The Call of the Wild

by Oliver Ho (Adapted by), Jack London

Following Sterling's spectacularly successful launch of its children's classic novels (240,000 books in print to date),comes a dazzling new series#58;I Classic Starts/I. The stories are abridged; the quality is complete. IClassic Starts/I treats the world's beloved tales (and children) with the respect they deserve--all at an incomparable price.BRBRHere is the ultimate dog story, one filled with emotion, adventure, and excitement. BRDuring the Gold Rush, Buck is snatched away from his peaceful home and brought to the harsh and bitter Yukon to become a sled dog. Will he adapt, and learn to trust men? Or will his newly awakened primitive instincts lead him to search for the freedom he has never known? BRBR

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Adventure, Childrens, Juvenile, Dogs, Animals

ebook

Published December 7, 2010

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a general rule, I don't like abridged books. I don't think that children need bowdlerized versions of classic literature -- kids can handle a lot more than we think they can, and there are other books with the same themes if your kid isn't ready for the original text, and if they're struggling with comprehension Sparknotes and Shmoop are better resources than an abridged edition anyway. Taking stuff out to make a book "appropriate" for younger readers frequently changes the meaning of the book, at which point it's like, why even bother? The only abridged editions that I legitimately enjoy are the Wishbone books, or maybe the graphic novel adaptations if those count but I kinda don't think they do because the purpose in creating them is different.

So, I am predisposed to dislike abridged editions. Bias fully acknowledged. That said, Classic Starts is about the only line of abridged editions I haven't weeded out of the library collections because I've always felt that they do a better job keeping the spirit and intention of the original work than most. I had to read the original Call of the Wild for a library program, gave up on about page 5 because I couldn't handle Jack London's writing style, and decided to read the Classic Starts edition instead. And, look, I'm not gonna say I made a mistake, but I am pretty close to weeding the Classic Starts based solely on their treatment of Call of the Wild.

Death and violence is a big part of Call of the Wild. The brutality of the wild is, like, the driving force of the book! His domestic life was comfortable; the wild is not. Over the course of the book, Buck is CHANGING. He is ADAPTING. And each major act of violence (which frequently end in death) pushes him a little closer to the edge until, whoops, John Thornton DIES, and he dies VIOLENTLY, and so Buck KILLS A BUNCH OF PEOPLE (ALSO VIOLENTLY) IN RESPONSE. THIS IS THE ENTIRE POINT OF THE STORY. BUCK BECOMES JUST AS BRUTAL AS THE WILDERNESS. BUCK ANSWERS THE CALL OF THE WILD. So if Curly doesn't die, if Dave doesn't die, if all the dogs that are hooked up to Hal and Charles' sled don't die, if JOHN THORNTON DOESN'T DIE, THERE IS LITERALLY NO POINT TO READING THIS BOOK.

I just.... ugh.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may or may not have read the unabridged version of this when I was younger. I think I may have tried and thought it was more of a "boy" book. The abridged version was quick and interesting. The boy I tutor enjoyed it and I think others will too. It's just the right reading level for 4th/5th grade these days.

[Jessica Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of contemporary fiction for children eight to thirteen years old. This is a tale of an extraordinary dog, he is a peaceful animal until he is kidnapped-or dognapped- and forced to work the gold fields in the Klondike until he becomes the leader of his own wolf pack. Buck is the main character, a dog who is part Saint Bernard and part Scotch sheppard. He is very strong with a thick, furry coat. Buck's physical appearance is what the bad men find appealing. The characters that Buck meets throughout the story are either nice to animals and respect them or they're mean and cruel to animals. The reader will be reading through Buck's point of view; he doesn't call gold by its name, he names it as a shiny metal. Buck doesn't know about the influx of men coming to the territory because he doesn't read the newspaper. Buck learns how to live with men, both evil and good, he also learns how to outsmart them or save them, depending on the situation and the man. The illustrations are black and white, they contain no color, however each illustration takes up an entire page and helps to tell the story. This book is a gritty, realistic adventure story, it shows human and animal kind at their best and worst. I advise anyone who likes to read about the outdoors and the wildlife that live there to read this classic.

[MC Nugget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este bonito libro me lo prestó mi amigo Manuel.
Lo que me gusta de leer es que te pone en los zapatos de otra persona y mientras leemos podemos vivir la vida de esa persona. En este caso nos cuenta la HERMOSA historia de un perro llamado Buck, y me hace reflexionar sobre la psicología canina 😳 siempre me ha llamado la atención analizar el comportamiento animal.
El libro nos narra cómo se adaptaría un perrito llamado Buck a ser "raptado" y vendido para ser un perro de trineo en el norte de Canadá, después de llevar una vida cómoda en una casa en California. Desde su intuición para saber en qué humanos sí confiar y en cuáles no confiar y por qué, hasta conocer la nieve por primera vez y adaptarse a pasar frío y generar su propio calor, y descubrir sus propios instintos animales en un ambiente salvaje siendo que de haber permanecido como una mascota, éstos instintos jamás hubieran nacido.
Posteriormente en la historia podemos ver la evolución de Buck en su relación con los seres humanos (incluso hasta llegar amar a uno sólo) y otros perros, y su desarrollo como líder de manada hasta aprender a sobrevivir por sí mismo en la fría naturaleza del norte de Canadá.
Me encantó. 5 estrellas.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this aloud to J during summer 2022 (J age 9, summer after 3rd grade). This story appealed to us because a dog, Buck, is the main character of the story and it's told from his point of view, his life story. Very good story about how he's taken from his easy, comfy life at home in the south with Judge and his family and then sold several times to become a dog that is harnessed with many other dogs to pull sleds of cargo (mail, food, supplies, etc) in the north as people looked for gold. He became a very strong and shrewd dog that was very intelligent and learned how to deal with both people and other dogs. At the end of the story, he had to choose between a master he loved (John Thornton) and the call of the wild (living out in the woods with wolves). He went back and forth, but finally chose to follow the call of the wild, the last chapter of the book. It's a great story of how he got stronger and stronger with each challenge that happened to him in his life. It was a victorious story.

[Jules Loz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mom read this aloud to J during summer 2022 (J age 9, summer after 3rd grade). This story appealed to us because a dog, Buck, is the main character of the story and it's told from his point of view, his life story. Very good story about how he's taken from his easy, comfy life at home in the south with Judge and his family and then sold several times to become a dog that is harnessed with many other dogs to pull sleds of cargo (mail, food, supplies, etc) in the north as people looked for gold. He became a very strong and shrewd dog that was very intelligent and learned how to deal with both people and other dogs. At the end of the story, he had to choose between a master he loved (John Thornton) and the call of the wild (living out in the woods with wolves). He went back and forth, but finally chose to follow the call of the wild, the last chapter of the book. It's a great story of how he got stronger and stronger with each challenge that happened to him in his life. It was a victorious story.

[Pau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó el libro y las aventuras de Buck. Me gustó como Buck se adaptaba a la situación. El perro tenía una buena actitud de determinación, liderazgo, fuerza y demás, claro, tenía sus defectos. Me gustó como cada perro de la historia tenía su personalidad única y aportaba lo necesario al libro. Siento que la historia es realista en el aspecto que, Buck no puede quedarse en un mismo lugar, con las mismas personas, por los cambios a su alrededor. El final se me hizo un poco extraño por como John desapareció, pero me gustó que Buck tuviera esa urgencia de escapar a la naturaleza ya que queda con el personaje.

[DajaMeep · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Ruf der Wildnis“ ist eine zusammengefasste und verständlicher geschriebene Version von „Wolfsblut“, geeignet dafür, dass auch Kinder bereits dieses Buch kennenlernen und wertschätzen können.
Es gibt viele Inhalte, die anhand von Gegebenheiten und Situationen erklärt werden, die jungen Lesenden einfach besser bekannt sind und so auch verständlicher sein können, als sie es bei dem Lesen von „Wolfsblut“ wären.
Ich bin allerding der Meinung, dass dadurch an wenigen Stellen bestimme Informationen fehlen, die das Geschehen besser erklären würden beziehungsweise auch die Vorgehensweise in Hinblick auf bestimmte Verhaltensweisen und Gefühle verständlicher machen würden.

[Kristopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Funny how it’s a better book without that fuckwad Jack London’s awful writing in the way. Still a terrible story.

Buck? What a dick!

No wonder this is a fixture of the American canon: Saint Bernard mix kicks indigenous people off their land after murdering them!

Good for JL getting to live out his social darwinist fantasies in his fiction when IRL he was fated to die at 39 from eating raw meat 🤣🤣🤣 alcoholic chainsmoker ahh tell me more abt your life philosophy where only the strong survive‼️💥

[Amaiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about a dog named Buck . He is peaceful until the day he is kidnapped from his home, he has to work as a side dog now, but that will not break his hope. He hope to find his way back to where he belongs. I love this book because it has a lot of detail. I love the main character. I would give it a five star cause I think this would be really good for a little kids especially a little kid like me if the author is reading this I hope you know that you did a really good job

[Charlotte Emery · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when I was young and loved it, i now read it to my son and definitely felt like a lot was lacking throughout this book. I gave it 3 stars because of that but I do really enjoy the end of this book. It picks up in the last two chapters.

[Miranda Summerset · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 STARS! Perfect version for people not ready for the original. The story is a classic & this is well done in making it easier to read language wise. Everyone will enjoy the adventures of Buck. Great illustrations too.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a classic! Sad book though!

[Mark Alpheus · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 i love the illustrations too!

[Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mom read out loud.

[Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mom read out loud.

[~xo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This version is wonderful! for any age! written by Jack London & retold by By Oliver Ho loved it.

[harish · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Author · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching tale of bravery through the eyes of a dog named Buck, this story sees his transition from a comfortable home life to the wilderness and treacherous Alaskan landscape. Plunged into life as a sledge dog, this book highlights that even a domesticated pet can, under the right circumstances, find the call of his primitive side and use his natural instincts to survive and thrive.

[Sylviaanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Call of the Wild" retold by John London is 151 pages long and is an adventurous and sad book. The main character is a dog named Buck. The setting is in the time when gold was found. Buck leaved in the south and was kidnapped for gold and was brought to the north. There Buck was trained to be a sled dog. There where fights of being leader of the pack of sled dogs. When Buck was the leader the pack was given new masters and was treated badly. A man named John Thornton saved Buck from the terrible masters. Buck saved John's life and helped him won a bet. When John was looking for gold Buck would wonder in the forest. But when John was camping on native territory (he did not know) he was killed and Buck came and scared them away. Buck later become in a pack of wolfs even though he was three times bigger then the wolfs. In the end Buck was known as a legend, a dog that would wonder in the woods or run in front of a wolf pack.

[Kristen B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to Hudson as bedtime story time. Surprisingly, he didn't love it. Most of the time, I had to force him to sit and listen. Maybe it is still too advanced for a 7-year-old, even if he is being read to. He did get interested at the last three chapters, though, and followed it well until the end. I like the discussion questions at the end, even though they are definitely geared toward older readers. I read this as a child myself, although it wasn't this version of course. I remember loving it, but in reading it now as an adult, I do not remember it being so negative and sad in so many parts. Much like Black Beauty, the animals endure horrible treatment and awful situations. I guess these things went over my head as a kid, but they were depressing to me as an adult. I can't really tell how the story affected my son. I hope he will have fond memories of reading it with me.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The the call of the wild is a bbok about a dog called buck who gets traded by his owner to be a sled dog. He goes from owner to owner until he get bought by a person who really likes him. This book is for 5th through college students. My fav. part of the book is when Buck fights a really strong dog to the death. If you like voilence withh dogs, Atventures through Alaska , then The Call Of Yhe Wild is a good book for you!

[Nathan P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this a 3.5 stars, really awesome, interesting, cozy. I love this book, and highly recommend it, the plot is good, it brings out intense feelings, it has a nice topic, I like the aspect of survival. Overall a beautiful story, please read this, you might not love it, but you will be changed by it. I love this book, just so good, so heartbreaking, so cute, so beautiful. I truly cried at the end, but it was awesome.

Hope you find this helpful,
-Nathan

[Grace G · Rating 1 out of 5]

This wasn't the real book this was for the little kids and this version was very bad. It left out details that are used in the other The Call of The Wild book that I am reading right now, But comparing the two books the other call of the wild book and not this one. But the other one is a lot better than this one.

[Kayley · Rating 2 out of 5]

my dad read this book to our family. sometimes i fell asleep, but from wut i lstened to, it's a sad but good book about dogs

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this is grade school

[Marion · Rating 2 out of 5]

read this edition to get an idea of what these Classic Starts are like. It was ok, Perhaps a good start for second graders. I never read the original but I think I will to compare.

[Nikki.f · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it so much! It was very touching. In parts it was sad, but thats why I loved it so much!

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love wolves