"Monniger takes a fairly standard foster-kid plot and revivifies it through his spare and finely-honed style. Baby's voice has more than a touch of Hemingway to it, yet there's a taut contemporaneousness to the combination of Baby's alienated account and the interpolated stories of dogs, especially Laika's namesake; the symbolism of Baby's canine experiences is quiet and unobtrusive, with events and stories operating effectively on the manifest level as well. The New Hampshire winter cold is also a constant presence, with the season a very different force in different situations; the descriptions of dog-sledding, the sheer joy of adrenaline in the frosty air, the blur of dogs in motion, and the heady thrill of pack participation are keenly observed.

Readers may not be surprised that Baby finally grows sufficiently beyond Bobby's thrall to know what's good for her, but they'll find the trip warming beneath its crisp exterior."
     —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The girl's first-person voice, the backdrop, and the details work together well to set this story apart from the many in which troubled teens find solace in animals."
     —Booklist

"The prose style is spare, evoking the harsh winter landscape. A new setting for a somewhat familiar theme."
     —Kirkus Reviews


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 "Monniger takes a fairly standard foster-kid plot and revivifies it through his spare and finely-honed style. Baby's voice has more than a touch of Hemingway to it, yet there's a taut contemporaneousness to the combination of Baby's alienated account and the interpolated stories of dogs, especially Laika's namesake; the symbolism of Baby's canine experiences is quiet and unobtrusive, with events and stories operating effectively on the manifest level as well. The New Hampshire winter cold is also a constant presence, with the season a very different force in different situations; the descriptions of dog-sledding, the sheer joy of adrenaline in the frosty air, the blur of dogs in motion, and the heady thrill of pack participation are keenly observed.

Readers may not be surprised that Baby finally grows sufficiently beyond Bobby's thrall to know what's good for her, but they'll find the trip warming beneath its crisp exterior."
     —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The girl's first-person voice, the backdrop, and the details work together well to set this story apart from the many in which troubled teens find solace in animals."
     —Booklist

"The prose style is spare, evoking the harsh winter landscape. A new setting for a somewhat familiar theme."
     —Kirkus Reviews

"The novel has a fascinating setting for this story of a troubled teen. The information about the dogs, a well as the sled competitions, adds a surprisingly poignant dimension to a familiar plotline."
     —KLIATT

"This wonderful coming-of-age novel has at its heart the healing power of nature. In this well-written tale, the author skillfully utilizes his love and understanding of sledding to weave a story of the redemptive and restorative power of animals."
     —School Library Journal

"Monninger captures the thrill of racing sled dogs and Baby's struggle to learn new choices. His smooth plot and non-sentimental prose will pull both males and females effortlessly along the trail. Yet his understated comparisons of animals to humans will leave readers much to ponder after they reach the finish line. A simple story, beautifully told."
     —ALAN Review

"Monninger gives Baby the space to find beauty in the crackling cold of the North Woods and confidence in the thrill of racing. Readers will be as aware of what’s going on as Baby is, but the unfolding of her story is neatly done."
     —Horn Book