DOG RUNNER Don Howard Meredith Saskatoon, Western Producer Prairie Books, 1989. 176pp, paper, $12.95 ISBN 0-88833-293-9. CIP Grades 7 to 9/Ages 12 to 14 Reviewed by Irene Gordon. Volume 18 Number 1 1990 January This first novel by an Alberta freelance writer and biologist works well on two levels. It is both an exciting adventure story about sled-dog racing and a more serious look at the problems of growing up. Jim Redcrow, a Metis high school student, lives with his trapper father and uncle. In order to try to earn enough money to pay for the upkeep of the family's sled dogs, Jim enters two dog races. The story of these races should provide enough excitement to satisfy the most avid reader of outdoor adventure and animal novels. On a more serious note, the book explores the tension between the white and Cree parts of Jim's ancestry, his relationship with his father, and the bullying and racism he meets. This novel is especially recom­mended for inclusion in libraries of schools with large native populations. It portrays native people in a positive, realistic light. Highly recommended. Irene Gordon, Westdale Junior High School, Winnipeg, Man.