Anthony McGowan (text) and Keith Robinson (illustrator), Dogs of the Deadlands, Bloomsbury, November 2022, 320 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780861543267
Dogs of the Deadlands from acclaimed British author Anthony McGowan begins with household pets abandoned in the aftermath of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in 1986. Natasha flees Pripyat with her parents for their survival, devastated by having to leave their new puppy behind. The story follows what befalls the puppy left behind and the course of Natasha’s life as they both navigate the challenges of growing up far from their home.
The reading age suggestion is nine years old and over and includes wonderfully atmospheric black-and-white illustrations by Keith Robinson. Having been hailed as a Children’s Book of the week in The Times newspaper, Dogs of the Deadlands will equally appeal to young adults and adult readers who enjoy animal survival tales about dogs, wolves, bears and other wild animals. McGowan writes honestly, contrasting the harshness and the beauty of life in the wild, delving into the ancient power and connection between animals, humans, wild places, and the meaning of home. The emotional aftermath for animals and people in a landscape ravaged by radiation is somehow woven with gentleness and hope.
For younger readers, be aware that there are upsetting but poignant scenes dealing with the death of humans and the often-harrowing death of animals who fight for their lives. Readers may find tears falling when they read Dogs of the Deadlands, but this tale of animal survival against all odds will settle fondly in their hearts as a remarkable and moving tale about life’s wild twists and turns.
Reviewed by Angela Brown