SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL --Gr 4-8-Brreìmaud's latestwordless graphic novel follows the harrowing journey of a hunting mastiff whomust traverse the Australian outback alone after his owner is attacked andkilled by a poisonous snake. In his quest to get home to his remaining humanfamily, the mastiff hunts for food and defends himself against aggressivewildlife, including hostile snakes and a pack of ravenous dingoes. Interspersedwith the mastiff's story are panels in which platypuses, echidnas, koalas, andother Australian wildlife care for their young and hide from predators. Evokinga nature documentary, this fifth book in the “Love” series usesdetailed sequential storytelling to immerse readers in the mastiff's trek.Bertolucci's rich, earthy tones; lively action sequences; and intricateportrayals of animals in their habitats vividly capture the symbiosis and theoccasional brutality of Australia's wilderness. In keeping with these true-lifedepictions, animals and their young are shown in mortal peril as they are huntedand sometimes devoured. Nothing is glaringly graphic, but younger readers mayfind these scenes of violence upsetting. Despite the story's intense attentionto realism, snakes seem to be portrayed as angry, almost anthropomorphizedantagonists-which educators may want to address withreaders.VERDICT Middle grade readers interestedin nature and comfortable with the story's realistic portrayal of the animalkingdom will be fascinated.
