The Call of the Wild

    

        This six weeks I read Call of the Wild, written by Jack London. This was first published in 1903, and this book is a adventure/historical fiction novel taking place in the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. The book is a touching story about a regular household dog named Buck who is shipped off to Alaska to become a sled dog. Buck adapts rapidly and soon becomes one of the toughest dogs in the north. After I finished this book, I thought that the overall main theme of this book was the never ending competition for domination; someone will always be on top, but he/she never remains there forever, because someone stronger will always appear.

     The story is told in a third person point of view, however, the reader reads mostly about Buck's experiences, not anyone else's. The plot is centered on Buck and his adaptation to his "wild side" and harsh conditions. Based on the plot, I believe that the intended audience would be young adults/adults; the story introduces some ideas (such as "the law of club and fang") that are not really suitable for audiences younger than middle school grades. This is definitely an adventure fiction novel, but it could also be considered a historical fiction novel as well. Being a historical/adventure fiction novel, the author kept me interested by adding plot twists and new yet important characters. The author tends to write in a stylethat touches and makes readers mourn and praise Buck. I believe that it is quite effective for young adults/adults.

       The books made me feel as though my life was a breeze. I was amazed at how quickly a dog could adapt from a leisurely lifestyle to a harsh, tough, and brutal lifestyle; this made me realize that the most important thing for survival is your will to live. This story changed my views on "survival of the fittest"; I didn't think dogs (or any other animal) had to put up with this much stress. When I was reading the beginning/climax, I thought that the treatment was almost inhumane. This story is similar to Balto, however,  it is still a more touching and moving story than any other that I have read.

         Overall, this was a very moving story that changed my views about "survival of the fittest". I love how it gives you a perspective of a sled dog, not a human, who experiences the harsh Yukon. I highly recommend this book to readers who love adventure stories/sad stories. 

       

       Jennifer Kwon

         11/3/2013

          *****5/5