The Call of the Wild
Reviewed by Nancy Ross, Instructor

This memorable story is one of a series of classic novels that has been adapted for easier reading. Frankenstein, The Red Badge of Courage, A Tale of Two Cities, and Treasure Island are examples of other books in the Saddleback Classics series. Each novel comes with a study guide.

Jack London's famous novel is about a big, strong dog named Buck, who is kidnapped from a loving home and sent north to Alaska to work as a sled dog during the Gold Rush. He is badly treated, and then sold several times. Although he finally finds an owner whom he worships, his nature has changed through his experiences. His spirit has hardened. Finally, Buck hears the "call of the wild," and he joins his wild brothers, who are the subject of numerous legends.

Many students enjoyed this novel. It especially appealed to animal lovers. Many sympathized with the dog, for having to endure such cruelty and mistreatment. They also found the historical setting of the Gold Rush fascinating. The story was easy to read and understand, and students liked the length (79 pages), the print size, and the illustrations. I also noticed the students were happy to learn that they had read a famous classic novel.

The study guide is a useful addition to the book. Even if one didn't use the guide completely, it has good suggestions. I would consider using this book as a class novel, with the entire group of students reading and writing about it. It was an easy-to-follow novel that many students found exciting and heart-warming, and the content was appropriate for everyone.