Runt

by Marion Dane Bauer

Book Overview

In this beautifully written story set in the north woods of Minnesota, four healthy wolf pups--Leader, Sniffer, Runner, and Thinker--are born one spring. And then one final, undersized pup emerges--Runt. Despite his size, Runt manages to keep up with his brothers and sisters and learn the ways of the pack. But he finds it impossible to please his father, the pack's leader, and gradually withdraws from the others. When he ventures into forbidden human...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618212612
• ISBN13: 9780618212613
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 1.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 7.1"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

Runt

Runt is a great realistic fiction book written by Marion Dane Bauer. This book is a pretty good sized book with 138 pages. The author learned about wolves before she wrote this story. You can learn some interesting facts in this book about wolves. This is a great book to read and I highly recommend it. In this book, a new mother wolf gives birth to 5 newborn cubs. Their names where Leader, Sniffer, Runner, Thinker, and the smallest cub Runt. King, Runts father, named him Runt because he was so small. King wanted Runt to survive, but he did not expect him to because he was so small. Runt does grow up and goes on thrilling adventures. He went to humans when he needed help and called to his family when he found food. Runt wants to prove himself worthy of a new name. Runt wants a new name because he thinks his name is insulting him and makes him think that nobody cares about him. Is that enough to prove himself worthy to have his name changed? Read this book and find out! I like the way the author used words. She used more descriptive words like trotted and plodded instead of ran or walked. With so much detail I can tell more of what Runt was feeling. For example the author wrote this sentence: "Runt trotted, then plodded, then trotted again, though he followed nothing now, no disappearing tail, no diminishing scent." In that sentence you can tell more that Runt was worried. If she just said walked he could have been feeling anything. Even though Runt and his pack are not real, the author makes you believe they are. Two examples in the book are that the pack would also hunt for food and they stay away from humans. Those facts about wolves make it seem like Runt's pack are real. We all know wolves do not speak in a language that humans would understand. The way the author writes makes you think that wolves do speak like we could understand them. I thought that this book was a great, interesting, action packed, realistic fiction book. It had so many different feelings in it. How can you not like a book like that? I highly recommend this book to everybody

A Wolf with Character

RUNT, like all books by Marion Dane Bauer, tells a gripping story in which the main character, in this case a young wolf, makes one mistake after another and through them learns and grows in character. In this case Runt competes with his siblings to gain a place in his pack and his father's approval as he seeks to show that he is more than just the runt of the litter. His adventures are increasingly harrowing making it difficult to put the book down. I found myself reading late into the night until I was satisfied that Runt would gain a satisfying measure of wisdom and belonging. Bauer is expert at telling tales that intrigue children while dealing with strong psychologicla issues in beautiful language that sinks deep into the reader's heart. Runt illustrates this one more time

Life as a wolf

Pack mentality is key in the life of a wolf. Position within a pack defines who a wolf is. Runt, the smallest of his litter is given no other name by his father the pack alpha. He is treated as the lowest member because he is unable to prove himself due to his small size. This bothers Runt as he seeks to win his father's approval. In addition to his own struggles Runt becomes caught within pack politics. There is some unrest within the pack because one member wishes to become the new leader. This story describes how one young wolf fills his role within the pack and struggles to understand humans and the world around him. This is a well written book that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in wolves.