He woke with a start, scraped ice from the wintry window, and saw the dog—fearful and sniffing the air—then running as if for a distant star. Bul lied and virtually friendless, Joel Gustafson escapes into his imagination by searching nightly for that dog in his insubstantial, northern Swedish village. He creates a secret society and invites Ture, new to town, to join. Their mid night reconnaissance forays take a cruel turn when Ture usurps power from Joel. Readers viscerally comprehend the constant loneliness and isolation that eleven-year-old Joel experiences. The translator uses strong language as emphasis in one angry scene. lmp

Originally published as Hunden Som Sprang Mot en Stjärna in Swedish by Rabén & Sjögren, in 1990. Translated by Laurie Thompson.