The Call of the Wild

By Jack London

Book Overview

This masterpiece recounts the gripping adventures of Buck, a courageous creature forced into the brutal life of sled-dog during the Alaskan gold rush. Forced to relinquish the safety of his familiar world, Buck survives and ultimately prevails in the harsh realities of the Far North through the discovery of his own primitive nature. Large print edition.

• Format: Library Binding
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0817216561
• ISBN13: 9780817216566
• Release Date: January 1980
• Publisher: Steck-Vaughn
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Buck realizes his potential.

Gold was found in Alaska, and the rush to obtain it required a strong constitution and many dogs to do the work that horses usually did in the United States. The environment breeds harsh attitudes. Also, in the testing of one's mettle, one finds their true potential. Buck (a dog that is half St Bernard and half Shepherd) goes through many lives, trials, and tribulations, finally realizing his potential. On the way, he learns many concepts from surprise to deceit and cunning; he also learns loyalty, devotion, and love. As he is growing, he feels the call of the wild. This book is well written. There is no wasted word or thought, and the story, while building on itself, has purpose and direction. The descriptions may be a tad graphic for the squeamish and a tad sentimental for the romantic. You see the world through Buck's eyes and understand it through his perspective until you, also feel, the call of the wild. There are many good movies made based on the book. One such is Jack London's The Call of The Wild: Dog of the Yukon [1997] with Rutger Hauer.