Outstanding! I originally got this to listen to with my 9 year old on a long drive. She liked Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen and she loves dogs and animals so I thought it would be a hit with her. However, early in the story there are some sad parts and she didn't want to hear more. I later listened on my own. He is a great author and wonderful narrator of his own work. His humble and open minded approach to the world along with his willingness to bare himself in the emotions that surrounded him at many points in the story gives the reader a sense of wonder in our wild world and it's animal inhabitants. His love of dogs and understanding of them or at least his continued attempt to understand them will capture the hearts of even the least interested person. His telling of the Iditarod race makes it all the more amazing than most of us realize. ( )