jaredpence's review against another edition
3.0
Though at times slow and plodding, this book was surprisingly engaging. I found the emotional plot points powerful and was engrossed in the anti-racist commentary. However, I struggled to appreciate the shifting viewpoint of different characters--both human and animal. And I found the unrelenting machismo and gruff masculinity (the novel consistently celebrates physical strength, violence, and harsh obstinacy) problematic.
zamyatins_fears's review
4.0
When I was young, Scrub Dog of Alaska was one of my favorite books. It’s been so many years since I’ve reread it, that I really couldn’t remember many details. Scrub is about a young husky/wolf mix that has been driven out by his owner. A nasty man who mistreats his sled dog team and his neighbors. Scrub escapes an early death at the hands of his master and instead spends time running about the town, nicking food from loosely latched cold boxes and trying to avoid his former pack, as they delight in stealing his ill gotten gains. One day, Scrub is desperate enough to fight back and is nearly mauled to death. Lucky for him, a kind miner finds him and brings him to the nearby home of his friends, which just happens to be the home of David, a kind boy who had been feeding Scrub his school lunches, until he breaks a leg and has to stay home. David and Scrub end up bonding as they heal together, but when Scrub has grown large from regular meals and has started training as a sled dog, his original owner decides to take him back. David never forgets his dog, but has no recourse. Scrub meanwhile, is taken to compete in races, but he doesn’t forget his boy and bides his time – wishing to escape and make it back home.
I loved this book as a kid and found it delightful as an adult. It’s a good introduction to the unfairness of life and the powerlessness of adults to always protect children from such, without becoming too depressing. My only complaint is a certain scene that feels like it was unconsciously lifted from The Call of the Wild. I’m speaking of the scene in which drunken mushers decide to have a contest to see which dog can haul the heavier load after breaking the runners of the sled out of the ice through sheer force. Though the motivation of the dog is different, the circumstances are the same. Buck in The Call of the Wild does it for love of his master, while Scrub is trying to avoid being beaten to death.
Other than that though, I’d highly recommend this book. It’s a quick read, easy to burn through in a day. Certainly a good book for young readers trying to get into their first chapter books. It’s a coming of age story, an adventure story, but most of all it’s a love story, between a boy and his dog.
I loved this book as a kid and found it delightful as an adult. It’s a good introduction to the unfairness of life and the powerlessness of adults to always protect children from such, without becoming too depressing. My only complaint is a certain scene that feels like it was unconsciously lifted from The Call of the Wild. I’m speaking of the scene in which drunken mushers decide to have a contest to see which dog can haul the heavier load after breaking the runners of the sled out of the ice through sheer force. Though the motivation of the dog is different, the circumstances are the same. Buck in The Call of the Wild does it for love of his master, while Scrub is trying to avoid being beaten to death.
Other than that though, I’d highly recommend this book. It’s a quick read, easy to burn through in a day. Certainly a good book for young readers trying to get into their first chapter books. It’s a coming of age story, an adventure story, but most of all it’s a love story, between a boy and his dog.
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