‘It broke my heart and then splinted it back together again... Magnificent.’ Hannah Gold, bestselling author of The Last Bear 



‘A dog’s eye perspective that’s so vivid you can almost taste the earthworms.’ FT, YA Book of the Year



‘This visceral story of heartbreak and survival...has the memorable feel of a classic.’ Guardian, Best children’s and YA books of 2022



Chernobyl, 1986. Natasha’s world is coming to an end. Forced to evacuate her home in the middle of the night, she must leave her puppy behind and has no idea if she’ll ever return. Some time later, growing up in the shadow of the ruined nuclear power plant, pups Misha and Bratan have to learn how to live in the wild—and fast. Creatures with sharp teeth, claws, and yellow eyes lurk in the overgrown woods. And they’re watching the brothers’ every move…



But will the dogs survive without humans? And can humans live without them?