Julie's Wolf Pack by Jean Craighead George

It is a difficult question, for herself as well as her people, and contributes to the crisis that sends her fleeing into the wilderness. Is she Julie, the girl forced by government school regulations to move to a far-away town, who learns English, and discovers the wonders of modern life? Or is she Miyax, the girl raised by her father in traditional ways after her motherâ€™s early death, learning about land, animals, and self-sufficience?

And it is through these efforts to keep spirits up that the author weaves in a deeper theme: the duality that shapes all aspects of the heroineâ€™s life. Survival isnâ€™t just a physical challenge, but a mental and emotional one as well the heroine knows that singing to herself, inventing rhymes and dances, reliving happy memories, and imagining her future life are just as important as creating shelter and locating edible plants. The author is in no hurry to answer, with the full background sprinkled a paragraph at a time throughout the story in between descriptions of current efforts to stay alive in a landscape moving from autumn to arctic winter. As opening hooks go, the question of how someone so young got into such a predicament is powerful. The story begins with a 13-year-old girl alone in the Alaskan wilderness, desperately yet systematically trying to establish communication with a wolf pack as her last means of avoiding starvation. Hopefully this isnâ€™t too big a violation of review procedure considering the book is over a quarter century old). (Warning: Some spoilerish comments included, because they refer to the storyâ€™s banned status. Jean Craighead George presents the wolf's life with such insight and detail, and narrator Christina Moore so skillfully evokes the audiobook's characters and moods, you will feel as if you, like Julie, have lived among these magnificent creatures.Publication Info: HarperTrophy May 24, 2005 This Newbery Award-winning series which began with Julie of the Wolves and continued with Julie is based on extensive research and firsthand observation. Changes come into Julie’s life too, as she makes plans to marry and become a naturalist. Year in and year out, the pack adapts to the changes in their arctic tundra home. The wolves share a strong sense of community, including a deep love of pups, and an understanding of the ancient ways necessary to their survival. Kapu is strong and wise, but if his pack is to survive, he must lead it through many dangers: near starvation, rabies, rival wolves, and worst of all, humans. The black alpha Kapu, whom Julie once nursed back to health, is a natural leader.

The adventures of Julie's wolves continue as a new wolf leader takes over the pack.

Julie's Wolf Pack by Jean Craighead George