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Jungle Dogs
Sixth-grader Boy Regis is tormented by his older brother because he is terrified of the wild dogs that lurk along his paper route in their Hawaiian village. Boy is determined to face the jungle dogs and prove to his brother that you don't always have to fight to win a battle. An ALA Best Book for Young Adults.
- GenresFictionRealistic Fiction
183 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1998
2 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Graham Salisbury
32 books99 followersGraham Salisbury comes from a 100-year line of newspapermen, all associated with Hawaii's morning paper, the Honolulu Advertiser. Although a career as a newsman could have been possible, Salisbury chose to imagine rather than report. "I enjoy writing about characters who might have been. To me, exploring fictional themes, situations, and lives is a quietly exhilarating experience. There are times when completely unexpected happenings take place as my fingertips walk the keyboard, things that make me laugh or get all choked up or even amaze me."
Salisbury's drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: "I've thought a lot about what my job is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don't write to teach, preach, lecture, or criticize, but to explore. And if my stories show characters choosing certain life options, and the possible consequences of having chosen those options, then I will have done something worthwhile."
His books -- Eyes of the Emperor, Blue Skin of the Sea, Under the Blood-Red Sun, Shark Bait, Jungle Dogs, Lord of the Deep, Island Boyz and his short stories, too -- have been celebrated widely with praise and distinguished awards. Graham Salisbury, winner of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, grew up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Later, he graduated from California State University, Northridge, and received an MFA degree from Vermont College of Norwich University. In fact, he was a member of the founding faculty of Vermont College's highly successful MFA program in Writing for Children, now the Union Institute & University.
Other important things to know about this author: He worked as the skipper of a glass-bottom boat, as a deckhand on a deep-sea charter fishing boat, and as an Montessori elementary school teacher. His
rock-and-roll band, The Millennium, had a number one hit in the Philippines, which he composed. He once surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man-of-war (several times!), and swam for his life from a moray eel. Believe it or not, he didn't wear shoes until the sixth grade and never saw snow until he was nineteen. Graham Salisbury now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.
Salisbury's drive to write about the emotional journey that kids must take to become adults in a challenging and complicated world is evident throughout his work. Says the author: "I've thought a lot about what my job is, or should be as an author of books for young readers. I don't write to teach, preach, lecture, or criticize, but to explore. And if my stories show characters choosing certain life options, and the possible consequences of having chosen those options, then I will have done something worthwhile."
His books -- Eyes of the Emperor, Blue Skin of the Sea, Under the Blood-Red Sun, Shark Bait, Jungle Dogs, Lord of the Deep, Island Boyz and his short stories, too -- have been celebrated widely with praise and distinguished awards. Graham Salisbury, winner of the PEN/Norma Klein Award, grew up on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii. Later, he graduated from California State University, Northridge, and received an MFA degree from Vermont College of Norwich University. In fact, he was a member of the founding faculty of Vermont College's highly successful MFA program in Writing for Children, now the Union Institute & University.
Other important things to know about this author: He worked as the skipper of a glass-bottom boat, as a deckhand on a deep-sea charter fishing boat, and as an Montessori elementary school teacher. His
rock-and-roll band, The Millennium, had a number one hit in the Philippines, which he composed. He once surfed with a shark, got stung by a Portuguese man-of-war (several times!), and swam for his life from a moray eel. Believe it or not, he didn't wear shoes until the sixth grade and never saw snow until he was nineteen. Graham Salisbury now lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 19, 2023
Good book for AAPI heritage month.
Men, this book is for you - those who are tired of toxic masculinity, learning to be empathetic, and healing from your relationship with your dad.
Women, this book perhaps helps you see another perspective. Enjoyable
Everyone, easy and elevating read despite being written for kids.
Men, this book is for you - those who are tired of toxic masculinity, learning to be empathetic, and healing from your relationship with your dad.
Women, this book perhaps helps you see another perspective. Enjoyable
Everyone, easy and elevating read despite being written for kids.
March 1, 2023
I liked this book. Set in Hawaii, two brothers try to navigate fears, family and destructive friendships. It’s about a 4th grade reading level. I’ve already recommended it to boys in my library.
December 3, 2024
I love this author. This wasn’t my all time fave by him but still good. These are designed for kids but I love him and any adults would like these.
October 15, 2018
The book Jungle Dogs by graham Salisbury is a long and steady book about a boy named Boy
Regis has to face the jungle dogs or he will lose his job as a paperboy. The sixth grader Boy
Regis loves his family, their Hawaiian village, and the sea. But he's terrified of the wild dogs that
lurk in the jungle along his paper route. In this Jungle Dogs Boy is has a hard time facing those
jungle dogs every single day on his paper route. Another he has to deal with in his life is when
Boy’s older brother Damon calls Boy a “Sissy boy”every time he comes home and cries from the
wild jungle dogs.
What I like about this book is that Graham Salisbury would build up suspense witch would turn
out to be not the climax but a separate small dramatic scene for the reader. What I did not like
about this book is that Graham Salisbury would build up suspense witch would turn out to be not
the climax but a separate small dramatic scene for the reader. Graham Salisbury did a terrific
job on this book my opinion is that anyone who likes a long, slow, and steady book I highly
recommend this book to you.
Regis has to face the jungle dogs or he will lose his job as a paperboy. The sixth grader Boy
Regis loves his family, their Hawaiian village, and the sea. But he's terrified of the wild dogs that
lurk in the jungle along his paper route. In this Jungle Dogs Boy is has a hard time facing those
jungle dogs every single day on his paper route. Another he has to deal with in his life is when
Boy’s older brother Damon calls Boy a “Sissy boy”every time he comes home and cries from the
wild jungle dogs.
What I like about this book is that Graham Salisbury would build up suspense witch would turn
out to be not the climax but a separate small dramatic scene for the reader. What I did not like
about this book is that Graham Salisbury would build up suspense witch would turn out to be not
the climax but a separate small dramatic scene for the reader. Graham Salisbury did a terrific
job on this book my opinion is that anyone who likes a long, slow, and steady book I highly
recommend this book to you.
August 20, 2016
Set in present-day Hawaii, told from the perspective of Boy, a Hawaiian with a mixed ancestry, who is terrified of the wild dogs who lurk in the jungles and catches all sorts of grief from his tough older brother for it. Boy's feud with a fellow classmate, Gabriel, escalates into increasingly more violent clashes between their older brothers, members of rival gangs. Boy appreciates natural beauty, enjoys drawing, and is a gifted writer, but his brother calls him a sissy and "soft." Ultimately, as the stakes in the fights become higher and higher, Boy finds the courage to ride his bike through a dark area despite the jungle dogs so he can deliver the paper to the one house on his route that he has been avoiding, and he finds that getting to know the "enemy" reduces the fear that leads to violence and enmity. Ages 10+
April 10, 2012
PRESENTATION
Sixth grader Boy Regis runs an early morning paper route with his older brother, Damon, but is afraid of the wild dogs rumored to live in the dense Hawaii jungle that thrives in patches throughout the boys' hometown of Kailua. Damon can't stand such a sissy, and is always interfering in Boy's own feud with Gabriel, a boy in his class. Unfortunately, Gabriel has a brother even older and bigger than Damon, which causes problems. Boy must learn to conquer his fears not only of the dogs, but to stand up to Damon and his insecurities at school. As usual, Salisbury includes Hawaii's lush setting as a character in the novel, and his details of island life are accurate and well done. Highly recommended for boys in the middle grade set into early high school.
Sixth grader Boy Regis runs an early morning paper route with his older brother, Damon, but is afraid of the wild dogs rumored to live in the dense Hawaii jungle that thrives in patches throughout the boys' hometown of Kailua. Damon can't stand such a sissy, and is always interfering in Boy's own feud with Gabriel, a boy in his class. Unfortunately, Gabriel has a brother even older and bigger than Damon, which causes problems. Boy must learn to conquer his fears not only of the dogs, but to stand up to Damon and his insecurities at school. As usual, Salisbury includes Hawaii's lush setting as a character in the novel, and his details of island life are accurate and well done. Highly recommended for boys in the middle grade set into early high school.
April 11, 2012
ELECTIVE READING
James is a young boy that lives in Hawaii. But despite it's known beauty there is darkness in in the island. There are wild dogs the look for food. They are a bit terrifying for James. James tires to confront his fear by writing his paper for school on someone they admire, and that someone is their family dog, that actually never existed. He eventually comes to understand his fear. James' brother is also involved in an island gang which is a distress in the novel.
Light read. Well written with strong characters. It's an enjoyable read. Low to middle grade
James is a young boy that lives in Hawaii. But despite it's known beauty there is darkness in in the island. There are wild dogs the look for food. They are a bit terrifying for James. James tires to confront his fear by writing his paper for school on someone they admire, and that someone is their family dog, that actually never existed. He eventually comes to understand his fear. James' brother is also involved in an island gang which is a distress in the novel.
Light read. Well written with strong characters. It's an enjoyable read. Low to middle grade
May 15, 2012
Do you wish you could be braver and not a wuss? That's how 6th grader Boy Regis feels. His older brother, Damon is a tough guy and tries to get Boy to stand up for himself against the older boys at school who pick on him and to overcome his fright of the wild jungle dogs that roam the neighborhood, as he delivers the morning paper on his route. While Boy is determinded to overcome his fears, he wants to convince Damon that violence doesn't always need be the way to resolve a problem. Great
September 14, 2007
This book is amazing to me. I love how the author always use's detail. Like when he talks about the ocean he says as the ocean was a big,watery,substance that he swam through every morning. And the sky was so shallow to him on the moist rainy days. This author makes you feel as if you where right there when it had happened.
November 16, 2008
Brang back my childhood. Nothing but good times.
November 13, 2011
This book wasnt amazing and did not have a lo0t of multicultural stuff. It was very mediocrelly written.
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February 4, 2016Boy (his name) has plenty to deal with: his fear of dogs, Gabriel the class bully, and his brother Damon’s descent into gangs and gang life.
October 12, 2022
I wasn't sure I was liking where this was going but I was proven wrong by the end
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews