Ice Dogs invites the reader into the icy world of dogsled racing with the strong-willed, lovable main character, Victoria. She stands out at school as the only musher, but she pursues her dream of racing regardless of what fellow students think. 

For living in a tropical climate, ironically, I do love reading about snow-filled landscapes, and I was shivering in my sandals as Victoria and her new friend Chris, the city boy, fought the elements and tried to find a way home. Here’s more about the book below (blurb from Goodreads):

Victoria Secord, a 14-year-old Alaskan dogsled racer, loses her way on a routine outing with her dogs. With food gone and temperatures dropping, her survival, and that of her dogs and the mysterious boy she meets in the woods, is entirely up to her.

Author Terry Lynn Johnson is a musher herself and her crackling writing puts readers at the reins as Victoria and Chris experience setbacks, mistakes, and small triumphs in their wilderness adventure.    

Genres: Middle Grade; Young Adult; Adventure; Clean

Ratings for Ice Dogs

Rating: 5/5

Action/Adventure

There are moments of high suspense, including large animals and crossing a frozen river, but there are also great moments of humor in between. Chris is a great character, and he’s very charming as well as humble. I loved seeing how he tried his best to help them get home (even if he did get on Victoria’s nerves). Some of Chris’s comments could be seen as flirtatious, but by the end of the book, it’s clear that he’s just a jokester. In terms of romance, there isn’t any beyond Chris’s light jokes and Victoria noticing that he is attractive. 

And what would this book be without the dogs? I loved the way Victoria cared so much for her dogs, especially the leader, Bean. She gave everything she had for her dogs, even the last scraps of food, and it was awesome to get insight into the dynamics between the dogs and racer. I loved that each dog had a clear, funny personality.

Worldview/Religion

The worldview of the novel is secular, with no mentions of God or any religion. Victoria does believe that a small animal figurine her dad gave her brings her good luck. When it comes to the novel’s main themes, Victoria and her mother are dealing with the grief from losing Victoria’s father a year ago. Victoria struggles with control and feeling guilt that she could have prevented her father’s loss. There is tension between Victoria and her mother, but it’s great to see them talk and make amends by the resolution of the novel.

Content

In the wilderness, the characters fight real dangers, such as starvation, hypothermia, wildlife, and the general landscape. While there are moments of difficulty and despair, it is handled carefully and the characters never give up hope. There are non-descriptive mentions of blood as one of the dogs is injured, but the characters help the dog and keep their composure. Also, the characters have to sleep side-by-side in the sled in order to fight off hypothermia in the night. There are moments of peril, one with a large moose and another with breaking ice and rushing water (note: this scene may be a bit scary for a reader who is afraid of water/drowning). 

Final Thoughts

I wasn’t sure what to expect with Ice Dogs, but I really enjoyed the adventure and seeing the characters’ resilience. Victoria’s struggle with guilt and control is definitely relatable, and to see her grow is great. She realizes that she can’t contro every aspect of her life, but she can do her best in how she responds to difficult situations. This is a great read for ages 12+. 

If you’re interested in books in a cold climate, I recommend Cold Light of Day (Christian Suspense) or Fang of the Wolf (Epic Fantasy).