes along that makes you its prey, takes you in its jaws, shakes you — and you have no option but to go limp and submit. Such is the case with the new young adult novel from the Carnegie-winning author Anthony McGowan, who has written a classic best described as a post-nuclear The Hundred and One Dalmatians with a little of The Incredible Journey thrown in. Yet it has a howl all of its own. 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? 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 will not be for everyone, but for those who are willing to go on this journey, it will be well worth the reading.

Dogs Of The Deadlands Greyhound Literary • Dogs Of The Deadlands

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.

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? 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. Hello Book Friends! It has been a while since a book had me in tears at the end. DOGS OF THE DEADLANDS by Anthony McGowan just did that. This middle-grade book is a beautiful story of family, courage, and fate. Some parts were difficult to read because of the death content but that’s nature’s way and it is not avoidable. I love Misha’s story and I cheered for him to the end. Written mostly from the point of view of the animals, this illustrated book is a wonderful. This hard-hitting, compelling story of life on the streets for an abandoned dog and his search for the boy who loves him.

Dogs of the Deadlands: Shortlisted for the Week Junior Book Dogs of the Deadlands: Shortlisted for the Week Junior Book

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 Steeped in Richard Adams’ Plague Dogs and Watership Down, yet wearing all the hallmarks of Barry Hines at his finest, Dogs of the Deadlands is a wonderful thing. It moved me and stayed with me for an awfully long time.’ Phil Earle, author of When the Sky Falls The answer to all these questions can be found in Anthony McGowan’s spellbinding novel, Dogs of the Deadlands. The award-winning author weaves a tale that is bound to tug at your heartstrings right from the beginning. His writing style is vivid and has a lyrical lilt to it. Each and every word seems to speak to you and make you feel like a character of the story. I was indeed moved by the intense descriptions of hunger and loss, love and loyalty. The travails of the animals, their desperate attempt to quench hunger, the fight to stay alive, and the intense battles with dangerous predators like lynxes, bears, and wolves keep you on the edge throughout the story. Add to that, a dash of romance, a pinch of deep friendships, and sacrificial familial loyalty, and you have yourself a winner. The beautiful sketches by Keith Robinson enliven the story even more. 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. 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?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! 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. 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. 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.