The defender Book

I really enjoyed this Newberry Honor book about a Siberian shepherd named Turgen who feels moved to guard the sacred wild rams who live in the nearby mountains. They are sought after by local hunters. He feels more attuned to the animals after losing his wife and child. He is lonely and recognizes an affinity with the rams who begin to trust him.
His friend Marfa and her children live in the valley below. Nearby in the village, many small minded, superstitious people begin to gossip about Turgen when a villager sees him with a wild lamb and calls him a devil. The local shaman denounces him when he hears the news. After a dream from the Great Spirit, Turgen begins to see clearly what he needs to do and how he wants to spend the rest of his life.
This book is about how fragile and important our relationships are, not only to one another, but to the animal and natural world as well. The descriptions of the mountains, the rams, the stark beauty of the landscape, the simple yet profound dialogue take you right to cold Siberia and into the warm hearts of Turgen and his friends, rams included. Those who are in tune with the animal kingdom and recognize the powerful bond between man and nature will truly appreciate and love this book.