Our Explorer kids are reading The Call of the Wild and White Fang, both animal stories, from April to June 2021. Here’s a peek at both stories:

The Call of the Wild is the story of Buck, a dog stolen from his home and thrust into the merciless life of the Arctic north to endure hardship, bitter cold, and the savage lawlessness of man and beast. White Fang, on the other hand, is the adventure of an animal – part dog, part wolf – turned vicious by cruel abuse, then transformed by the patience and affection of one man.

Jack London’s superb ability as a storyteller and his uncanny understanding of animal and human natures give these tales a striking vitality and power, and have earned him a reputation as a distinguished American writer.

The book focuses on 9-year-old Peter Hatcher’s frustration with the horrendous behaviour demonstrated by his annoying 2½-year-old brother, Fudge, who frequently goes unpunished. Peter becomes frustrated with Fudge because he often disturbs Peter’s pet turtle, Dribble, which he won at his best friend Jimmy Fargo’s birthday party. Furthermore, Fudge throws nonstop temper tantrums, goes through a finicky phase of abstaining from eating altogether, and emulates Peter’s behaviour, throwing tantrums if it is prohibited. Nevertheless, their parents, Warren and Ann, dote on Fudge, to Peter’s anger and frustration.

 Another significant character is Henry Bevelheimer who is the elevator operator in Peter’s apartment building in New York. He knows everybody in the building.

“Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members.” – Pearl S. Buck, The Good Earth