Sixteen in Nome

by Max Brand, David Stuart (Reader)

Sixteen In Nome is narrated by young Joe May, an Arizonian who has come to Alaska to "make his stake for a ranch." Joe finds being on his own difficult as he reflects "Sixteen is a bad age for a boy. It is too full of growing and not enough full of strength." Joe's coming of age story in Alaska during the gold rush of the 1890's is an intertwining backdrop to the conflict between Hugh Massey and Arnie Calmont.

Massey and Calmont were a legend in the Yukon, partners in all until they clash over a most extraordinary and powerful dog known as Alec the Great, and over a mystery woman, Marjorie, who puts herself up for auction to the highest bidder among the Nome miners. Calmont wins the auction but Massey wins Marjorie's heart, just as he had won Alec's heart when Alec belonged to Calmont.

Genres: Westerns

Audio CD

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Frederick Schiller Faust (see also Frederick Faust), aka Frank Austin, George Owen Baxter, Walter C. Butler, George Challis, Evin Evan, Evan Evans, Frederick Faust, John Frederick, Frederick Frost, David Manning, Peter Henry Morland, Lee Bolt, Peter Dawson, Martin Dexter, Dennis Lawson, M.B., Hugh Owen, Nicholas Silver

Max Brand, one of America's most popular and prolific novelists and author of such enduring works as Destry Rides Again and the Doctor Kildare stories, died on the Italian front in 1944.

Reviews

[Rhys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Certainly the best Max Brand book I have read so far, but he wrote hundreds of books and I haven't read very many yet, so this judgment might change. This novel was surely influenced by Jack London. It is set in Alaska and Canada and is about a feud between two mighty men over the ownership of a remarkable dog. The writing is muscular, pulpish but possessed of occasional poetic vigour.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.5 of 5

I've read more than a few westerns and generally enjoy the genre when I'm looking for something light and quick ('light' meaning not a lot of subplots and characters that need to be followed with an organizer). Yet, to my memory, I've never read a Max Brand book. Borrowing this book from my library, I decided to change that.

Joe May is a tall, lanky sixteen year old, determined to set out on his own and make his own way and become his own boss on his own plot of Alaskan land. But as we meet him, he hasn't eaten in a day and a half and he's feeling pretty desperate when he wanders into bar. There, he meets up with Joe Massey in order to do a job. Joe is a respected (and feared) man in the area, and working for Massey immediately gives Joe some credibility. Massey takes a liking to the boy and keeps him on, enlisting his help in getting his dog back from Massey's sworn enemy, Arnie Calmont.

The dog, faithful to a fault to Massey, once belonged to Calmont. And Calmont and Massey were once friends and partners and known all over the Yukon. Now the dog, known as Alec the Great, is at the center of their rivalry. Even the woman who puts herself up for auction, Marjorie, can't compete with the company of a faithful dog.

My story synopsis doesn't really do this book justice. This is really a fun YA western story. It's a coming-of-age story for Joe May, even though it's Massey and Alec the Great, and Calmont to some degree, who provide the action of the story. But we see the story through Joe's eyes and what he learns from it. What he (and we) learn is that a faithful companion, whether or human or canine (and most likely it's canine) is important to a man on his own (of course you're not really on your own if you have a companion).

The book moves along swiftly, and the action is well told. This struck me a lot as similar to books such as The Call of the Wild but from a different perspective. Think A Boy and His Dog but in the historical Yukon rather than the apocalyptic desert.

I enjoyed this and am looking forward to reading more Max Brand, wondering if they are all YA targeted or if some are a little 'harder' western.

Looking for a good book? Sixteen in Nome by Max Brand is a 'northern' (as opposed to 'western') YA book that is adventurous and exciting and a quick read.

I borrowed this book from my local library.

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This not really a Western. It is not about the temperature in Nome. The narrator of the story is Joe May, who is sixteen and in Nome at the start of the story. It is a gold rush story. The main characters are Massey and Catamont who were best friend but a dog came between them, Alec the Great. He is part dog and part wolf and part of a dog team. The characters are well developed and the plot line is good. It would be a good book to start if you have never read Max Brand.The ending will suprise you.

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

A twisting chase that winds its way across the Alaskan wilderness. Huskies, wolves, a mixed-up destitute kid, a pair of heavyweight rivals, a damsel in distress and a super-intelligent dog make for an unlikely tale but sometimes these easy reads are an enjoyable and easy escape.

[J.D. Sutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's Max Brand channeling Jack London. :) And that's not a bad thing! I think it worked quite well. Joe May is a great main character, and I really enjoyed following his journey in this story.

[Charday Parish-Parkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a "sequel" to the short story "Alec the Great." (may be found in the book Outlaws All.) Alec is a dog loved by two men. The narrator is Joe May(which is my father's name.)




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