Growing up in Russia, five-year-old Ivan has always had the comfort of his mother and his Babushka Ina. But things begin to change for him after his babushka dies. His mother starts drinking more, going out at night and leaving him alone with his storybooks. Then she brings a man home, a man Ivan wishes would just go away. But he doesn't—and one day Ivan's mother disappears. All Ivan can find of her is a single black button from her beloved red coat.

With his mother gone and nowhere else to go, Ivan finds himself living on the street. There are many homeless children on the streets in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. Not all of them are friendly and kind. From day to day, Ivan struggles to survive. He forgets what his mother's face looked like, even though he scours the crowds in the train station every day for a glimpse of her.

It's all Ivan can do just to stay alive, especially during the brutal cold of winter. He's not sure how he'll make it—until one day he happens upon a pack of dogs. They allow him into their warm den and eventually into their family. Ivan loses his grip on his old life as a little boy and becomes one of the pack. They protect each other, feed each other, and keep each other warm.

Amazingly enough, this book is based on a true story. A little boy named Ivan who surrounded himself with dogs instead of people lived on the streets of Russia at one time. If you want to learn more about the world, if you like stories about kids overcoming incredible obstacles, and especially if you love dogs, The Dogs of Winter is the book for you.

Find more of my book recommendations for grades 6-12 at www.read-or-die.com.