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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I had to force myself to finish this. I'm not a huge fan of animal books to begin with, but even Part II, where it was talking about the protagonist's life before she ran off to the tundra, didn't interest me. The whole plot seemed far-fetched, and the ending was unsatisfying. I expect a lot out of the Newbery books, and this one was a disappointment.
I really, really adored this book when I was young. I was pretty sure that if I could manage to meet a wolf, I would be able to talk to her because I had memorized this story so well. I definitely had a thing for Young Native Woman Survivalist Novels (Island of the Blue Dolphin was another fave) and this one was extra fun because I was going through my weird wolf girl phase (why yes, it did coincide with my weird horse girl phase, why do you ask?).
Going back to it now, I was a little shocked by how bleak it is. It's a survivalist novel, yeah, but it's also a child marriage horror story with an attempted sexual assault right in the middle. There's a lurking story about native children being rehomed and forcibly re-educated into English culture and losing the ability to participate in their own culture, but the story being told through the eyes of a 13 year old did simplify that down a little bit.
But geez, this book made raw Caribou liver sound delicious so there's definitely some engrossing writing in there.
But! As an adult reader with a little more nervousness about representation, I am slightly concerned to find out that the author isn't native. It seems like she has a lot of expertise in the local nature and climate, but I did find a couple reviews online from native folks who actually live in this part of Alaska and they were not pleased with some of her inaccuracies. Apparently she got a lot of the language wrong ("amoraq" should be "amaguq" and there's no "X" in the Inupiaq alphabet, so "Miyax" is not a native name etc) and some of the basic geography and behaviors don't really make sense to actual native readers from Barrow and if they thing this story isn't good representation, I am going to defer to them.
So, loved it as kid, but as an adult it's a little cringe-y to see a white author writing about how this girl likes that starvation has made her cheeks hollow like a white girl's face. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Going back to it now, I was a little shocked by how bleak it is. It's a survivalist novel, yeah, but it's also a child marriage horror story with an attempted sexual assault right in the middle. There's a lurking story about native children being rehomed and forcibly re-educated into English culture and losing the ability to participate in their own culture, but the story being told through the eyes of a 13 year old did simplify that down a little bit.
But geez, this book made raw Caribou liver sound delicious so there's definitely some engrossing writing in there.
But! As an adult reader with a little more nervousness about representation, I am slightly concerned to find out that the author isn't native. It seems like she has a lot of expertise in the local nature and climate, but I did find a couple reviews online from native folks who actually live in this part of Alaska and they were not pleased with some of her inaccuracies. Apparently she got a lot of the language wrong ("amoraq" should be "amaguq" and there's no "X" in the Inupiaq alphabet, so "Miyax" is not a native name etc) and some of the basic geography and behaviors don't really make sense to actual native readers from Barrow and if they thing this story isn't good representation, I am going to defer to them.
So, loved it as kid, but as an adult it's a little cringe-y to see a white author writing about how this girl likes that starvation has made her cheeks hollow like a white girl's face. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I absolutely loved this! In fact, if this had been around when I was a young teen (it was published first in 1972 - I was a senior in high school), it would have so delighted me, I'd have read it over and over again. It is absolutely deserving of its 1973 Newbery Award.
The story opens in the tundra somewhere south of Barrow, Alaska in an unspecified but modern time. A 13 year old girl, Julie (English name) Miyax (Eskimo name), alone and starving, having run away from an abusive marriage. She's on a hillock watching a wolf pack, hoping to be accepted sufficiently that the pack shares food with her. Does this seem fantastical to you? It's not as we quickly learn.
We gradually learn that Julie Miyax spent her childhood with her widowed father in his seal camp learning the native traditions and respect for animals. This knowledge and lore allowed her not just to set off across the tundra on her own to escape an untenable situation, but to survive. Julie's voyage, not just of survival, but also her coming of age and knowledge of self, is beautifully and excitingly shared here. I found myself with Julie watching then interacting with the pack, foraging for food, building shelter, withstanding a snowstorm.
This is the first in a trilogy, and I've already borrowed the remaining series in the library. When you read this, get the most recent edition published by the author's children after her death - there are wonderful additional materials you must read.
The story opens in the tundra somewhere south of Barrow, Alaska in an unspecified but modern time. A 13 year old girl, Julie (English name) Miyax (Eskimo name), alone and starving, having run away from an abusive marriage. She's on a hillock watching a wolf pack, hoping to be accepted sufficiently that the pack shares food with her. Does this seem fantastical to you? It's not as we quickly learn.
We gradually learn that Julie Miyax spent her childhood with her widowed father in his seal camp learning the native traditions and respect for animals. This knowledge and lore allowed her not just to set off across the tundra on her own to escape an untenable situation, but to survive. Julie's voyage, not just of survival, but also her coming of age and knowledge of self, is beautifully and excitingly shared here. I found myself with Julie watching then interacting with the pack, foraging for food, building shelter, withstanding a snowstorm.
This is the first in a trilogy, and I've already borrowed the remaining series in the library. When you read this, get the most recent edition published by the author's children after her death - there are wonderful additional materials you must read.
Great book from childhood, with a lot of nature studies and observation, learning how the world works around us. I actually appreciated the author perspective more this time around. There was a foreword and afterword that were very interesting, detailing the author's travels and research efforts. Always a fan of nature survival stories, and always a fan of Jean Craighead George.
A love song to the north, wolves, nature, and the marriage of all three.
‘Julie’ is certainly like exactly zero teenagers. I’ve never met a girl so out of touch with modern life, or even normal teenage-girl feelings. I found her a bit hard to swallow. Her love for all things natural was awe-inspiring and beautiful, but ultimately unrelateable.
And she almost turned her back on her much beloved and long lost father because he has electricity? ‘He was dead to me’ seems a little extreme. I know he owns an airplane and participates in sport hunting- but I 100% know he didn’t kill her wolf father. It goes against everything he had ever been, AND we know he hasn’t changed based on the testimonies of her new friends. It saddened me that she had so lost touch with humankind that the most natural feeling of all - a child loving their parent- was absent. I’m glad she found purpose and love in the Arctic among wolves- but I wish she could have found that in her family.
I did love the details of how she survived on her own. Human ingenuity amazes me. And it’s all totally plausible. This plus My Side of the Mountain (And maybe Hatchet) and I could live anywhere!
‘Julie’ is certainly like exactly zero teenagers. I’ve never met a girl so out of touch with modern life, or even normal teenage-girl feelings. I found her a bit hard to swallow. Her love for all things natural was awe-inspiring and beautiful, but ultimately unrelateable.
And she almost turned her back on her much beloved and long lost father because he has electricity? ‘He was dead to me’ seems a little extreme. I know he owns an airplane and participates in sport hunting- but I 100% know he didn’t kill her wolf father. It goes against everything he had ever been, AND we know he hasn’t changed based on the testimonies of her new friends. It saddened me that she had so lost touch with humankind that the most natural feeling of all - a child loving their parent- was absent. I’m glad she found purpose and love in the Arctic among wolves- but I wish she could have found that in her family.
I did love the details of how she survived on her own. Human ingenuity amazes me. And it’s all totally plausible. This plus My Side of the Mountain (And maybe Hatchet) and I could live anywhere!
I loved this book when I was younger and it was a joy to re-read it as an adult. I loved the blend of Julie's past with her present and the Eskimo traditions and language that's used. A beautiful story that's a quick read for any animal lovers.
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
I read this in the 6th grade. We had to to make igloos out of sugar cubes, and our teacher insisted that we spray them with Raid. Three classes of 30+ igloos and 4 hours later, an ambulance had to come give her oxygen because of the fumes.
I remember liking the book though.
I remember liking the book though.
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No