The Call of the Wild by Jack London

 The Call of the Wild by Jack London-120 pages

⭐⭐⭐1/2

Buck is a domesticated pet for a local judge in Alaska. He's a big dog (a mix between a St. Bernard and a Scotch shepherd) and weighs 150 lbs. One day, the gardener for the judge kidnaps him and sells him to Perrault and Charles, who are not kind. They own many sled dogs, mostly Huskies, and most of the dogs are also not kind. Buck learns to be tough and mean. He is then sold to mail carriers who are less mean, but still using the dogs as a means to an end. Finally, he's sold to Hal, Charles, and Mercedes. Hal and Charles know nothing about sleds or sled dogs, but want to travel to Dawson. Finally, Buck meets John Thornton who saves him from certain death by continuing on with Hal, Charles, and Mercedes. It's clear that John cares for Buck and Buck grows to care for John. How long will this relationship last? Will Buck stick around or will he heed the call of the wild? 

For such a short book, a lot happens in these pages. Buck goes through several different owners and has quite the adventure. Overall, the book is pretty good. It has the language from the first publishing in 1903 and some of it is outdated to be kind. There's a decent amount of violence, especially for a juvenile fiction book. 

The Call of the Wild and White Fang by Jack London

The Call of the Wild by Jack London  97 p.

White Fang by Jack London  225 p.

These are not really children’s stories, although they are often abridged and adapted for young readers. The two books are companion pieces. The Call of the Wild tells the story of Buck, a St. Bernard mix, who is kidnapped and put on a dogsled team. Buck eventually succumbs to the “call of the wild”, escaping the team and joining a wolf pack. White Fang, a wolf with just a touch of husky, is born wild but ultimately becomes a dedicated companion to the man who saved his life.

The economic prose conveys the harsh and often violent Arctic landscape. London gives the dogs and wolves distinct personalities, without any hint of anthropomorphism. The action is nonstop while the books also explore some fairly complex themes.

I think I may also re-read London’s “To Build a Fire”, but only wrapped in a snug blanket, sitting near the hot woodstove.