ADVENTURE USA - ALASKA! DANGER ON THE MUSHING TRAIL

Failing’s middle-grade novel is the first in a series of young-reader adventures featuring twins Josh and Lizzie Parker.

Eleven-year-olds Josh and Lizzie go to Alaska to visit relatives while their parents work on their eco-travel blog. Josh, who wrestles with the memory of a past dog attack, struggles with his fear when their cousin Brent, a competitive musher, introduces the siblings to his sled dog team. Despite his anxiety, Josh finds himself drawn to the world of dogsledding. That world includes Hank, a rival musher with questionable methods and a win-at-any-cost mentality (“That money’s got my name on it. It’s got to be mine”). Hank’s methods and disregard for the rules makes the trail dangerous, and he is eventually hurt during a practice run. With an approaching storm and conditions growing more and more treacherous, Josh steps up and faces his fears, relying on his instincts and newfound knowledge of sled dogs in an effort to navigate the trail and ensure everyone’s safety. The book ends with a helpful glossary and some discussion questions that should prove productive in the classroom. Failing has concocted an inspiring adventure here, with enough details about Alaska—especially the dogsledding world—to give readers an enticing taste of the 49th state. The action, particularly the heart-pounding climactic race, is exciting, and the characters, led by Josh and Lizzie, are well drawn and largely sympathetic and likeable. The lessons they learn about overcoming fears and doing the right thing (even when it’s difficult) will resonate with young readers. And there’s more to come—Josh and Lizzie’s parents are travel bloggers, and that profession lends itself to a peripatetic series. Readers will look forward to further adventures, happy that Josh and Lizzie will be along for the ride.

Warmth and suspense mark this tale that teaches life lessons through exciting action.