Sled Dog School

Eleven-year-old Matt is struggling in school and he has to set up his own business to save his failing math grade. But what is he even good at? The only thing he truly loves is his team of dogs, and so Matt’s Sled Dog School is born. Teaching dogsledding should be easy, right?

But people, just like dogs, can be unpredictable. And sometimes the bravest thing a person can do is admit they need help. Like Terry Lynn Johnson’s popular Ice Dogs, Sled Dog School is about overcoming adversity, finding your strengths, and your friends, and following your passions.

What happens when your only two students are a clumsy new friend and a girl who thinks she knows everything?

• Kids Business: When Matt gets a failing grade in math, his only way to pass is to turn his love for dogsledding into a real business—with real, unpredictable clients.
• Unlikely Friendships: He just wanted customers, but what he gets are Tubbs and Alex—two kids who will test his patience and teach him what it really means to be part of a team.
• Outdoor Adventure: Join Matt and his team of Alaskan huskies on the snowy trails of Michigan as he teaches his new friends how to handle a sled, and maybe learns a few lessons himself.
• Overcoming Challenges: A perfect read for kids who love animals and stories about finding your confidence, standing up to bullies, and discovering you’re stronger than you think.

"Themes of friendship and problem-solving are slipped effortlessly into the funny and fresh plot, and authentic off-the-grid details bring the story to life . . . A tale of loyalty and friendship—with a strong dose of validation for readers who learn from doing rather than books—that hits all the right notes." —Kirkus   "From contending with school bullies to increasingly learning to valuehis family and their off-the-grid lifestyle, Matt’s experiences are supportively portrayed in accessibly written, straightforward prose. Johnson incorporates both lively and reflective moments, abundant dogsledding details, and basic accounting concepts and examples." —Booklist