My son loaned me a middle grade novel to read that held a story about “endurance, hope, and finding you way back home”. (Quote from the back cover.) My daughter read it, also. We all fell in love with the book.

Ice Dogs, by Terry Lynn Johnson is an epic journey, by fourteen-year-old Vicky as she battles through a blizzard with her dog team to save herself, her dogs, and an inexperienced teen named Chris, who just moved to Alaska from the city.

The story comes to life because the author owned a team of eighteen Alaskan huskies for ten years and knows the ends and outs of dealing with them.

Vicky, the main character, loves her life in Alaska and desires nothing more than hanging out with her dogs and running them in races. Her dad died in an accident, a little over a year before the story begins. He fell through ice with no one around to save him. Vicky carries the guilt of not being there for her dad, because usually, they went everywhere together. That day, her mom had made her stay home.

Vicky idolized her dad. She shares in the story, “Dad liked to improve his mind, always reading books and taking classes.” A good example for all of us to think about.

Throughout the story, Vicky remembers the rules her dad taught her for staying alive in the most inhumane, freezing conditions. She depends on her lead dog, Bean, for help. He is the dog that understands her the most. They have a connection that goes beyond a human and a pet.

Vicky decides, against her mother’s wishes, to go to a nearby neighbor’s house to see new puppies that might be available to add to her sled team. She runs into Chris, a boy near her age, who she finds unconscious on the trail with a head wound. His snowmobile is twisted around a birch tree. He’s in wet blue jeans and will soon freeze to death without her help.

As he returns to consciousness and realizes what happened, he tries to resort to what he uses in the city. But GPS and cell phones don’t work in the wilderness. Vicky uses a typographical map and compass.

When Vicky is busy with her dogs, Chris lets the map get too close to the fire and it burns up. A sudden blizzard hits and they are left in the wilderness, lost, with Vicky being the only one that has the experience to save them. As food is running out and dehydration setting in, a moose attacks. Bean is left injured and no longer able to lead the team.

Vicky is concerned her favorite dog may not make it. She is concerned for herself and Chris. She has to feed not only herself, and Chris, but also her dog team—or they will not have the energy to pull the sled. As things go from bad to worse, Vicky and Chris learn more and more about each other.

Chris is to be admired for being a great swimmer, and he can sew. An unusual talent for a guy, that actually helps with the dogs. He is able to sew shoes that keep the ice from packing between the toes of one dog whose feet are becoming sore, causing it not to be able to pull as well.

Vicky has been taught by her dad, all the other things needed to remain alive in horrific conditions.

And Bean…

You learn more about Bean when Chris asks, “How did Bean become a leader?” (p. 221)

Vicky replies, “Bean just wanted to lead. You could tell. He listened for my voice all the time in the team, and he kept trying to look ahead of the other dogs in front of him. Bean and I have had a special connection right from the start.” (pp. 221-222)

The reader is drawn in. The stakes are high.

They come to a river and Vicky tests the ice to see if they can cross. It is safe, but once out on the ice, the dogs spot otters playing downstream and take off after them to a weaker area of ice. Vicky, Chris, Bean, the sled and all the dogs are plunged into the icy waters. You will have to read the book to find out who lives and how they make it out of their dire situation.

I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t put the book down. My son said, “Bean stole the show in that book for me. I stayed up reading it one night, I was so worried about Bean.”

That’s when you know you have a great book.

I recommend this book for anyone who loves middle grade novels for their in-depth descriptions of action and the deep emotional views of their characters. Terry Lynn Johnson did an amazing job with this book. Publishers Weekly describes the book as—”Full of white-knuckle action…”

Let me know in the comments below if you have read, or will read, the book.

Have a great week and happy reading!