Good dog story set in Russia after WW II. Found out about Russian breed developed then. ( )

So far, this book is so simply rendered as to be almost placeless. However, it does relate, in simple language, a story of Russia in the aftermath of WWII and it features a dog. Therefore, it may appeal to reluctant Intermediate readers who might otherwise avoid historical fiction. I find the plot too contrived, but, then again, I am not ten. I hope that the second half of the book develops some depth.

Alas, some action, but stalled in the shallows. When the boys (13 and 15) have to defend their dog & home from theives with guns, the writer assures us that their "father had made sure we were expert marksmen, training us from the time we were five or six years old." However, it mystifies this reader how these "expert marksmen" on the next page "hadn't fired these rifles in a long time, maybe even a year" (p. 182). This slim volume is riddled with lots of these sorts of sloppy conveniences. Perhaps, though, the intended audience will bear it better, this thin in SPCA-approved holier-than-bow-wow dog story. ( )

So far, this book is so simply rendered as to be almost placeless. However, it does relate, in simple language, a story of Russia in the aftermath of WWII and it features a dog. Therefore, it may appeal to reluctant Intermediate readers who might otherwise avoid historical fiction. I find the plot too contrived, but, then again, I am not ten. I hope that the second half of the book develops some depth.

Alas, some action, but stalled in the shallows. When the boys (13 and 15) have to defend their dog & home from theives with guns, the writer assures us that their "father had made sure we were expert marksmen, training us from the time we were five or six years old." However, it mystifies this reader how these "expert marksmen" on the next page "hadn't fired these rifles in a long time, maybe even a year" (p. 182). This slim volume is riddled with lots of these sorts of sloppy conveniences. Perhaps, though, the intended audience will bear it better, this thin in SPCA-approved holier-than-bow-wow dog story. ( )

When Mikhail and his family encounter Zasha, they decide they want to keep her. She's a beautiful German Shepard and that is a problem in Russian just after WWII has ended. The family faces threats from dog stealers, a nosy neighborhood girl, and must keep Zasha a secret.
A quick read with tough, likeable characters. It's a gentle story with things wrapped up neatly. ( )

This book had a slow start and i do not like that in books. I did not read more than half way through so I do not know a lot about the book except that it is about a boy that finds a German Shepard and hides it from people how want her dead.
The fact that i did not finish the book is some thing I wish I had not. So I am going to re read the hole book and see if i like it. But overall i did not like the beginning. ( )