Dogsong

By: Gary Paulsen

Narrated by: Robert Ramirez

Gary Paulsen's Dogsong - a Newbery Honor Book and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults - is the graphic, coming-of-age tale of a modern Eskimo lad and his consuming vision quest and harrowing struggle for survival.

Troubled by changes in his Alaskan village, 14-year-old Russell Suskitt seeks the counsel of the village elder - and only dog team owner. After his training in the ancient arts of hunting with bow and lance, handling sled dogs, and surviving arctic dangers, Russell embarks upon his lonely search for Eskimo manhood.

©1985 Gary Paulsen (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Unusual and moving ... a remarkable book." ( Library Journal)

Could feel the cold

Really interesting story - gives you a great perspective of Eskimo life and traditions - sadness, joy, grief, heartache - would have liked to hear more about the relationship between man & dog but as an enjoyable shorter story I thought it was really well done!

Another great story by Gary Paulsen

If you liked the Hatchet, you'll like this story. A good eskimo vision quest tale about sled dogs and survival.

The song and bravery

I didn’t like how it was so complicated in words and phrases otherwise it was a complicated story!

loved it

the author brings nature, power to survive, adventure, and the harshness of the white north, and appreciation of what the Inuits had to endure.

I stayed awake to hear the story

This book took me to a place and people I'll never see or know. A coming of age story of a boy where snow covered winter home community has no dogs. Accordng to a tale of the boys grandparent's days , starvation caused the community to eat the precious dogs. Except for one wise elderly man, who has several sled dogs that have grown fat from doing nothing. What's a young teenage boy to do? I love this story.