Bobbie Pyron

dogs of winter is a historical fiction told from a boy named mishka.
His life starts out like many peoples, with his mother loving and caring telling him stories and teaching him, however after the death of his grandmother his mum falls into a state of depression turning to a vile man hereby named as Him.
One day miskas mother goes missing there is blood on the floor and He tries to take Mishka to an orphanage. However mishka escapes the mans grip and from there on lives on the streets of russia.

I never chose this book to read as i dont normally read this kind of book, but my boyfriend picked it up for me so thought id give it a go and im glad i did.
The story put me off a little at first as it was much like them books you see middle aged women reading about...like a child called it etc.

However it turns out to be a great read of a boy surviving life on the streets and after ordeals with different people finds himself confiding in a pack of strays with whome he throughout the story growws a very intense bond with, losing his humanity and learning to survive by instinct and the way of the pack.

An enjoyable and at times very sad read that im glad i stuck with as it isnt just a story about a boy on the streets it is a glimpse into a world that many people would never know of.… (mer)

Piper and her family end up in a shelter, but at least they have food to eat and roofs over their heads, even if her dad has to stay in a separate building. They are better off than others, like the lady who has to sleep in the park because she has a dog. When Piper finds out that this women who is named Jewell has gotten seriously ill and been taken to the hospital, she worries about her little dog Baby. How will he survive on his own? And how can Jewell get better without her best friend beside her? Can 11 year old Piper do anything to help? This story of hope shows no matter how little we have, we each can still help others. Grades 5-7… (mer)

This story is about a boy, Nate, and his grandfather that live on Paradise Beach. Nate's best friend, Gen, is a super brainy girl that believes in science and logic. For Nate's 11th birthday, they go miniature golfing and Nate is struck by lightning. Fortunately, he survives! However, he seems different after he was struck and life seems to start working out in his favor. For example, his grandpa's fishing trip business suddenly improves, he doesn't get called on at school to answer questions, and he suddenly is a great baseball player during PE (making an amazing catch and hitting a homerun). He thinks he suddenly has good luck after being struck and anything he touches, he fixes. His friend, Gen, just can't believe it because she believes in odds too much. Since Nate has become a great baseball player, a new group of friends invite him to play baseball everyday. He starts hanging out with these cool kids and forgets his friend Gen and saving of the sea turtles, which the two of them do every year. Towards the end of the story, there is a big hurricane and Gen is trying to save the sea turtle babies. Nate goes out to help her and they are both struck by lightning. Nate is okay because he had a picture frame under his shirt which protected him. However, Gen is not and is wheeled off to the hospital where she is in a coma for days. Eventually, Nate goes to visit Gen in the hospital and when he touches her with his "magic" hand, she wakes up and is going to be okay.… (mer)