Rating: 
Summary: Who Said That Southern Dogs Couldn't Pull Sleds?
Review: The Call of the Wild is about this dog named Buck. Buck lived in a house, where he protected the kids and was his masters first dog. But Buck didn't stay there long, he was soon bought by a guy who wanted to sell him to dog sled pullers... since The Gold Rush was at full power right now, and the only way to travel around Alaska was with Sled Dog teams! Buck at first attacked the man, he didn't know what else to do! He was a southern dog... he knew nothing about the cub, the laws of the wild, or of the non comfurt of home! At first, the gentlemen allowed Buck to do this, he was intrested in Buck's will, but then he knew Buck needed a lesson! He puleld out his cub and pounded Buck. Buck soon learned the un safety of the cub! He dared not attack this strange person when a cub was in hand! Soon Buck was sold off to a dog sled puller, he met many other dogs in the sled... he soon learned the most important law of the wild, To Kill or Be Killed! He learned that if the lead dog stole your food you better let him have it or else you could die! Like I said, Buck was a southern dog, he did not adjust well to the wildness of Alsaka at first! He never ran as much as he did, and ate so little! Buck's weight soon dropped, he knew that he had to steal... no matter how bad it was, and stole he did! Buck soon didn't like being not the leader, he WANTED to be the leader! So, like any dog would do, he toke on the leader... the next day the owner of Buck and the sled dogs found Buck... no leader! You put together the pieces! Now, it was long into the journey and Buck and his fellow teammates were worn out, but Buck put the sprit into his team... he MADE them run! Buck soon experinced many many men... all he didn't quite love, intill he met John Thorton! John was one of those mircle men who toke in sick dogs! He soon met Buck and toke him in. Buck loved John Thorton... the man who loved him back, and did anything for him! All in All, in the end Buck gets lured into the wildness... what? What happened? Read the book to find out!
Rating: 
Summary: Call of the Wild made kid-friendly
Review: Want to wean kids off television with a great classic? For kids 9-12 this book should do the trick. Jack London's story of a family pet who becomes a sled dog in Alaska gets heavily edited and simplified by a very competent editor. An illustration on every other page keeps even the most reluctant young readers on track. I'm an elementary school librarian who is reading this book aloud with five classes of 5th and 6th grade students and they love it! (The only reason I didn't give this book a full five stars is that the longer, orginal version is still the best--if you are a more mature and patient reader.)
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