THE DOG'S MEOW

A kitten just wants to be a part of the dog sled team, and a 12-year-old girl just wants to fit in with her peers.

The summer before seventh grade has been hard on Mina since her best friend, Emily, hasn’t had any time for her and is now hanging out with the more popular girls. Making the most of things, Mina has put her efforts into creating T-shirts of her favorite band to sell at the Fairbanks farmers market alongside her father, who has been promoting his Alaskan dog-sledding expeditions. On the way home from the market one day, they discover Nukka, a lonely kitten, alone on the side of the road. As Nukka is welcomed into the family, she begins to believe that she is a husky and is frustrated when she isn’t allowed to do all the things the rest of the pack does. Chapters alternate between the perspectives of Mina, Nukka, and the lead sled dog. This heartwarming, high-interest book for animal lovers captures the feelings of what it is like to be left out, ultimately concluding with a satisfying ending as Mina is able to find new friends who appreciate her talents and Nukka gets the chance to prove she can bring something unique to the dog sled team. Human characters seem to be White by default.

A sweet story about finding your role in the pack.