Murphy, Gold Rush Dog

September 15, 2014
Historical fiction for dog lovers. Nome, Alaska, 1900, is a hotbed of lawless gold-rush fever and no place for an unaccompanied woman and her 11-year-old daughter, but that is exactly where Sally and her mother find themselves. The story is told from the point of view of Murphy, an abused sled dog who runs away from his owner in Nome and wanders homeless and hungry until Sally, newly arrived from Seattle, encounters him and convinces Mama that Murphy would be good protection for them. Murphy happily settles into his new life as a loved member of the family, and he does his best to protect them, but he is plagued by thoughts of cowardice brought on by his previous owner's mistreatment. As summer ends, Mama makes plans to leave, finding life in Nome too difficult. But Sally has plans of her own. Taking Murphy, she runs away to find gold, thinking to ease the working grind of her Mama's life. Readers will feel the thrill of survival on the tundra as Murphy saves Sally from a grizzly, an avalanche and unscrupulous men. Equal parts heart-wrenching and -warming, the story never slides into cloying sentimentality, and its message of the value of love over greed is as subtle as it is powerful. An adventure-filled tale set within a fascinating period of history. (historical note, bibliography, further reading) (Historical fiction. 7-10)

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October 1, 2014

Gr 3-6-Murphy, a sled dog, narrates this light adventure story. As the book opens, he's being run ragged at the hands of his cruel master. Stumbling into their new camp in the gold-rush town of Nome, Alaska, Murphy decides that he can't abide Carlick's brutality for one more day. He escapes, but life as a stray isn't much better-until he meets Sally. She and her mother are also new in town, and girl and dog forge an immediate bond. The scrappy duo meet with all kind of adventures, from a close call with a pack of wolves to getting up close and personal with corrupt Carlick. Will their bond and their wits be enough to sustain them in this rough-and-tumble town? Hart once again blends first-person canine narrative with period details and events. Though turn-of-the-century gold mining could be a cutthroat enterprise, the tension and violence are never ratcheted up too high. Montgomery's smudgy pencil drawings have a soft look, reinforcing the feeling that the story will reach a peaceful conclusion. Back matter gives further information and resources for learning more about the Alaskan gold rush. Give this one to sensitive readers who love dog stories but aren't ready for the heartache of books like Fred Gibson's Old Yeller (HaraperCollins, 1995) and Wilson Rawls's Where the Red Fern Grows (Yearling, 1996).-Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY

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