by Kirby Larson
First published 2010
Nubs leads a pack of wild dogs in Iraq, scraping by without shelter or steady food. When he encounters Marine Major Brian Dennis, everything shifts. Dennis shares his rations and gives Nubs a place to rest near the base. For the first time, Nubs experiences human care and becomes attached to Dennis and his unit. Military orders force the Marines to move their operation 70 miles away. Regulations prevent them from taking Nubs along. The dog faces a choice between his old life with the pack and his new bond with Dennis. Nubs sets off across the harsh desert alone, navigating freezing temperatures and unknown dangers to track down his human friend. His journey becomes more than a search for one person. It transforms into a mission that captures global attention and proves the strength of connection between species.
Genres: fiction, animals, adventure, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, interspecies-friendship
Setting: Iraq
Period: 21st-Century
Kindle Edition · Little, Brown Books for Young Readers