Akiak : A Tale from the Iditarod [Hardcover]

Robert J. Blake (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

It is Iditarod day. Fifty-six dog teams will race through 1,151 miles of rugged Alaskan terrain from Anchorage to Nome. Akiak knows these miles well. As lead dog, she has raced the incredible trail before, but never won. She is ten years old: if she is going to win, it must be now.

When snow hurts her paw on the fourth day out, Mick, her musher, must leave her behind and continue the race without her. The rules say once a dog is dropped from the race, it may not rejoin the team. But Akiak doesn't know about rules. She is a lead dog, and her place is with the team. Nothing, not blizzards, not breaking ice, not the people out to catch her, will stop Akiak from catching up to her team. The question is, can the team still win?

Robert J. Blake's majestic snowscapes will lead you through this unforgettable tale of a dog with a hero's heart, a dog who will not give up. Akiak will leave you cheering.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3. Left behind because of an injury, a lead husky sets out on her own to find her team and win the race. An action-packed tale of daring, determination, and dedication.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

From Jack London's Call of the Wild to Gary Paulsen's many tales, the relationship between humans and dogs as they face the harsh northern climes has captivated readers. Recapitulating that theme is Blake's story of the 1,151-mile Iditarod from Anchorage to Nome; Mick's lead dog is Akiak, who pounds through wind and across snow, never getting lost. Then, on Day Four, ice jams up one of Akiak's pawpads and she is taken out of the race and almost flown home. She twists free of her handler before the plane takes off, pushes through blizzards and past checkpoints, sticking to the trail and eventually meeting up with Mick; according to the rules, Akiak cannot be harnessed up again but she does prevent her mistress from taking the wrong trail before climbing aboard the sled for the ride to a first-place finish. Blake's naturalistic icy blue paintings chronicle Akiak's independent race across lone landscapes, burrowing in snowdrifts for shelter and escaping well-meaning trail volunteers. The rugged style translates well from the ocean setting of Spray (1996) to the untamed Alaskan terrain; the textured slathers of oil paint in repeated cold tones are perfect for icy plains, tracks in the snow, and rooftop icicles. Akiak's efforts may not constitute life-and-death drama, but young readers will cheer the heroic dog on in this satisfying outdoor adventure. (Picture book. 5-10) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Philomel; 1 edition (September 22, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399227989
• ISBN-13: 978-0399227981
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Games > Sports > Winter Sports

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A heartwarming dog story from the land of bitter cold!, May 10, 2001

By 

Volkert Volkersz (Snohomish, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Akiak : A Tale from the Iditarod (Hardcover)

We recently added "Akiak" to our elementary school library collection, because one of our primary classes was following this year's Iditarod. It instantly became a popular title, and several other classes have thoroughly enjoyed it as a read-aloud.

I can see "Akiak" becoming an annual tradition, right before the first "mush" of the famous Alaskan sled-dog race.

In frosty clear language, accompanied by his museum-quality oil paintings, Robert Blake, presents a day by day account of Mick's team, initially led by 10 year-old Akiak, until she "can't run on that paw." Akiak is left at a dog drop, but refusing to be flown out, she breaks free to chase after her team, many hours behind.

In this "incredible journey," students get a taste of the Alaskan's passion for this unique sport, learning about the hardships and rules of the race along the way. The trail map on the end papers would be helpful for those wanting to turn this into a simple geography lesson.

This excellent story works on many levels. This is worth reading, even if you're just looking for a heartwarming dog story!

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Colorful dramatic paintings add to the descriptive narrative, October 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Akiak : A Tale from the Iditarod (Hardcover)

I strongly advise parents to adopt this book as one of their all time favorites. It explains an American tradition that most of us are unfamiliar with. The paintings alone are worth the cost of the book. Mr. Blake has used true artistry to describe the trama of the Iditarod. We Loved It!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Iditarod brought to life, March 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Akiak : A Tale from the Iditarod (Hardcover)

My kids thoroughly enjoyed this story of the dog who refused to give up when it becomes injured during the race and runs the Iditarod trail alone. The pictures are absolutely beautiful as well. There is plenty of action and suspense, and my children beg to hear it every night!