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Book Summary:
Julie of the Wolves is the story of
Miyax, known as Julie to the outside world, and her survival in the Alaskan
wilderness. Julie, a young Eskimo girl, runs away from her village when
arrangements are made for an undesirable marriage. To escape her fate, Julie
strikes out on her own, heading for San Francisco.
Julie's understanding of, and interactions with, the natural
world are impressive for a young girl. She "reads" the earth, from
lemming life cycles to bird migration patterns to plant growth. Based on the
small changes she observes around herself, she is able to find enough food to
stay alive and make her way across the unforgiving tundra. Along the way she
encounters a small wolf pack, and over time, befriends them and becomes a
member of their pack. This relationship saves her life multiple times, and she
is eventually able to arrive at the small village from which her father
disappeared.
Julie finds strength in herself, and from this experience,
she knows she is capable of surviving on her own. She no longer needs to rely
on others for her survival.
APA Reference of Book:
George, J. C. (1972). Julie of the wolves. New
York, NY: HarperCollins.
Impressions:
Julie is a wonderful heroine. Her strength and determination
to survive, along with her almost innate understanding of the world around her,
are such great characteristics to promote among young girls. Her story was
similar to that found in Island of the Blue Dolphins, another
tale of survival, though in a very different climate.
Julie reads as a much older girl in her behavior and
thoughts. This point would be a great discussion topic with younger readers
about the difference a person's culture has on their attitude, personal
bearing, and life skills. Julie learned from a young age how to perform all
manner of life skills, from food gathering, hunting, and preparation to shelter
building to interacting with the elements around her.
I really enjoyed reading about Julie and meeting her. I'm
looking forward to continuing her story in Julie and Julie's
Wolf pack.
Professional Review:
“Jean George has captured the subtle nuances of Eskimo life,
animal habits, the pain of growing up, and combines these elements into a
thrilling adventure which is, at the same time, a poignant love story.”
Bregman, A. (1973). Julie of the wolves [Review of the book
Julie of the wolves by J. George].
School Library Journal, 75.
Library Use:
As the winner of the 1973 Newbery Award, this book can be
used as part of a Newbery or "Award Winning Books" display. It could
also be used for a survival display. This would be a great book to use as a
book club read with younger teens to discuss culture and survival skills. There
are many different points that can be brought out in a discussion, all valuable
educational moments for today's youth.
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