McKinley, a malamute, is a good dog -- he's reliable and trustworthy. Whether it's watching over the other dogs of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, or taking care of his human pup, Jack, McKinley never even thinks of letting anyone down -- until he meets Lupin. Lupin is a she-wolf and she's urging the dogs of Steamboat Springs to leave their domesticated lives and join her wild pack. And though she scares McKinley, he also finds himself drawn to her and the life of freedom that she offers.

For the first time, McKinley's loyalties are torn. Should he stay with his humans and continue to lead the dogs of Steamboat Springs? Or should he join the wolf and live freely, like his ancestors did? When the wild calls, what will McKinley's answer be?

The Good Dog

ANNOTATION

McKinley, a malamute, is torn between the domestic world of his human family and the wild world of Lupin, a wolf that is trying to recruit dogs to replenish the dwindling wolf pack.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

McKinley, a malamute, is a good dog -- he's reliable and trustworthy. Whether it's watching over the other dogs of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, or taking care of his human pup, Jack, McKinley never even thinks of letting anyone down -- until he meets Lupin. Lupin is a she-wolf and she's urging the dogs of Steamboat Springs to leave their domesticated lives and join her wild pack. And though she scares McKinley, he also finds himself drawn to her and the life of freedom that she offers.

For the first time, McKinley's loyalties are torn. Should he stay with his humans and continue to lead the dogs of Steamboat Springs? Or should he join the wolf and live freely, like his ancestors did? When the wild calls, what will McKinley's answer be?

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Themes reminiscent of Jack London's The Call of the Wild ring throughout this vividly imagined animal story. From a canine perspective, Avi (Poppy) relates how a malamute named McKinley's life changes after he encounters a wolf. Head dog in Steamboat Springs, McKinley leads a busy life, protecting his family (including his "human pup," Jack) and keeping order among his canine compatriots in the mountain town. While trying to aid a runaway the forlorn greyhound, Duchess, whose owner offers a reward for her return McKinley encounters Lupin, a wolf who hopes to recruit dogs for her dwindling pack. Lupin's indictment of dogs ("tongue-lapping, tail-wagging slaves who take their food from bowls!") both stirs and shames McKinley; he soon finds his loyalties torn as he simultaneously tries to foil Jack's misguided plan to join the wolves, keep a wounded Lupin safe from those hunting her and fend off Redburn, a conniving Irish setter bent on usurping the hero's place as head dog. The action moves along at a crackling pace, reaching a crescendo in a dramatic moonlight confrontation. The dog's-eye point of view allows for some creative touches, including insights into animal behavior and the vocabulary McKinley uses for various human objects ("eating sticks" for utensils; "a block of staring papers" for book; "glow box" for television), but most compelling of all is the transformation of McKinley's happy-go-lucky character into a truly majestic leader. Ages 8-12. (Oct.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Themes reminiscent of Jack London's Call of the Wild ring throughout this vividly imagined animal story told from a canine perspective, said PW. The action moves along at a crackling pace, reaching a crescendo in a dramatic moonlight confrontation. Ages 8-12. (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

Avi's latest quick read comes from the perspective of McKinley, Jack's beloved malamute. McKinley and Jack share many qualities and concerns of adolescent boys. When a lone she-wolf wanders the outskirts of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, searching for dogs willing to help her to repopulate the pack, McKinley becomes pulled between the wild, free world of his wolf ancestors and the secure confines of his human family. Jack, McKinley's "pup," is an adventurous youngster who wants to share a "jungle book" type of experience with this wolf by joining him for a period in the wild. McKinley is torn between protecting Jack from the wild lupin and exploring his wild animal side while maintaining his leadership position with the town dogs. This turn on point-of-view will keep readers riveted through the last page. 2001, Richard Jackson Book/Atheneum Books for Young Readers, $16.00. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner

VOYA

The renowned author of two Newbery Honor books, Avi tries something a little different this time. The story is told from the point of view of McKinley, a German shepherd. In a remote Colorado town, a wolf is trying to make contact with the dogs of the area. The wolf has great disdain for the domestic lifestyle that the dogs comfortably have accepted, yet she wants to recruit a few of them to replenish her pack. This message comes just as an arrogant, spoiled Irish setter begins challenging McKinley for the position of head dog in the town. McKinley is faced with one dilemma after another—considering the wolf's offer himself, preventing his young master from joining the town's wolf hunt, helping a runaway greyhound escape from its owner, and keeping the interfering Irish setter away from them both. Things get more complicated when the wolf is injured and McKinley hides her and then gets in trouble by stealing meat from his home to feed her. A final confrontation with the hunters and the setter and a daring escape bring the story to a satisfactory conclusion. There are some clever devices in the story;the dogs can only understand bits and pieces of what humans say, and they have unusual names for human devices they do not understand, such as televisions and refrigerators. This contrivance, however, gets a little old by the end of the book. Overall this novel for the upper elementary or middle school audience is satisfying, with plenty of adventure, pathos, and conflict. VOYA CODES:4Q 4P M (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses;Broad general YA appeal;Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2001, Simon & Schuster, 256p, $16. Ages 11 to 14. Reviewer:KevinBeach—VOYA, December 2001 (Vol. 24, No. 5)

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-A story with a decidedly canine point of view that will delight dog lovers. Jack's malamute, McKinley, is the top dog in Steamboat Springs, CO. His enemy is not a cat but a sad excuse for an Irish setter, Redburn. Sedate small-town life is interrupted by the appearance of Lupin, a she-wolf that urges dogs to free themselves from the tyranny of domesticated life. The noble McKinley tries to help her, and save a mistreated greyhound, but is misunderstood and relegated to the "dog house" by rather dim-witted humans. Communication between dogs and humans is awkward at best. There is a lot of dialogue among the dogs, among the humans, and between humans and dogs. The people come off as pretty stupid and McKinley is rather tolerant of the limitations of his "human pup" owner. It is confusing that sometimes McKinley seems to understand exactly what humans think and say and at other times professes ignorance. Still, fans of the film version of The Incredible Journey and Beethoven will lap this up as it has a very cinematic feel. Many scenes seem almost written directly for film. Readers will have no problem following the rapid, almost relentless action. John Erickson's "Hank the Cowdog" series (Viking) and James Howe's "Bunnicula" series (Atheneum) are similar in tone.-Marilyn Payne Phillips, University City Public Library, MO Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information. Read all 6 "From The Critics" >