Drifter

by Daniel Gada

scarce VHS tape

Genres: Fiction

189 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A writer with an extraordinary sensitivity towards animals gives us a book whose memory lingers as out-of-the-ordinary. No wonder Drifter was a Newberry Medal nominee. It's too bad that Drifter didn't win the medal for more kids would have enjoyed being part of the connection that Jeddy, the main character, had with Drifter the seal pup that he raised. A lovely read.

[Byron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daniel P. Mannix’s Drifter begins with promise, opening on an action-packed coyote hunt and a poaching operation that quickly draws readers in. These initial chapters establish young protagonist Jeddy Proudfoot and his compassionate adoption of a young sea lion pup, Drifter, creating a captivating setup. Mannix’s straightforward style and knack for dramatic pacing lend the story a sense of immediacy, immersing readers in Jeddy’s early experiences with the wild animal he’s taken under his wing.

For fans of Mannix’s work, these scenes deliver what he does best: realistic, detailed accounts of a nonhuman protagonist’s life. However, the novel loses its momentum as it progresses, pivoting from Jeddy and Drifter’s bond to focus more on Jeddy’s familial relationships. While Mannix’s action scenes and naturalistic prose are consistent, his tendency toward exposition-heavy passages detracts from the main plot, which is ostensibly about Jeddy’s relationship with Drifter. Chapters detailing Jeddy’s training of the sea lion are rewarding, but too soon, the narrative drifts into a series of tangential events. This lack of focus makes Drifter feel less like a cohesive novel and more like a collection of loosely connected scenes.

Unfortunately, Mannix undercuts the emotional stakes by sidelining Drifter in favor of storylines about Jeddy’s family and hunting trips. With no culminating scene to underscore the poignant separation between boy and sea lion, readers are left without closure; Jeddy learns of Drifter’s changed affection only through secondhand reports. This narrative detour is particularly unsatisfying, especially as the novel’s title and cover suggest a deeper exploration of Drifter himself.

Ultimately, Drifter will appeal to Mannix’s devoted fans but falls short of his best work. Readers new to Mannix would be better served by starting with The Fox and the Hound, The Last Eagle, The Wolves of Paris, or Secret of the Elms—each of which showcases his skill in combining compelling narratives with his love for animal subjects. For those willing to explore his mid-tier works, Drifter offers a solid, though somewhat scattered, adventure.