The Dogs of Winter
“Bobbie Pyron’s storytelling is remarkable: the stuff of a dog lover’s (and adventure lover’s) dream. Inspiring!”
—Ann M. Martin, Newbery Honor winner
When Mishka’s mother disappears, he’s left to try and survive on the streets of Moscow with little chance to make it through the harsh winter and escape those who would harm him. But help comes in an unexpected form when he’s adopted by a pack of homeless street dogs. Over the next two years, the dogs become not only Mishka’s means of survival but his family.
August 2014 | Scholastic Inc. | 9780545399319
Inspiration
The Dogs of Winter was inspired by the true-life story of Ivan Mishukov, one of many thousands of children abandoned to the streets after the fall of the Soviet Union. My book is a fictional account of the two years—1996 to 1998—Ivan lived wild with the dogs.
Praise
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of The Year
Junior Library Guild Selection
Bankstreet Books Best Books of the Year
Finalist, Utah Book Awards 2013
Finalist, William Allen White Children’s Book Awards
“Terrifying, life-affirming and memorable.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“Written with compassion as well as a grim, sometimes brutal realism, this novel offers a riveting story as well as material for reflection and discussion.”
—Booklist, starred review
“Compelling and highly original fiction… An absorbing account.”
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, starred review
“Well-crafted sentences, lively dialogue, and a remarkable story line combine for an absorbing adventure tale that young readers will find irresistible.”
—Horn Book
“A beautifully told story of friendship and survival that will grab your heart from the first page and linger with you long after the last.”
—Ruta Sepetys, author of Between Shades of Gray