Publishers Weekly
In her first book for children, adult author Barrow brings readers a gentle and suspenseful story straight from the heart of a dog-lover. Just after WWII ends, 13-year-old Mikhail finds a beautiful German shepherd named Zasha and her owner, Petr, in the woods near his small Russian town. Shortly after, Petr dies and Mikhail and his family (except for his father, who has not yet returned from the war) are determined to keep the beloved dog hidden from those seeking to capture or kill the dog because of the breed's association with Germany: Katia, a nosy schoolmate and the daughter of the newspaper editor investigating Petr's death; Dimitri, a breeder who hopes to create a Russian superdog; and a pair of conniving dog thieves. Mikhail's sense of humor, concern for his family, and love of Zasha are all readily apparent in his narration, which smoothly incorporates background information for readers unfamiliar with 20th-century Russian life and history. If occasionally precious, Barrow's novel is quick reading yet weighty, and captures the prejudices and aftereffects of war. Ages 9–13. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
"In tones crafted to delight the whole family, Roger Mueller presents the tale of Zasha, a beautiful German shepherd found by two boys in post-WWII Russia. The target of thieves and potential euthanasia because of her perceived German heritage, Zasha must be hidden from all except her family. Throughout the performance, Mueller employs a light accent meant to convey a Russian dialect. This deft touch keeps the listeners’ imaginations in that eastern European culture. At the same time, he maintains an upbeat and enthusiastic attitude throughout the story, subtly assuring his audience that a happy ending will ensue. Indeed it does, and listeners of all ages will be cheering for boys and dogs to the end."
R.L.L. - Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award - © AudioFile Portland, Maine
School Library Journal
Gr 5–8—Living in Russia in 1945, 13-year-old Mikhail finds a dying man with a beautiful German shepherd in the woods near his home. During the war, Russians, hating all things German, killed this breed. But Mikhail and his family, minus his father who has not returned from the war or been heard from in several years, are determined to protect Zasha. She must be kept a secret, since many Russians feel it is traitorous to keep such an animal. But now the war is over, and the country needs dogs to perform various functions since most of them were killed in battle, thus spawning dangerous thieves who want to steal and sell them. Dimitri, a former soldier, is attempting to breed a new, improved Russian dog, and he would be very interested in acquiring a German shepherd. While this story captures the love of a boy for his dog and reflects the dark effects of war on both humans and animals, secondary character development is weak. Mikhail's mother shares platitude after platitude. The ending, with the father's return and the birth of puppies, is predictable, pat, and saccharine. An additional purchase for dog lovers and those interested in little-known facts about World War II.—Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
JANUARY 2011 - AudioFile
In tones crafted to delight the whole family, Roger Mueller presents the tale of Zasha, a beautiful German shepherd found by two boys in post-WWII Russia. The target of thieves and potential euthanasia because of her perceived German heritage, Zasha must be hidden from all except her family. Throughout the performance, Mueller employs a light accent meant to convey a Russian dialect. This deft touch keeps the listeners’ imaginations in that eastern European culture. At the same time, he maintains an upbeat and enthusiastic attitude throughout the story, subtly assuring his audience that a happy ending will ensue. Indeed it does, and listeners of all ages will be cheering for boys and dogs to the end. R.L.L. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
In an evocatively realized post–World War II Russia, as some of the severe hardships of war are receding, 13-year-old Mikhail, his older brother, younger sister and mother are suddenly faced with a new peril when they decide to keep a beautiful female German shepherd after its owner dies. They must hide her carefully. The few dogs remaining after the brutal war have become targets for unscrupulous thieves, while anything even vaguely German is liable to be destroyed by authorities or an angry public. The nosy daughter of the local newspaper owner is relentless in her determination to discover the secret she's certain they're hiding. Each new threat effectively heightens the sense of danger, making this a page-turner. A parallel story—the Russian Army's attempt to develop a uniquely Russian breed of working dog—weaves through the account of the family's efforts to protect an innocent pet. Some of the specific atrocities of war suffered by dogs are briefly described. A highly engaging and ultimately hopeful animal story with a strong sense of time and place.(Historical fiction. 10-14)
