REVIEW: Mountain Dog by Margarita Engle
Mountain Dog is a middle-grade novel in verse by Margarita Engle, the 6th Young People's Poet Laureate, and illustrated by Olga and Aleksey Ivanov. The story is told through alternating points of view from Tony, a Cuban American boy, and Gabe, a search and rescue dog. Tony is at a crossroads in his life. His mother has been sent to prison for dog fighting, and he is now a ward of the state. His uncle Tio, a forest ranger, takes him in and moves him from Los Angeles to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Tony struggles with what appears to be post-traumatic stress stemming from his rough childhood, including his forced involvement in his mother's crimes. He also deals with feelings of alienation due to his lack of cultural identity, as his mother did not teach him about his Cuban heritage. Despite heavy emotional themes, Mountain Dog is a hopeful story of redemption and the power of choices.
Written in free verse, the novel has no strict rhyme scheme or meter, yet a quiet musicality runs throughout. Engle’s natural, conversational tone makes the text accessible for middle grade readers, while her subtle, yet sophisticated, use of assonance and consonance creates a delicate melody, "Gabe joins in, off key, / and everyone ends up chuckling, / especially me." Imagery, alliteration and enjambment add movement and depth to the poetry, with vivid descriptions transporting readers to the rugged beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, "sheer cliffs, tumbled boulders, / the singing / sighing / wind."
Figurative language, repetition and symbolism are used to trace Tony’s journey from LA to the mountains as his emotional journey parallels his physical move. He shifts from feeling caged in the city to free in the wilderness, "no chain/ no muzzle/ no scars." Both Gabe and the mountains are symbolic of Tony’s inner and outer transformation. Just as Gabe, the former stray, was once alone and afraid, so is Tony until Uncle Tio adopts them and makes them a family. The mountains come to symbolize hope, healing and freedom as Tony assists his uncle and Gabe with search and rescue work. Sensory imagery that personifies the mountains, combined with the supernatural Cuban folklore create a quiet, almost mystical atmosphere especially evident in the poem “Walking with Bears.”
Excerpt: Walking with Bears
On summer mornings
out in the fragrant woods,
I learn to identify
the musky stench of a black-bear den
in a hollow tree
but the wildest drifts
of clear mountain air
carry sounds
not just scent
an eerie cry, a screech, a moan-
soaring eagle
or slinking ghost?
It could be the protective cry
of a mountain lion mother
Calling to her cubs…
or La Gritona, La Llorona,
screaming woman, weeping woman,
a spirit from Tio’s campfire tales
about a mother who shrieks
because her children are lost.
Mountain lions and spooky myths
are noisy, but studying bears
is mostly a matter
of silence.
To introduce this poem to students at a book tasting I would set the stage and create an atmosphere by lowering my voice to encourage deep listening. I would ask the students to close their eyes and imagine themselves standing on a quiet mountain early in the morning as a breeze blows their hair away from their face; it is so quiet you can hear the wind breathe. I would then ask them which senses they used and how it made them feel. I would then read the poem aloud and make sure to pause for effect. I would then ask them: Did the mountains feel more real or more magical to you? Why?
Mountain Dog is relevant for middle grade and hesitant teen readers particularly those navigating questions of belonging and identity. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its emotional depth. Engle doesn’t shy away from heavy topics such as trauma and guilt, but she does so in an age appropriate and compassionate way. Its accessible language, adventurous plot and themes such as belonging and identity will appeal to many reluctant readers as they relate to Tony’s feelings of alienation and fear of not fitting in. The beautiful descriptions of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, along with the inclusion of Gabe’s point of view, will also appeal to animal lovers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Mountain Dog is a compelling and meaningful novel in verse for middle grade and young teen readers.
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