Independent Reading Level: Grades 3-6
Awards: Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — 1984)
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Nominee — 1994)
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — Children's — 1983)
Utah Beehive Book Award (Winner — Children's Fiction — 1985)
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Nominee — 1983)
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (Nominee — 1984)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — 1985)
Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Book Award (Winner — 1986-1987)
Maud Hart Lovelace Award (Nominee — 1987)

Little Willy has a big job to do. When his grandfather falls ill, it is up to Willy alone to save their farm from the tax collector. But where can a ten-year-old get five hundred dollars in a hurry? Then Willy sees the poster for the National Dogsled Race.

The race pits Willy against the best dog teams in the country, including the Indian Stone Fox and his five beautiful Samoyeds, who have never lost a race. And Stone Fox wants the prize money as badly as Willy does. Willy's dog, Searchlight, is every bit as fast as the competition, and Willy knows the terrain better than anyone. But can one boy and one dog be a match for the unbeatable Stone Fox?

Very traumatic. Super depressing.

There is something about this book that shakes up everything most kid books are built upon. While many can name more modern kids books with death, this one easily is short and shakes you up by the time you reach the end. You don't quite see it coming, but when it does, you might just go dang. ( )

I read this book in elementary school, and it continues to stick with me after 20 years. ( )