In the very near future, in an unnamed Asian country, the forces of the world are once again gathering to wage war. Young dog Etna is taken from his seaside home and enlisted to aid the United States. He proves adept at sniffing out mines and other unexploded ordnance and manages to make it through the conflict, though not without experiencing injury and loss. When he realizes that he is no longer considered necessary, he wanders off the base on a quest to return home, remembering only that it was on the coast. The country he must traverse has been reduced to ruins and potential dangers lurk in every shadow, but he is fortunate enough to make many friends on his odyssey; a necessity if he is to have any hope of reaching his destination.

Novels needn’t be massive tomes about complicated people to indelibly mark their readers, as this slim volume about a brave, intelligent canine so ably proves. Told entirely from Etna’s perspective, Yoon imbues him with a stoic yet endearingly inquisitive, even somewhat philosophical personality. Keenly smart while still simple enough to be convincing, it’s a joy to spend time in the mind of this dog, whose inner world promises to stay with the reader for years afterward.

The book can be dark, not afraid to show the horrors of war and the devastation it leaves behind, but it’s also filled with beauty and grace. At once a potent antiwar polemic and an ode to strength in adversity and the value of community, this special little book easily works its way into your heart and head. Just as likely to make you crack a smile as shed a tear, it proves nigh impossible to put down as it heads towards its bittersweet conclusion. This is masterful stuff. ★★★★★