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Dogs of the Deadlands

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Book Synopsis

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…

But will the dogs survive without humans? And can humans live without them?

Our Review Panel says...

Set in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, this fictional story of the dogs left behind to fend for themselves is both powerful and upsetting, yet exciting and inspiring.

Anthony McGowan weaves together the story of a young girl who is forced to flee from her home with that of pups Misha and Bratan, brothers who also live a life running away. The characters of the dogs and the other animals they encounter throughout the book are brought to life with vivid descriptions and wonderful storytelling. We are made to care about them as much as we do about the greatest human fictional characters.

The villains of the story, the predators, are menacing and fierce, and the fights between the dogs and them are told in a manner that is not for the faint-hearted. However, the reality of the battle for survival in the wild is not a story of fiction and is, therefore, a story that needs to be told. As such, I would recommend this book to readers of lower secondary school age, best suited to Year 8.

This book will pull at your heartstrings, make your heart skip a beat and leave you in awe of McGowen’s wonderful storytelling.