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Ask any middle school boy if he knows who Gary Paulsen is, and don’t be surprised when he correctly answers, “He writes really awesome books.”
When a man lives his life to the extreme, it is only natural he become filled with extreme tales. Paulsen, known for writing about his own experiences, doesn’t let his fans down with this one.
Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers is not a full-fledged story with a beginning, middle and end. Instead, it is more a personal essay based on the intimate relationship shared with his best lead sled dog, Cookie. This extraordinary friendship was forged over grueling years of training for, and the eventual running of, the famous Alaskan Iditarod. Although Paulsen hints at many exciting, even life-threatening ventures shared by the two, you will not find them contained here. This work is not a complete history of their time together but more or less an ode to their extraordinary run - the beginning of the end.
From the delivery of Cookie’s last litter, to the training of her final pups, to the physical ailments old age undeniably brings, Paulsen gives a heartfelt look at the emotional bond between man and beast. And so, in this short but worthy read, Cookie, lead sled dog, is immortalized.
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Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers