November 1, 2012
Ghost dog, stray or wolf? What lurks down the trail to Dorothy Creek? With her mother working in Japan, 12-year-old Anita and her younger brother, Jack, must accompany their writer father on a research trip to Alaska to study human/dog relationships for a new book. It looks to be a lonely two weeks until Tee hits it off with Quin, daughter to Dad's local research assistant. When Tee tells Quin about a spooky encounter she had with...well, something near a dilapidated cabin in the woods, the two decide to investigate to see if it's the legendary ghost dog or just some stray. When dangerous weather traps them, who (or what) will save them? In Kimmel's slightly eerie dog tale, the chills are mostly weather-related. Not too surprisingly, there's also quite a bit of dog lore. Tee's problems with her absent-minded father and rambunctious brother lend a sturdy realism to the characters and the story; occasional chapters from the point of view of a local dog trainer who was a girl in the late 1960s detail the truth that sparked the ghost dog's legend. All ends are tied up a bit too neatly, and the sap runs too thickly (and sweetly) at the close; dog lovers likely won't mind. Seekers of ghostly shivers should probably look elsewhere. (Adventure. 9-12)
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February 1, 2013
Gr 4-7-When 12-year-old Tee and her younger brother, Jack, temporarily relocate with their father to Nome, Alaska, she decides to explore the vast unknown with her beagle, Henry. On their first excursion into the woods, they encounter a strange, shadowy animal. With her new friend, Quin, Tee returns to the trails to find the mysterious creature, and this time they come face-to-face with a snarling doglike creature they name Shadow. Convinced he is a ghost dog from legends past, Tee and Quin try to unravel the mystery of why Shadow has come back to an abandoned cabin and what he might be searching for. They return to try to photograph Shadow and get caught in a blinding snowstorm. Taking refuge in the dilapidated cabin, they are cornered by the snarling dog, and, to make matters worse, Quin's younger brother has followed them. When an older woman, Dodie, shows up, the trio follows her, and the mystery of the Ghost Dog and the 50-year-old disappearance of a young girl are unraveled. The story is told in alternate narratives by Tee and Dodie. Background information about the Iditarod and the diphtheria epidemic that ravaged Nome is incorporated into the story, including paying homage to Balto and the other sled-dog teams that carried the medicine that saved so many lives. Unfortunately, Nome is portrayed inaccurately, as Tee frequently goes through the woods to see the Ghost Dog. There are no trees in Nome, making this a glaring oversight in an otherwise captivating and thrilling ghost story.-Michele Shaw, Quail Run Elementary School, San Ramon, CA
Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2013
Grades 4-7 Something is haunting Tee from the woods of Dorothy Creek. The seventh-grader has sensed its presence ever since arriving in Nome, Alaska, for a two-week trip while her author father gathers research for his latest book. From local dog-whisperer tween, Quin, she learns about the ghost dog that prowls the vicinity, and from former Iditarod race participant, Clay, she hears stories about Balto's famous serum run that saved lives from diphtheria in 1925. Tee and Quin can't help but wonder if the ghost dog is none other than the famous Balto. Intermittent chapters from the ghost dog's original owner fill in the story's gaps and add another layer of suspense with the disappearance of a little girl 50 years earlier. After an unexpected snowstorm leaves the girls stranded, the ghost dog leads them to shelter, where they uncover the truth about both mysteries. Kimmel's descriptions of the Alaskan wilderness and just the right amount of creepiness will provide readers, especially dog lovers, with a gripping adventure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)
January 1, 2013
On a visit to the Alaskan wilderness, twelve-year-old Tee, her dog Henry, and new friend Quinn meet a ghostly presence and become involved in solving a fifty-year-old local mystery when, during a hike, they are trapped in a snowstorm. Vivid language tells an intriguing story balancing supernatural suspense with realistic portrayal.
(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)