'The ice was slippery. Her paws kept splaying outwards until the cold of the ice on her belly made her tiptoe back up to her full height . . . Someone on the bridge threw a lump of coal at her. It skidded across the whiteness, leaving a black trail, then plopped into a fissure: the ice was breaking up.'
Clay and his brother, Hal, rescue a struggling dog from the icy River Thames. But back on dry land their father refuses to take her in - the new Dog Tax means she's too expensive to keep. As skinners sharpen their knives, ready to make money from pelts just like hers, the boys determine to save her - at whatever cost . . .
Geraldine McCaughrean is an established author for all age groups. Geraldine has been awarded many prizes for her writing, including the Whitbread Children's Book Award for A Little Lower than the Angels, the Library Association Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Award for a Pack of Lies. Geraldine has also published a number of retellings of traditional stories. She was awarded the Blue Peter Book Award for her retelling of 'A Pilgrim's Progress'. Geraldine lives in Berkshire and has a young daughter.
Title: Dog Days
Author: Geraldine McCaughrean
ISBN: 9780340866085
Binding:
Publisher: Hachette Children's Group
Publication Date: 2004-05-13
Number of Pages: 128
Weight: 0.1588 kg
Never patronising, never overly sentimental, this author understands exactly what children will enjoy * Newbury weekly news *
an excellent introduction to historical novels , with just the right amount of modern fizz * The Irish Times *
'... stands in a place between logic and imagination, where the enjoyment of language is king.' (SIX STOREY HOUSE) * The Times *
'poignant, original and funny ... This book is a triumph of wit, warmth and careful composition from one of our most creative and versatile contemporary children's writers' (SIX STOREY HOUSE) * TES Primary *
'It is great to come across a novel written for this age group that feels like a proper book rather than an extension of a school-reading scheme ... Geraldine McCaughrean's quirky story gets to the emotional heart of a big, old house ... a delicately written tale' (SIX STOREY HOUSE) * The Guardian *
