Joan Hiatt Harlow is the author of several popular historical novels including Secret of the Night Ponies, Shadows on the Sea, Midnight Rider, Star in the Storm, Joshua's Song, Thunder from the Sea, and Breaker Boy. Ms. Harlow lives in Venice, Florida. For more information, visit her at JoanHiattHarlow.com. Jim Madsen is the illustrator of numerous books for children. He is a graduate of Brigham Young University and lives with his wife and kids in Provo, Utah where he enjoys the outdoors, golf, and riding Harley Davidson motorcycles.
Gr 4-7-Harlow's descriptive prose clearly evokes images of the Newfoundland coast and life in 1912, and she carefully incorporates folklore of the region into her story. Maggie, 12, is determined to keep her beloved Newfoundland, Sirius, in spite of a new law that bans all but sheepdogs from this sheep-raising community. The characters are drawn with a heavy hand and are either evil or good at the beginning. Maggie's determination makes her the most interesting and endearing character. Howard Rand, the wealthiest man in town, is the villain who champions the law that threatens Sirius's very existence. Obvious foreshadowing shows the canine's bravery and amazing abilities to perform rescues from raging sea conditions. How convenient that the dog is able to save Mr. Rand's older daughter and grandchild from almost certain death when the steamer they are on crashes into some rocks close to shore. At this point, Rand mellows, and he withdraws his opposition to Sirius. Even his nasty younger daughter, Maggie's nemesis, comes around in the end. It's unfortunate that the story and the changes in the mean characters are so predictable. Still, in spite of its shortcomings, the book will be a popular choice among readers who love dog stories.-Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
A dog story in the best tradition of the genre....Readers will be
captivated by the scope of the story.-- "Kirkus Reviews"
Atmospheric, briskly paced.-- "Publishers Weekly"
Stirring adventure.-- "Booklist"
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