Call+of+the+Wild

Call of the Wild **__
 * By: Jack London **

Plot Synopsis: __**
 * Call of the Wild is a heart hitting book about a pampered dog named Buck, whom is kidnapped from his home and forced to learn how to survive in the wild. His whole life, Buck lived on an estate owned by a wealthy Judge. Buck was pampered house dog that was loved by everyone who surrounded him. One night Buck was kidnapped from his pampered life and sold into an Atlantic dog-sled team. Right away he learned that not all humans are like his former owner, some are not to be trusted. “****He was beaten (he knew that); but he was not broken. He saw, once for all, that he stood no chance against a man with a club. He had learned the lesson, and in all his after life he never forgot it.”** **(London pg.12)** **As he gets hit and beaten Buck realizes quickly in order to stay alive he will have listen to what the abusive men the bought him say. Buck then starts to realize other things needed for survival when he sees an innocent dog named Curly get beaten and killed by the leader of the dogs, Spitz. As the survival instincts kick in and he gets abused even more, Buck soon becomes a savage dog like the rest of the sled team is, he fights, he steels, and he even kills Spitz in order to gain leadership. Fortunately Buck is saved from the abuse by a loving caring owner John Thorton, who treats Buck as his own child, and in return Buck obeys and protects him. Unfortunately Buck’s instincts get more and more strong, and although he loves his new owner he will have to choose between living with John and Living in the wild.**


 * __ Criticism Section: __**
 * What Worked: Jack London has a very creative mind. Having Buck be beaten in order to learn a lesson worked well for the book, because it gave insight to how Buck’s instincts started to rise from the dead. Also having Buck be saved by John Thorton worked well for the book, because it gave the readers the break they needed from the tragic events that had happen prior.**
 * What Didn’t Work: The book begins with Buck living a pampered life on an estate than getting kidnapped and forced to learn to survive. This didn’t really work well for the book; because Buck’s instinct seem to almost instantaneously appear out of no where, which seemed to be very unlikely. “And not only did he learn by experience, but instincts long dead became alive again.” (London pg. 24)**

__ Outstanding: __
 * //Call of the Wild// is an outstanding book, because although it may seem to be an easy read for even an elementary student it is a story most elementary student wouldn’t be able to comprehend or even handle. The //Call of the Wild// deals with harsh events of mistreatment and murder that takes the reader’s emotion and pulls at it every page turned. It is truly outstanding, because it gets the readers attention by using their emotion; and keeps their attention but making them feel more and more emotional. The //Call of the Wild// is a great book that belongs on the “Outstanding books for College Bound,” because it deals with so many adult relating issues and conflicts that are still happening today even though it was written over 100 years ago.

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 * __ Citations: __**
 * London, Jack. //The Call of the Wild.//** **Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 1994.**
 * Hautman, Jim. Photo. //google.com// January 21, 2010.**

· **//Genre://** **non-fiction, dramatic** · **//Style://** **First person** · **//Related book://** **[|Old Yeller],** [|Marley & Me]
 * __ Literary Information: __**

__ **Recommendation:** __
 * I highly recommend this book for dog lovers of all ages. Although it may be a little much for young children. This book is a heart filled, emotion grabbing, page turning book. It's a book you will want to read more than once.**