Call of the Wild (Short Classics)

By Jack London

Book Overview

Buck, a sturdy crossbreed canine, is seized from his pampered family surroundings and shipped to the forbidding landscape of the Alaskan frontier to be a sled dog. As gripping today as it was when first published over a century ago, this classic tale of survival remains one of London's most popular adventures.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811468208
• ISBN13: 9780811468206
• Release Date: June 1991
• Publisher: Steck-Vaughn Co
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.3" x 6.0"
• Age Range: 8 to 11 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 6

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.