[Poll Tally] Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

[Theresa]

I absolutely loved this! In fact, if this had been around when I was a young teen (it was published first in 1972 - I was a senior in high school), it would have so delighted me, I'd have read it over and over again. It is absolutely deserving of its 1973 Newbery Award.

The story opens in the tundra somewhere south of Barrow, Alaska in an unspecified but modern time. A 13 year old girl, Julie (English name) Miyax (Eskimo name), alone and starving, having run away from an abusive marriage. She's on a hillock watching a wolf pack, hoping to be accepted sufficiently that the pack shares food with her. Does this seem fantastical to you? It's not as we quickly learn.

We gradually learn that Julie Miyax spent her childhood with her widowed father in his seal camp learning the native traditions and respect for animals. This knowledge and lore allowed her not just to set off across the tundra on her own to escape an untenable situation, but to survive. Julie's voyage, not just of survival, but also her coming of age and knowledge of self, is beautifully and excitingly shared here. I found myself with Julie watching then interacting with the pack, foraging for food, building shelter, withstanding a snowstorm.

This is the first in a trilogy, and I've already borrowed the remaining series from the library. When you read this, get the most recent edition published by the author's children after her death - there are wonderful additional materials you must read.

Author was not only a noted writer of children's books, but also a journalist. While researching an article on wolves for Reader's Digest, she and one of her sons flew to Barrow, AK for research. While Reader's Digest never published her article, it provided the germ of an idea for this book, and led to much more writing that contributed to wolves being protected and restored to places like Yellowstone National Park after being on the brink of extinction.

[Hebah]

Theresa wrote: "Author was not only a noted writer of children's books, but also a journalist. While researching an article on wolves for Reader's Digest, she and one of her sons flew to Barrow, AK for research. While Reader's Digest never published her article, it provided the germ of an idea for this book, and led to much more writing that contributed to wolves being protected and restored to places like Yellowstone National Park after being on the brink of extinction."

Oh wow. I remember reading this book and enjoying it, but that additional information is just neat. I remember writing a paper about the return of the wolves to Yellowstone in, oh, 1999? Never knew there was a connection between this book and that change!

[annapi]

I can't remember if I ever read this book! But I love Newbery winners so I probably will use it for the Inuit tag.

[Theresa]

annapi wrote: "I can't remember if I ever read this book! But I love Newbery winners so I probably will use it for the Inuit tag."

That in truth is how I discovered it...searching the Inuit shelf list!

[Book Concierge]

I loved this when I read it a few years back. I have the rest of the series on my TBR.