Star in the Storm, a first novel by American Joan Hiatt Harlow, falls into that sub-genre that could be dubbed “heroic animal fiction” (e.g. Sheila Burnford’s The Incredible Journey). Harlow’s hero is a Newfoundland dog called Sirius. I admit that I am not one of life’s great dog-lovers, so it’s a testament to Harlow that I was rooting whole-heartedly for Sirius throughout.

Harlow manages to convey the intelligence and loyalty of the canine without ever descending to sentimental anthropomorphism. Sirius is an exceptionally obedient dog, but he doesn’t empathize with his adolescent mistress, Maggie Wells, and his big brown eyes never “speak” to her, as so often happens in heroic animal fiction. Or perhaps the best term here is “faction.” Harlow bases the crux of the novel on historical events. A statute is passed in a Newfoundland outport in 1912 outlawing all non-shepherding dogs on pain of death. But resourceful Maggie conceals Sirius in a cave. A tempest buffets a steamer offshore, and it starts to sink. Fishing vessels founder trying to get a special buoyed rope to the ship to save passengers. Should Maggie reveal her dog, who recently delivered her from breakers?

Harlow’s style is clear and lively. She weaves in just enough wonderful, craggy Newfoundland words like “tuckamore” and “calabogus” to create an authentic flavour, making the meanings clear from the context. Her characterization is also deft. Even the outport’s tyrant, Howard Rand, is given motivations and a chance to learn. However, the conclusion is unusually optimistic, even for a children’s book; while Maggie faces a tough dilemma, none of the characters have to give up anything to achieve their bliss and all is resolved happily in the end for absolutely everyone.