Customer Reviews:
 Inappropriate for Children November 17, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This might be a great book. It's a Newberry Medal winner after all and recommended by many people including teachers and librarians. So I trusted it should be good for my children. But when my 10-year-old daughter got this book from her teacher in her classroom and read the book upto page 102, she said, "Mom, this part is so gross!" She didn't even want to mention why it's so "gross." She looked just so disgusted and disturbed. When she went to sleep, I grabbed the book and read the page. I simply got shocked. How can this kind of book be recommended for children of this young age? Again, this might be a great book, but it's not for young children. It should be removed from any list of recommended books for children younger than maybe high schoolers.
 Classic September 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a haunting story that still symbolizes the greatness of Jean Craighead Goerge. It is more than a mere survival story, but the story of a girl who is torn between the modern world and her native Inuit ways. When a rape incident encourages her to flee to California, tragedy occurs and she finds herself trapped in the snow with only a pack of wolves for friends.
What follows is a passionate and beautiful observation of the connection between man and nature. Goerge is incredible at expressing Julie's thoughts and feelings, and every page is packed with an edge.
After Reading This Book You Will HATE Sarah Palin September 9, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
The villains of this book are the hunters in planes that indiscriminately shoot wolves for sport, or to claim a bounty from the state. Alaska's Governor, Sarah Palin, tried to increase that bounty to $150 and broadly expanded the hunting of wolves from planes. She did this claiming that the wolves were competing against human hunters for caribou, without any basic understanding of the science of the wolf ecosystem, that helps keeps all species in balance. That sense of balance in the natural world is well communicated by this book, and is a valuable lesson for young teens. If only Sarah Palin had read this book when she was teen, then maybe she would have more respect for the natural world.
Shocking selection for 4-8th graders May 29, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Jean Craghead-George is a gifted writer. Her novels have enchanted readers for years. She has an amazing ability to describe a scene! All of this, plus her general subject matter being about the outdoors, nature, adventure make for a teacher's (which I am) dream when looking for books to assign to their students. HOWEVER, do not allow your young children to read this violent book. Although it is marketed to 4th-8th graders it is in NO WAY appropriate for that young age. In addition to the graphic violence and animal abuse, 2/3 of the way into the book it has a well-described scene of r**e on page 102. This is very shocking and disturbing. If you want a good outdoors adventure book, read "My Side of the Mountain." Wait to read "Julie of the Wolves" until the kids are in high school...or perhaps never. Too much negative to put into young minds!!!
 Parents, don't rely on librarians or teachers to tell you it's ok December 31, 2007
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
While this book gives many interesting details of Arctic life and the differences between the traditional and modernized lifestyles of the Eskimos, it is not worth the effort due to one inappropriate, unnecessary, gratuitous scene on p. 102. I was shocked when I discovered this scene of s*x*al assault between Daniel and Julie, especially considering the age of the target audience. I realize that this scene is the catalyst which drives Julie to go back to the wilderness, but my goodness! Couldn't the author have thought of something else? Due to this one scene, the entire book should be regarded with great caution, in my opinion.
I understand that this book is required reading by many elementary schools. As a parent, I would appreciate a forewarning, so that I could decide whether this book would be appropriate for my children. My 11-y-old daughter received this book as a gift, but I remembered something that I'd read about this book that was questionable. I did a little reading, a boy! am I glad I did. The scene of s*x*al assault would have been confusing and disturbing to my child. I will not be letting her read it. There are plenty of other wonderful books out there that have nothing inappropriate.
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