Wolf Brother

by Jim Kjelgaard

Book by Kjelgaard, J.

Genres: Childrens, Historical Fiction, Adventure

189 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

an American author of young adult literature.

Born in New York City, New York, Jim Kjelgaard is the author of more than forty novels, the most famous of which is 1945's "Big Red." It sold 225,000 copies by 1956 and was made into a 1962 Walt Disney film with the same title, Big Red. His books were primarily about dogs and wild animals, often with animal protagonists and told from the animal's point of view.

Jim Kjelgaard committed suicide in 1959, after suffering for several years from chronic pain and depression.
- Wikipedia -

Reviews

[Trisha Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story of Wolf Brother, a full-blooded Apache. It is an excellent novel, excellent for any adolescent who wants to read a little bit of the adversity of the Native peoples in the past. Jonathan Wolf, took on the name Wolf Brother, as he is best known in the story, was orphaned, and taken care of by Jesuit Father Harvey. Then, he is released back to his People, and always conscious of his intended role, to educate the People. Although Jonathan's Father, Mother, and 3 older brothers had been killed by white opponents, he spends his time looking for his Father's blood brother, the only one left he knew of before he was taken in by the Jesuits. Fast-moving, and compelling, this book should remind us all of the great sacrifices Natives have endured here in this country. Recommend this for anyone, but esp., for young teens!

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up with Kjelgaard's dog stories like Snow Dog, Desert Dog, Big Red, and so on. I found this one at a book sale and had to get it for nostalgia's sake. I enjoyed it, although this story is much more about humans than about animals. The character is young Apache, orphaned and raised partly by whites, who returns home. At one point he tames a wolf cub and Kjelgaard really misses an opportunity here where he could have had the wolf return to the young man at the end. I was expecting it but it didn't happen. Still, an enjoyable book.

[Meredith Sommers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly interesting. An awful lot of shooting and killing. When he got the wolf, I thought maybe we're finally getting to the good part, but it didn't last long. A rather sad story of the Native Americans being put on a reservation, and those unwilling to live like that, living wild, hunted, raiding, and finally being captured, and put through the justice system. At least he escapes, and wants to help his people, and there's hope for the others that were captured, too.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, enjoyable story.

[Colin Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star rating

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was impressed by this book I read when quite young. An Apache youth escapes from a white school to go back to his people. One memory I have of it is that he had to eat a frog! Good story. Just a guess on the date.