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.

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll and This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll-200 pages; Eisner Award Winner for Best Graphic Album-Reprint, 2015

This is an eerie collection of short stories about journeys into and out of the woods. Each story involves a family member (or family members) disappearing, going crazy, killing one another, and/or being possessed. The graphics/illustrations are well done and the stories are interesting, if weird. Overall, it was an easy read and I enjoy reading graphic novels.

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki-320 pages; Eisner Award Winner for Best Graphic Album-New, 2015; Michael L. Printz Award Honor Book; Caldecott Honor Book

Rose and her family (the Wallace family) go to the same place for vacation every summer: Awago Beach. Rose has a cabin friend she hangs out with every year named Windy, who is a year and a half younger. Rose's parents fight because her mom really wants to have another kid but can't and so she doesn't want to have fun anymore. I read some reviews on Goodreads and some of them said that the book didn't have much of a plot and I agree to an extent. There is a bit of a plot. Rose's mom (and the family) getting past the miscarriage and not being able to have another baby. The story does show Rose sort of "coming of age" a little bit and she seems to be "outgrowing" her friend Windy in many ways, but they stay friends. Other than that, there is not much plot, but the book was an okay read.

Wolf's Rain by Keiko Nobumoto

Wolf's Rain, vol.1 by Keiko Nobumoto - 180 pages

I picked up this manga as I had watched a couple episodes of the anime and thought it might give some background.  I definitely liked the anime better than the book - probably because the anime did come first.  It tells the story of the future when most of the wolves have been killed off.  The few surviving wolves are trying to find their way to Paradise by finding the "Lunar Flower".