What worked:
Gwen’s family flees their home in the middle of the night but she ends up alone in the wilderness. The rest of the story is a survival adventure as she tries to reconnect with her parents and sister. The journey begins by simply trying to find food and water to stay alive, then collecting necessities while waiting for her parents to return, and she finally decides to search for other humans farther into the wilderness. The plot covers several years so it’s fast-paced. Many of the chapters involve practical survival strategies snakes and wild boars provide unexpected challenges.
The collection of canines is the highlight of the story as they come from a variety of breeds with unique personalities. Zip is a greyhound and the fastest of the group but his poor eyesight leads to collisions with immovable objects. Nosey is a Labrador who acts as their guide since he always knows which way to go. Tiny is a small Chihuahua with a mighty bark and a keen sense of hearing. The group is joined by a powerful mastiff called Brutus but it takes some time for him to accept the others. Finally, Puppy is Gwen’s first companion and the pair develop a very close bond. It takes a while for Gwen to realize Puppy is a wolf cub but readers will probably recognize it from the illustrations.
What didn’t work as well:
The text includes different font styles and sizes but it’s overdone. Changing the font helps to emphasize certain words but it loses its effect when it’s overused. The book’s ending will leave readers disappointed as they’re left with “to be continued” instead of resolving the conflict.
The final verdict:
The book has a dog-centered survival story that should appeal to most young readers. Readers should plan to read the sequel since the plot is unfinished and will continue later. If readers are prepared to continue the series, I recommend they give the book a shot.