The Dog's Meow

A kitten is adopted and raised by a pack of huskies -- and even develops some canine characteristics! -- in this heartwarming animal friendship story about marching to the beat of your own drum.

When 12-year-old Mina discovers an abandoned kitten, Nukka, in the outskirts of Fairbanks, Alaska, she knows she has to take it in. And with the help of Mina's huskies, Nukka quickly becomes part of the family.

There's only one problem (or is it?): Nukka is a cat, and with only a pack of huskies to raise her, she develops some... interesting characteristics. Nukka learns to pant like a dog, play fetch like a dog, and even wants to become a sled dog, just like her canine siblings. But they're so much bigger and stronger than she is. How could Nukka ever keep up?

But things take a turn for the worse when the pack is stranded in a forest during a rescue mission. With a blizzard on its way, will Nukka be able to save her family before it's too late?

Michelle Schusterman is the author of I Heart Band, a Scholastic Reading Club pick, The Kat Sinclair Files, and Olive and the Backstage Ghost. She's also an instructor at Writopia Lab, a nonprofit organization that offers creative-writing workshops for children and teens from all backgrounds. Find out more at michelleschusterman.com.