Louisa R. reviewed on 8/22/2009 + 10 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

Unlike so many of the great dog books, including Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows, the main dog in this story, Buck, does not just drop dead after a valiant fight in the last chapter. Instead, the book follows Buck's adventures in the Alaskan Yukon, where he learns to survive and thrive among other dogs, wild animals, and people. This is a survival story where the reader experiences Buck's human-like emotional spectrum. Buck does not consider himself a hero, nor does anyone view him that way. The reader, nevertheless, will root for him every step of the way during his difficult treks across Alaska. He outlives the animals around him because of his ability to quickly learn the "law of club and fang" and to learn what is worth fighting for and how to stage his battles. This book is a reminder that, ultimately, the laws of nature prevail over the cruelty that humans bring into this world.

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