Black Flame

April 15, 2013
A dog's-eye view of life in Tibet and Mongolia. Kelsang is a large, black Tibetan mastiff, sometimes mistaken for a bear. As a puppy, he loses his mother to a tragic encounter with a snow leopard. Soon after, his life becomes a series of adventures in which he plays the varied roles of sheepdog, guard dog, guide dog, rescue dog and loyal companion. As a result of his experiences with different owners, including being virtually stolen away and held in captivity, Kelsang ultimately bonds most deeply with the gentle Han Ma, who brings him along to his teaching jobs at both the School for Deaf and Blind Children and the Chinese Youth Volunteer Corps. Blackcrane, a winner of National Children's Literature awards in China, captures Kelsang's emotions and sensory experiences with candor and empathy. He also interprets much of Kelsang's physical turmoil as an inner longing for compassionate, human leadership. Readers will get a whiff of life on the city streets of Lhasa, as well as in the grasslands of northern Tibet and Inner Mongolia. This is a tale that is beautifully translated, although the pacing is occasionally slow and plodding. A heartfelt story for dog lovers in a setting rarely seen in the West. (Fiction. 10-14)

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June 1, 2013

Gr 6-8-Tibetan Mastiffs are large, impressive dogs, and Kelsang is larger and more fearsome than most. When he is a puppy, he is sold to traders and taken to Lhasa, where he runs away. He adopts an elderly painter who gives him away to a cruel restaurant owner. Kelsang manages to escape and tries to get back to the grasslands but instead finds Han Ma, a kindly teacher who awakens in him feelings of love and devotion. In addition to his adventures in ownership, Kelsang often saves people and animals from such things as robbers and landslides. He even acts as a guide dog for Han Ma's blind students. Despite its breathless adoration, the book is only occasionally sentimental. However, Kelsang is a vicious dog-he leaves the bad guys with torn clothing and often injured. His "wrestling" matches with other dogs and animals are often to the death. He takes great delight in the warm blood in his mouth from a fresh kill. Crucial details in the action are often skipped, and readers may have to read some passages multiple times. The more brutal parts in the dog's life are graphically described in glowing terms. The qualities that make Kelsang such a great shepherd dog on the Tibetan plateau may not be the same ones that usually endear American audiences to animal heroes.-Jennifer Rothschild, Arlington County Public Libraries, VA

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