When a novice musher enters the Iditarod, she must rely on her easily distracted but highly enthusiastic rescue puppy, Bravo, to battle the elements in the most treacherous sled-dog race in Alaska for the greatest reward in the world: friendship. 

SYNOPSIS:

To say the adventurous MARY HELWIG (25) loves dogs is an understatement. However, when the transplant from the California wine country finds work at Middy’s Racing Dog Kennel in frozen Unalakleet, Alaska, her life takes an even wilder turn when she finds an orphaned one-month-old Husky, BRAVO. Mary is reluctant to take on the rambunctious, easily distracted puppy as a pet, and he doesn’t have the skills of a sled dog. But Bravo snuggles and nudges his way into Mary’s heart. Bravo is surprised that Mary (a “not-a-dog”) doesn’t speak his language, so their story, a dual-hero’s journey based on actual events, has to be told from Bravo’s point of view. That part of the story and all the doggy dialogue is entirely made up, but everything else is true!

Bravo’s training as a “runner” gets off to a slow start, but his positive attitude and sheer determination begins to win over some of the other dogs, including TUCKER, a wise, old sled dog; and ALLIER and NADALIE, bickering sisters; but Bravo can’t seem to please the lead dog, NATASHA. MIDDY (40s), an experienced Native Alaskan musher, mentors Mary, as Tucker mentors Bravo. Soon, Mary, Bravo, and a team of sled dogs find they have similar goals in life: to prove loyalty, to be loved, and to run.

After a visit from Mary’s DAD (55) and MOM (54), Mary and Bravo see a sign in the Northern Lights, and their destiny is sealed to cross a Finish Line in a major sled-dog race. Despite poor practice runs, Mary signs them up for the Yukon Quest 300. Bravo overcomes injuries, and Mary loses her house and everything she owns in a wildfire, but nothing deters them. Bravo sees firsthand that Mary’s personal faith, and faith in her dogs, friends, and family never weakens. In fact, they strengthen every day. Meanwhile, Bravo learns his greatest ability is in motivating others. The adventure of a lifetime across the Yukon nearly kills them all, but the finish line is not the experience Mary and Bravo dreamed about.

Bravo and Mary convince each other to enter the most dangerous sled-dog race in the world, the Iditarod, a 1,000-mile trek from Anchorage to Nome in the dead of winter. The two rookies, Bravo and Mary, never give up. Old Tucker has the most difficult time but proves to them all that heart is more powerful than strength. They all must rely on loyalty and perseverance to survive the extreme cold and the relentless Old North Wind. After fourteen grueling days of racing, Bravo and Mary lead Tucker and the team across the finish line they envisioned to reap the greatest reward life has to offer: friendship.

BRAVO