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Dogsong
In the old days there were songs.
Something is bothering Russel Susskit. He hates waking up to the sound of his father's coughing, the smell of diesel oil, the noise of snow machines starting up.
Only Oogruk, the shaman who owns the last team of dogs in the village, understands Russel's longing for the old ways and the songs that celebrated them. But Oogruk cannot give Russel the answers he seeks; the old man can only prepare him for what he must do alone. Driven by a strange, powerful dream of a long-ago self and by a burning desire to find his own song, Russel takes Oogruk's dogs on an epic journey of self-discovery that will change his life forever.
Something is bothering Russel Susskit. He hates waking up to the sound of his father's coughing, the smell of diesel oil, the noise of snow machines starting up.
Only Oogruk, the shaman who owns the last team of dogs in the village, understands Russel's longing for the old ways and the songs that celebrated them. But Oogruk cannot give Russel the answers he seeks; the old man can only prepare him for what he must do alone. Driven by a strange, powerful dream of a long-ago self and by a burning desire to find his own song, Russel takes Oogruk's dogs on an epic journey of self-discovery that will change his life forever.
Mass Market Paperback
First published December 31, 1985
About the author
Gary Paulsen
352 books3,745 followersGary James Paulsen was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction, best known for coming-of-age stories about the wilderness. He was the author of more than 200 books and wrote more than 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily for teenagers. He won the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 1997 for his lifetime contribution in writing for teens.
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September 11, 2023
In 1985, Gary Paulsen brought his passion for dogsledding to his career as a novelist, and his popularity rose to levels he'd never known in almost two decades of writing. Dogsong was cited for a Newbery Honor, and Gary Paulsen's acclaim continued to grow after that. He had found his audience, and we've been grateful ever since. Paulsen transports us to Alaska in Dogsong, a story of a culture changed by outsiders into something unrecognizable to those who knew its glory days. By the time fourteen-year-old Russel Suskitt comes along, the Eskimo way has lain forgotten for generations, held to only by Oogruk, an elderly man who remembers the white missionaries who reformed Eskimo spirituality and culture. Other young Eskimos are content to lead modern lives, but Russel has the itch for something more than urban comforts imported to his remote village. He consults Oogruk, asking the old man to show him what life was like before. Oogruk agrees to share what he knows, but warns that he hasn't long before he passes away. Russel must assimilate the dying Eskimo way of life before the last man who lived it is gone.
"It isn't the destination that counts. It is the journey. That is what life is. A journey. Make it the right way and you will fill it correctly with days. Pay attention to the journey."
—Oogruk, Dogsong, P. 119
Oogruk's mentorship is irreplaceable, but he also leaves Russel something tangible: his team of sled dogs, fat from recent inactivity but ready to run once they're reconditioned. Russel ties the dogs to Oogruk's sled and drives them away from civilization into the howling snowstorms of Alaska's wilderness. Wolves, bears, and other predators prowl here without fear of people, and caribou and deer lope across unbroken landscapes of glittery snow, ripe for hunting. It takes Russel time to learn his dogs' subtle signals and earn their trust, to know them so that his mind and theirs are as one, an efficient apparatus for survival. Russel has returned to the primitive lifestyle his spirit yearned for before he even knew it's what he needed, yet he senses there's more for him to discover. Russel will make that discovery in one final test of man versus the arctic wilderness, as he confronts the region's most awesome predator and starts down a path toward a future in which he and his dogs won't be alone. Russel's life has truly begun.
We learn a lot from what people tell us, but not as much as from watching their lives: the beauty of people being who they are, a song so complex it can't be explained. You just have to observe it and know the truth about them in your soul. This is why Russel's father urges him to spend time with Oogruk; Russel isn't happy in the village, and the song of the old man's life can help. "Songs and words are not always the same", his father tells him. "They do not always say the same thing. Sometimes words lie—but the song is always true. If you listen to Oogruk's words, sometimes they don't make sense. But if you listen to his song, there is much to learn from Oogruk." We may espouse falsehoods about ourselves or the world, borne of bitterness, fear, or naiveté, but the song of our life speaks truth because it has no ulterior motive. Humans like to quantify every commodity they can, but that doesn't work with heartsongs and wisdom. Oogruk understands this. "Men and dogs are not alike, although some men try to make them so...Because they try to make people out of dogs and in this way they make the dogs dumb. But to say that a dog is not smart because it is not as smart as a man is to say that snow is not smart. Dogs are not men. And as dogs, if they are allowed to be dogs, they are often smarter than men." If you measure value by presuming human or adult behavior as the ultimate standard, you'll conclude that animals or kids are inferior. But they aren't men, and to dismiss their differences as weakness is to be blinded by ignorance. If you accept that their minds work differently, you can learn from them rather than assuming that animals and children are only valuable the more they act like adult humans.
I can't say I didn't expect more from Dogsong. The words flow nicely, but the action feels distant, not affecting the reader emotionally. It reminds me of some of Scott O'Dell's novels, notably Black Star, Bright Dawn, also about dogsledding. Dogsong isn't as evocative as other Gary Paulsen books; read Woodsong or Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers: Reflections on Being Raised by a Pack of Sled Dogs to get a taste of how splendidly sensuous he can be when telling dogsledding stories. I wouldn't have given Dogsong a 1986 Newbery Honor ahead of Cynthia Voigt's The Runner and Robert Cormier's Beyond the Chocolate War, but it's not a bad book. I'm not sure I entirely grasp its meaning, but at least it will keep me thinking.
"It isn't the destination that counts. It is the journey. That is what life is. A journey. Make it the right way and you will fill it correctly with days. Pay attention to the journey."
—Oogruk, Dogsong, P. 119
Oogruk's mentorship is irreplaceable, but he also leaves Russel something tangible: his team of sled dogs, fat from recent inactivity but ready to run once they're reconditioned. Russel ties the dogs to Oogruk's sled and drives them away from civilization into the howling snowstorms of Alaska's wilderness. Wolves, bears, and other predators prowl here without fear of people, and caribou and deer lope across unbroken landscapes of glittery snow, ripe for hunting. It takes Russel time to learn his dogs' subtle signals and earn their trust, to know them so that his mind and theirs are as one, an efficient apparatus for survival. Russel has returned to the primitive lifestyle his spirit yearned for before he even knew it's what he needed, yet he senses there's more for him to discover. Russel will make that discovery in one final test of man versus the arctic wilderness, as he confronts the region's most awesome predator and starts down a path toward a future in which he and his dogs won't be alone. Russel's life has truly begun.
We learn a lot from what people tell us, but not as much as from watching their lives: the beauty of people being who they are, a song so complex it can't be explained. You just have to observe it and know the truth about them in your soul. This is why Russel's father urges him to spend time with Oogruk; Russel isn't happy in the village, and the song of the old man's life can help. "Songs and words are not always the same", his father tells him. "They do not always say the same thing. Sometimes words lie—but the song is always true. If you listen to Oogruk's words, sometimes they don't make sense. But if you listen to his song, there is much to learn from Oogruk." We may espouse falsehoods about ourselves or the world, borne of bitterness, fear, or naiveté, but the song of our life speaks truth because it has no ulterior motive. Humans like to quantify every commodity they can, but that doesn't work with heartsongs and wisdom. Oogruk understands this. "Men and dogs are not alike, although some men try to make them so...Because they try to make people out of dogs and in this way they make the dogs dumb. But to say that a dog is not smart because it is not as smart as a man is to say that snow is not smart. Dogs are not men. And as dogs, if they are allowed to be dogs, they are often smarter than men." If you measure value by presuming human or adult behavior as the ultimate standard, you'll conclude that animals or kids are inferior. But they aren't men, and to dismiss their differences as weakness is to be blinded by ignorance. If you accept that their minds work differently, you can learn from them rather than assuming that animals and children are only valuable the more they act like adult humans.
I can't say I didn't expect more from Dogsong. The words flow nicely, but the action feels distant, not affecting the reader emotionally. It reminds me of some of Scott O'Dell's novels, notably Black Star, Bright Dawn, also about dogsledding. Dogsong isn't as evocative as other Gary Paulsen books; read Woodsong or Puppies, Dogs, and Blue Northers: Reflections on Being Raised by a Pack of Sled Dogs to get a taste of how splendidly sensuous he can be when telling dogsledding stories. I wouldn't have given Dogsong a 1986 Newbery Honor ahead of Cynthia Voigt's The Runner and Robert Cormier's Beyond the Chocolate War, but it's not a bad book. I'm not sure I entirely grasp its meaning, but at least it will keep me thinking.
May 9, 2009
With Gary Paulson's books, my relationship is a little strange. I either end up hating it completely or falling completely in love with it. This was one of those I fell completely in love with.
The language is simple, so simple that one may mistake it as a story for children. I disagree. He weaves the words in such a way that once I shut the book I am left in a thoughtful mood, and filled with yearning. His descriptions evoke the most wonderful (or not so wonderful, depending on what it is) images in my mind. This book is a masterpiece, and one I have read dozens of times.
The language is simple, so simple that one may mistake it as a story for children. I disagree. He weaves the words in such a way that once I shut the book I am left in a thoughtful mood, and filled with yearning. His descriptions evoke the most wonderful (or not so wonderful, depending on what it is) images in my mind. This book is a masterpiece, and one I have read dozens of times.
February 23, 2012
WARNING: Contains Spoilers!!!
1. Summarize your story: who, what, when, where, why how
Dogsong by Gary Paulson is a story of Russel, 14 years old Eskimo going on the journey to become a man. The story is divided into 3 big parts. The first part is about Russel feeling unhappy about his life and going to see a blind old man called 'Oogruk'. There he learns that people in old days had songs for every life and decides to go on his journey to find his own song.
Part two is about Russel's journey. This part goes back and forth from his dream and real life. His dreams are about his future. During his journey in real life, he faces many difficulties such as starving. He finds a girl called "Nancy" who was kicked out from her village for being pregnant without having a proper husband. At the last part of Part 2, Nancy becomes very sick after giving birth to baby without life. So, Russel starts his way with the dogs to take Nancy to the Northern village and to the doctor.
The part 3 is the actual dogsong, the song the Russel made during and after his long and hard journey. The song talks about the dogs and himself.
2. Discuss the main conflict and whether or not and how it is resolved.
The main conflict in the story is man vs nature/ environment. During Russels journey he faces many difficult situations. He starves for many days and he has some trouble with the dogs. I think the biggest conflict was at the last part of his journey where Russel leaves Nancy behind heads off to get some food. There he didn't see any animals to hunt for several days and he starved for a long time.
3. Did you like it? Why or why not?
I liked the book because I like books about adventures. I like how the story was about a journey of a boy being a man. I also like how the story shows the steps and the gradual development. It shows how Russel's thinkings change and how he starts to understand the teachings of Oogruk.
1. Summarize your story: who, what, when, where, why how
Dogsong by Gary Paulson is a story of Russel, 14 years old Eskimo going on the journey to become a man. The story is divided into 3 big parts. The first part is about Russel feeling unhappy about his life and going to see a blind old man called 'Oogruk'. There he learns that people in old days had songs for every life and decides to go on his journey to find his own song.
Part two is about Russel's journey. This part goes back and forth from his dream and real life. His dreams are about his future. During his journey in real life, he faces many difficulties such as starving. He finds a girl called "Nancy" who was kicked out from her village for being pregnant without having a proper husband. At the last part of Part 2, Nancy becomes very sick after giving birth to baby without life. So, Russel starts his way with the dogs to take Nancy to the Northern village and to the doctor.
The part 3 is the actual dogsong, the song the Russel made during and after his long and hard journey. The song talks about the dogs and himself.
2. Discuss the main conflict and whether or not and how it is resolved.
The main conflict in the story is man vs nature/ environment. During Russels journey he faces many difficult situations. He starves for many days and he has some trouble with the dogs. I think the biggest conflict was at the last part of his journey where Russel leaves Nancy behind heads off to get some food. There he didn't see any animals to hunt for several days and he starved for a long time.
3. Did you like it? Why or why not?
I liked the book because I like books about adventures. I like how the story was about a journey of a boy being a man. I also like how the story shows the steps and the gradual development. It shows how Russel's thinkings change and how he starts to understand the teachings of Oogruk.
September 29, 2017
"Dogsong", by Gary Paulsen, is a marvelous read. Russel Susskit, a 14 year old boy, lives in a village in Alaska. His father, hasn't been very smart with his life. He has made terrible health decisions, leaving Russel looking for answers. Russel visits the village elder, Oogruk. Oogruk is extremely wise, and asks of something from him.
Russel is sent on a wild, breathtaking ride. It includes Oogruk’s dogs, sled dogs to be exact. And Russel must use them to travel up North to look for clues and answers. On his way up there, he has these dreams, of a woman and man. But as the dreams become worse, his fate is questioned, and he is pushed to the limits to find the answer to his dreams. He then finds clues, and his life is completely flipped upside down, but in a good way.
This is a suspenseful, thrilling ride throughout the story. I felt like I was holding onto my seat, due to the greatness of the book. I’ve read several books by Gary Paulsen, and this one doesn’t quite top the rest of them off. But it is still an awesome book. You can kill time, and it leaves you off your seat.
Russel is sent on a wild, breathtaking ride. It includes Oogruk’s dogs, sled dogs to be exact. And Russel must use them to travel up North to look for clues and answers. On his way up there, he has these dreams, of a woman and man. But as the dreams become worse, his fate is questioned, and he is pushed to the limits to find the answer to his dreams. He then finds clues, and his life is completely flipped upside down, but in a good way.
This is a suspenseful, thrilling ride throughout the story. I felt like I was holding onto my seat, due to the greatness of the book. I’ve read several books by Gary Paulsen, and this one doesn’t quite top the rest of them off. But it is still an awesome book. You can kill time, and it leaves you off your seat.
October 9, 2017
I read this book and let me just say that if there was an option to give zero stars, then I definitely would. The book is impossible to understand and promotes Amish like ideas. After I read the book I went to Alaska and found out that most of the information about the dogs in the novel that Gary Paulsen had given was completely incorrect. I would recommend this book to nobody and I wonder why so many people like it.
March 13, 2012
I really did not like this book. I thought it was slow and there was not enough action. I would not really recommend this book to anyone because it was boring and was not worth reading. Also it was not worded very well.
July 18, 2010
My oldest granddaughter, she is ten, traveled to Alaska with me this summer. Her Papa works here and we will be spending two months with him. We have a lot of time on our hands and with no T.V. or internet access at our summer home, reading has become a huge happy pastime for both of us. I read Dogsong to Iris and we both were so in love with this book. It is like reading a 170 page lyrical poem. The writing is almost rhythmic and flows in a way that makes you feel like you are floating along with the writer on this stark cold journey of the Alaskan north, I am so happy I read this book and more so, I am happy that my granddaughter and I got to share this book. My youngest daughter, who is now 25, loved Gary Paulsen when she was in high school and now I know why. Read this book and then read it again. You will be so glad that you did.
July 9, 2022
I see this book as a homage to the amazing skills that natives of Alaska had to survive in that climate before modern technology took over. Anyone would interest in survival skills would appreciate aspects of the book, like using deer fat and moss to create a lamp.
In this book, the main character Russel takes out dogs on an ancient sled and hunts in the old ways with harpoon, spear and bow and arrow. The story is of his physical and mental journey.
The summary on the book and other people's reviews will tell you more of the story. I will say I enjoyed it well enough to be 3 or 4 stars. I personally did find the survival info interesting. I thought the writing style as if told by a native to be appropriate. The details on the dogs was enough, but I would have wanted more in some way. I get the point of the dreams, but they were not my favorite parts. The book was different than what I have read before and a quick read, which I appreciated. Gary Paulsen wrote one of my favorite books, 'Winterdance' and I appreciate him. Like all books, read different people's reviews to consider if Dogsong is a book for you.
In this book, the main character Russel takes out dogs on an ancient sled and hunts in the old ways with harpoon, spear and bow and arrow. The story is of his physical and mental journey.
The summary on the book and other people's reviews will tell you more of the story. I will say I enjoyed it well enough to be 3 or 4 stars. I personally did find the survival info interesting. I thought the writing style as if told by a native to be appropriate. The details on the dogs was enough, but I would have wanted more in some way. I get the point of the dreams, but they were not my favorite parts. The book was different than what I have read before and a quick read, which I appreciated. Gary Paulsen wrote one of my favorite books, 'Winterdance' and I appreciate him. Like all books, read different people's reviews to consider if Dogsong is a book for you.
January 15, 2021
This short, slightly mystical novel has only 5 characters, six if you include the challenges of the Arctic north. Russel Sussket does not feel comfortable in his life. His father suggests that he go visit a neighboring villager Oogruk. Oogruk is an older, solitary man who observes and preserves the old ways. Russel visits him and they talk about becoming a man. How he must travel a long road alone to find himself.
Russel, after discussions with Oogruk, teaches himself to use the bows, arrows, and javelins that Oogruk has cared for. He learns to manage the sled and the dogs. He hunts, then takes a journey of discovery to the far north. Dogsong mirrors the elements of other Paulsen titles: the young person learning to manage her/himself in the elements, learning what is of real value, and learning to rely on what he has learned. It is told in 3-parts: The Trance, The Dream Run, and Dogsong. Elements of mysticism are there as well as Paulsen’s lyrical language. Recommended.
Readalikes:
Ginny Rorby – Lost in the River of Grass; Will Hobbs – Wild Man Island; Jo Storm – Snowhook; Roland Smith – Peak; Miriam Korner – Qaqavii; Ed Ferrell – In The Valley of the Grizzly; John E. Smelcer – Edge of Nowhere; Jean Craighead George – Julie of the Wolves; Victoria McKernan - Shackleton’s Stowaway.
Pace: Fast
Characters: Diverse; brave;
Storyline: Action-packed
Writing style: Engaging; richly detailed
Tone: Suspenseful; strong sense of place
Frame: Northern Alaska
Theme: Survival stories; coming of age
Russel, after discussions with Oogruk, teaches himself to use the bows, arrows, and javelins that Oogruk has cared for. He learns to manage the sled and the dogs. He hunts, then takes a journey of discovery to the far north. Dogsong mirrors the elements of other Paulsen titles: the young person learning to manage her/himself in the elements, learning what is of real value, and learning to rely on what he has learned. It is told in 3-parts: The Trance, The Dream Run, and Dogsong. Elements of mysticism are there as well as Paulsen’s lyrical language. Recommended.
Readalikes:
Ginny Rorby – Lost in the River of Grass; Will Hobbs – Wild Man Island; Jo Storm – Snowhook; Roland Smith – Peak; Miriam Korner – Qaqavii; Ed Ferrell – In The Valley of the Grizzly; John E. Smelcer – Edge of Nowhere; Jean Craighead George – Julie of the Wolves; Victoria McKernan - Shackleton’s Stowaway.
Pace: Fast
Characters: Diverse; brave;
Storyline: Action-packed
Writing style: Engaging; richly detailed
Tone: Suspenseful; strong sense of place
Frame: Northern Alaska
Theme: Survival stories; coming of age
May 11, 2018
I thought that the book started off slow than gradually started to get more exciting but right when it starts to get fun the book just ends kinda early. The book is about Russel a teenage boy who is not right with his mind so his dad tells him to go see the villages "old man" that has been around for many years, which leads to Russel deciding to take the old mans dogs and the old man to learn how to slay, then out of nowhere the old man just says its my time to go and Russel just leaves him out in the woods to die, like its freezing cold out and the old man just goes out and dies. But then it gets even weirder when Russel finds a woman that was banished from her village for getting pregnant without trying to get pregnant so shes out in the wild about to die and he saves her and she gives birth to a stillborn but they have to go to a village to try to save the woman whose name is Rachel, then the book ends with one of his songs that the old man always talked about, he told Russel that he needs to find his song which I guess Russel found, so I liked the book it was good.
April 2, 2019
Russel goes with a pack of dog to north finds a pregnant woman protects her keep her worm.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2014
Dogsong is a fiction book by Gary Paulsen, it is about Russel who is a young teen who can't find himself. He feels lost with his life so he goes to this old guys house for help. The old mans name is Oogruk. Oogruk is a wise old fellow who lives close to Russel in their Eskimo village. Dogsong was published in 1985 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. Simon & Schuster, Inc was founded in New York, has published about 2,000 titles, and is one of the four biggest U.S. publishers.
Russel tells his dad that something is wrong but he doesn't know what. His dad says I know so go see Oogruk. Oogruk is an old blind, but very wise guy who lives close to Russel and his dads winter house they stay in during the whole winter. In the summer they move to there summer house. When Oogruk tells Russel that the same thing happened to him when he was a boy. Of course when Oogruk was a boy they stilled lived in the "old times." They didn't use riffles, snowmobiles, and other similar modern day conveniences Oogruk says what helped was when he rode on a dogsled as far as he could and lived off the land. He tells Russel some tips, gives him a bow with some arrows, his dogs, and his dogsled. He also received a big bear parka and pants, a smaller layer of squirrel skin under layer for both top and bottom, three blankets and a sleeping bag which where also bear skin. Oogruk was a very old man like I mentioned earlier so he told Russel to take him along on the ride. A little while into his ride Oogruk said let me out and you ride on. Russel not agreeing to this at all but after much arguing he left him there. After going about a half mile he felt wrong of what he had done so he turned around. He got closer and closer until he saw Oogruk. He had died. Realizing he needed to go. Russel went for many miles leaving behind his old life at the village. On his long run he gets great at running the dogs and shooting his food with his bow. A very long while into his run he came upon this snowmobile. The first thing he did was felt the engine to see if it was warm. It was very cold which means that it had not recently ran. Russel opened up this compartment and found a gas bottle and he opened it up and looked inside. Empty! There was foot steps so he followed them. A storm came before he found this person and he knew it was impossible to find this person anymore so he set up camp and waited the storm out. When he was asleep during the storm he had a dream.
In his dream a woman said "Good luck" to the man who was standing by their tent door. She was wishing him luck because he was going to the ocean to hunt. This woman was his wife and she was next to two kids. The man was Russel and he did not know who the kids or the woman was. He thought that he was seeing into the future of his life. Then next day when he woke up he continued in the direction of the feet print he saw from earlier. Finally Russel came upon a person with its head facing down in the snow so he could not tell if it was a man or woman. He finally got the person on its back and realized it was a woman. He was taking off her jacket because it was not very warm. He was going to wrap her in his blankets when he saw she was pregnant and practically dead. He set up camp and warmed her up and fed her. She told him that in her village she was not married and got pregnant. It is not okay so she was kicked out. She set off on her snowmobile. They stayed together and went six days without food. Both him, Nancy, and the dogs where very week because of no food. Russel set up camp left Nancy there and went hunting. For many miles he could not find any game. He got very nervous until he came upon some tracks. He followed them until he came upon a huge polar bear. The polar bear killed one of his dogs and knocked out Russel in the battle to try and get the polar bear. He finally killed the bear and rushed back some of the meat to Nancy after he fed the dogs and himself the nice and fresh bloody uncooked meat. When Russel got to Nancy she was again almost dead. He brought her back and once she ate she had the baby. When the baby was out it was dead and Nancy new it. Before she really saw it she yelled to Russel to take it away and leave it. The next day Russel noticed her turning slightly yellow.
He asked "What way to your village"
She said "We are not close."
Russel thought hew new where a small village was so he headed off hoping that they would get there in time to get a doctor to help Nancy. They arrived and survived.
Overall this was an okay story but for me very slow. Most of the first part of the book was just telling about life. I do understand telling that but really, the whole first part of the book? It also just ended when they got to the village. I want to know what happened to Nancy. Does she die? Did Russels dream ever come true? Does he ever go back to his village or see his dad? It was not the best book and I was really disappointed because I have read a lot of other books by Gary Paulsen and they are amazing! I would not recommend this book to anyone.
After reading about life in an Eskimo village and how they live I did think it is very interesting. It has made me want to do a little research about that. I wish Gary Paulsen would have ended it better and not told so much at the begging about Russel's life in the village.
Russel tells his dad that something is wrong but he doesn't know what. His dad says I know so go see Oogruk. Oogruk is an old blind, but very wise guy who lives close to Russel and his dads winter house they stay in during the whole winter. In the summer they move to there summer house. When Oogruk tells Russel that the same thing happened to him when he was a boy. Of course when Oogruk was a boy they stilled lived in the "old times." They didn't use riffles, snowmobiles, and other similar modern day conveniences Oogruk says what helped was when he rode on a dogsled as far as he could and lived off the land. He tells Russel some tips, gives him a bow with some arrows, his dogs, and his dogsled. He also received a big bear parka and pants, a smaller layer of squirrel skin under layer for both top and bottom, three blankets and a sleeping bag which where also bear skin. Oogruk was a very old man like I mentioned earlier so he told Russel to take him along on the ride. A little while into his ride Oogruk said let me out and you ride on. Russel not agreeing to this at all but after much arguing he left him there. After going about a half mile he felt wrong of what he had done so he turned around. He got closer and closer until he saw Oogruk. He had died. Realizing he needed to go. Russel went for many miles leaving behind his old life at the village. On his long run he gets great at running the dogs and shooting his food with his bow. A very long while into his run he came upon this snowmobile. The first thing he did was felt the engine to see if it was warm. It was very cold which means that it had not recently ran. Russel opened up this compartment and found a gas bottle and he opened it up and looked inside. Empty! There was foot steps so he followed them. A storm came before he found this person and he knew it was impossible to find this person anymore so he set up camp and waited the storm out. When he was asleep during the storm he had a dream.
In his dream a woman said "Good luck" to the man who was standing by their tent door. She was wishing him luck because he was going to the ocean to hunt. This woman was his wife and she was next to two kids. The man was Russel and he did not know who the kids or the woman was. He thought that he was seeing into the future of his life. Then next day when he woke up he continued in the direction of the feet print he saw from earlier. Finally Russel came upon a person with its head facing down in the snow so he could not tell if it was a man or woman. He finally got the person on its back and realized it was a woman. He was taking off her jacket because it was not very warm. He was going to wrap her in his blankets when he saw she was pregnant and practically dead. He set up camp and warmed her up and fed her. She told him that in her village she was not married and got pregnant. It is not okay so she was kicked out. She set off on her snowmobile. They stayed together and went six days without food. Both him, Nancy, and the dogs where very week because of no food. Russel set up camp left Nancy there and went hunting. For many miles he could not find any game. He got very nervous until he came upon some tracks. He followed them until he came upon a huge polar bear. The polar bear killed one of his dogs and knocked out Russel in the battle to try and get the polar bear. He finally killed the bear and rushed back some of the meat to Nancy after he fed the dogs and himself the nice and fresh bloody uncooked meat. When Russel got to Nancy she was again almost dead. He brought her back and once she ate she had the baby. When the baby was out it was dead and Nancy new it. Before she really saw it she yelled to Russel to take it away and leave it. The next day Russel noticed her turning slightly yellow.
He asked "What way to your village"
She said "We are not close."
Russel thought hew new where a small village was so he headed off hoping that they would get there in time to get a doctor to help Nancy. They arrived and survived.
Overall this was an okay story but for me very slow. Most of the first part of the book was just telling about life. I do understand telling that but really, the whole first part of the book? It also just ended when they got to the village. I want to know what happened to Nancy. Does she die? Did Russels dream ever come true? Does he ever go back to his village or see his dad? It was not the best book and I was really disappointed because I have read a lot of other books by Gary Paulsen and they are amazing! I would not recommend this book to anyone.
After reading about life in an Eskimo village and how they live I did think it is very interesting. It has made me want to do a little research about that. I wish Gary Paulsen would have ended it better and not told so much at the begging about Russel's life in the village.
March 24, 2024
The book was alright. They painted a good picture of what being on a dog sled would have been like. I learned a few things.
September 27, 2018
good i like the theme
April 24, 2021
Let me just share with you the first words written in this book:
I came wet into the world,
On both sides there were cliffs,
white cliffs that were my mother's thighs...
Apparently it is from, "an old Eskimo man relating the memory of his birth in a snowhouse on the sea ice."
I know a lot of people are saying right now, "well that's natural, that's life." Let me tell you, that would not go over well with fifth graders. It's something that they would "secretly" (they always think I don't notice things) pass around the room and "teehee" about. For that line alone I would not put this in my classroom. I know that seems stupid, but that's they way it is.
Chapter 2 opens with "an old Eskimo telling of his youth. "The food had run out and so "We asked our old mother if we could kill her and eat of her until the deer came back...More deer came and we did not have to eat our old mother."
I don't even know why that was put there. Honestly, it will probably be the thing I remember the most from this book. People will mention this book and I'll say, oh yeah, the book where someone wanted to eat his mother. The dumb thing is, it had nothing to do with the actual story, it was just an aside.
Anyway, this book is about a kid who wants to live the old Eskimo life, so he learns to use a dogsled and hunt with old tools. Eventually he heads off on his own and has some dream that mingles with reality. I would like to add now, that I hate crap like that. I hate when dreams are mixing up with the reality of the story because the book is trying to be spiritual or whatever. Other people like it, but I do not.
I'm never that fond of survivalist stories, but I didn't mind Hatchet so I was hoping this one would be okay. Definitely not nearly as good. But, one more Newbery off the list!
I came wet into the world,
On both sides there were cliffs,
white cliffs that were my mother's thighs...
Apparently it is from, "an old Eskimo man relating the memory of his birth in a snowhouse on the sea ice."
I know a lot of people are saying right now, "well that's natural, that's life." Let me tell you, that would not go over well with fifth graders. It's something that they would "secretly" (they always think I don't notice things) pass around the room and "teehee" about. For that line alone I would not put this in my classroom. I know that seems stupid, but that's they way it is.
Chapter 2 opens with "an old Eskimo telling of his youth. "The food had run out and so "We asked our old mother if we could kill her and eat of her until the deer came back...More deer came and we did not have to eat our old mother."
I don't even know why that was put there. Honestly, it will probably be the thing I remember the most from this book. People will mention this book and I'll say, oh yeah, the book where someone wanted to eat his mother. The dumb thing is, it had nothing to do with the actual story, it was just an aside.
Anyway, this book is about a kid who wants to live the old Eskimo life, so he learns to use a dogsled and hunt with old tools. Eventually he heads off on his own and has some dream that mingles with reality. I would like to add now, that I hate crap like that. I hate when dreams are mixing up with the reality of the story because the book is trying to be spiritual or whatever. Other people like it, but I do not.
I'm never that fond of survivalist stories, but I didn't mind Hatchet so I was hoping this one would be okay. Definitely not nearly as good. But, one more Newbery off the list!
April 5, 2020
If I remember right, this is the first book by this author I've read, and this is fitting, as HATCHET might be his most popular book, but this one was actually his first Newberry Award. He says at the end that this book was actually begun while participating in the Iditarod.
I loved this book, but not the way it ended. Some people may like when a book leaves at least some to your imagination; I might like that to a degree, but I want to know everything turns out in the end. Life doesn't always work out that way though, and books don't always end that way. Despite that, this was a captivating book. I could picture myself on the sled with Russel, feeling the wind and snow in the storms he had to face, feeling the speed and connection he developed with his team as they came to know each other and their relationship solidified.
Russel lives in an Eskimo village with his father. He's not comfortable with the way his people live, though, and wants to go back to the old way. He spends some time with Oogruk, probably the oldest person in their village and the only one still with sled dogs, even though they hadn't run in several years.
Oogruk gives Russel everything he needs for his journey, or at least as much as possible, but some things can't be given, they have to be learned, and Russel finds himself in more than one situation where nothing Oogruk told him could help him. He had to rely on what he had at hand and make decisions on his own, as we all do at one point or another.
I felt like I was on the journey with Russel, but particularly because of the way the book ended, I'll be thinking about it for a long time, I'm sure. There are any number of ways things could have turned out. Take your pick.
I loved this book, but not the way it ended. Some people may like when a book leaves at least some to your imagination; I might like that to a degree, but I want to know everything turns out in the end. Life doesn't always work out that way though, and books don't always end that way. Despite that, this was a captivating book. I could picture myself on the sled with Russel, feeling the wind and snow in the storms he had to face, feeling the speed and connection he developed with his team as they came to know each other and their relationship solidified.
Russel lives in an Eskimo village with his father. He's not comfortable with the way his people live, though, and wants to go back to the old way. He spends some time with Oogruk, probably the oldest person in their village and the only one still with sled dogs, even though they hadn't run in several years.
Oogruk gives Russel everything he needs for his journey, or at least as much as possible, but some things can't be given, they have to be learned, and Russel finds himself in more than one situation where nothing Oogruk told him could help him. He had to rely on what he had at hand and make decisions on his own, as we all do at one point or another.
I felt like I was on the journey with Russel, but particularly because of the way the book ended, I'll be thinking about it for a long time, I'm sure. There are any number of ways things could have turned out. Take your pick.
December 4, 2012
PAULSEN CATEGORY
Russell is 14 and restless. Restless for what he does not know. One morning, as Russell warms their breakfast of Caribou meat his father acknowledges Russell’s dissatisfaction and suggests he pay a visit to the Eskimo village’s shaman, Oogruk. Russell goes and realizes as he listens and learns from the old man that his restlessness is a hunger for the old ways, and traditions of his people. At the encouragement of Oogruk, and with only an ancestral dogsled and a strong and loyal dog team Russell embarks on a traditional long run where he learns to hunt, see and trust as he searches for his own song. This book is characteristic of Paulsen’s careful observation and description of survival and discovery. It was well written and captured the ancient feel of wisdom and tradition that have been hidden by the modern comforts of machinery. Paulsen accurately and sensitively depicts the agitation and confusion of a boy as he tries to become a man and make sense of himself and his world.
Russell is 14 and restless. Restless for what he does not know. One morning, as Russell warms their breakfast of Caribou meat his father acknowledges Russell’s dissatisfaction and suggests he pay a visit to the Eskimo village’s shaman, Oogruk. Russell goes and realizes as he listens and learns from the old man that his restlessness is a hunger for the old ways, and traditions of his people. At the encouragement of Oogruk, and with only an ancestral dogsled and a strong and loyal dog team Russell embarks on a traditional long run where he learns to hunt, see and trust as he searches for his own song. This book is characteristic of Paulsen’s careful observation and description of survival and discovery. It was well written and captured the ancient feel of wisdom and tradition that have been hidden by the modern comforts of machinery. Paulsen accurately and sensitively depicts the agitation and confusion of a boy as he tries to become a man and make sense of himself and his world.
December 17, 2014
One day in Alaska a boy named Russel went on a run. Russel is a young boy that is very independent. On his run he was trying to find food for his village. He didn't find anything to kill so he went to a friends house. His friend had stuff to eat. His friend wanted deer eyes to eat so he went out and got him some. His friend loves deer eyes. His friend has some sled dogs so he asked Oogruk if he could take the dogs out. Oogruk said yes so Russel took them out, and kept heading north so when he got lost Oogruk was the only one who knew where he was. When he did get lost he found a shelter and stayed their. He kept heading north until he saw some tracks and he followed them. That night the dogs stopped and he went up to see what they where looking at. He went up and kicked something it was a girl that got lost. He got her up and said "we need to get you to a doctor" the next day they found their way back to the village and she went to the doctor. My opinion of this book is great. This book was awesome!
I would recommend this book to everyone!
I would recommend this book to everyone!
May 11, 2020
I think this book is pretty popular and while I did greatly enjoy the adventure in it, I also found some of the plot hard to believe. Otherwise I would have given it a full five stars.
The story is about a young bored man who is tired of living in a square government house and decides he wants to live the old fashioned life of his ancestors. So he gets a dog team from the elderly man in the village and sets off into the tundra. He has many adventures and some close calls. It's thrilling and exciting. And through the story we also learn about the life of his ancestors. How they lived, their tools and how they hunted.
The problem I have is that I find it hard to believe that a young man who knows nothing about dogs and has never actually used the old style hunting equipment can actually fly by so easily without any problems. A bow or a spear is very different than a modern gun or a rifle. And the dogs? That's even harder to believe! And living out on the tundra? The story was entertaining but I just don't believe it.
The story is about a young bored man who is tired of living in a square government house and decides he wants to live the old fashioned life of his ancestors. So he gets a dog team from the elderly man in the village and sets off into the tundra. He has many adventures and some close calls. It's thrilling and exciting. And through the story we also learn about the life of his ancestors. How they lived, their tools and how they hunted.
The problem I have is that I find it hard to believe that a young man who knows nothing about dogs and has never actually used the old style hunting equipment can actually fly by so easily without any problems. A bow or a spear is very different than a modern gun or a rifle. And the dogs? That's even harder to believe! And living out on the tundra? The story was entertaining but I just don't believe it.
October 21, 2010
Dogsong was a very good eye opening book from the view of the eskimo prospective.This book is about a young boy that doesn't know what to do with his life and needs help. His father tells him to go talk to an old man in the village they live in that has been around a very long time and knows a lot of things he can share with him to try and help him find what needs to happen. My favorite quote from this book is "Would you like some deer eyes now or later?" The old man said that talking to the boy because the old man absolutely loves eyes for some odd reason that is only one of the very many things that make him very unique. After the two talking for a while the boy borrows the mans dog sled and the team to go out on the ice and tundra to hunt to find his song. After a while he does find his song and it has something about his dogs in it that is where the book got it's title and I think that is a very good title because it really fits the book well.
September 27, 2011
This story seems pretty simple on the surface: an Eskimo boy takes five dogs and a sled and finds himself with the old ways. However, the social commentary that exists in this novel speaks out for the new generation to remember who they are and their culture. This book can be relative to other readers of multicultural backgrounds.
Despite the fact that this book was set in Alaska and the protagonist was an Eskimo boy, I really felt a connection to the theme and messages of this novel. Growing up in Hawaii with two ethnicities and other cultural influences, I've seen how many social and racial groups are pushing the movement to educate their people about their culture. This is especially strong with the Hawaiians, and there's a lot of effort to teach the younger generations about the history and culture.
I feel that many multicultural students can find a way to relate to the themes of this book, and I would recommend it to my students.
Despite the fact that this book was set in Alaska and the protagonist was an Eskimo boy, I really felt a connection to the theme and messages of this novel. Growing up in Hawaii with two ethnicities and other cultural influences, I've seen how many social and racial groups are pushing the movement to educate their people about their culture. This is especially strong with the Hawaiians, and there's a lot of effort to teach the younger generations about the history and culture.
I feel that many multicultural students can find a way to relate to the themes of this book, and I would recommend it to my students.
February 26, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It's about a young Eskimo boy who runs with a dog sled into the wilderness to find himself. Gary Paulsen has a lot of experience with dogs and writes with such detail that you feel like you're there. I've read many other Gary Paulsen books and would reccomend them to anyone. His books can make a person enjoy reading.
The reason I chose this book is because as said before I've read many other books by Gary Paulsen. I've always enjoyed books about nature and survival so this book was a no brainer. I would reccomend this to anyone because as I said, these books can make you love reading. That's how I feel about this book and think that you should definantly read it.
The reason I chose this book is because as said before I've read many other books by Gary Paulsen. I've always enjoyed books about nature and survival so this book was a no brainer. I would reccomend this to anyone because as I said, these books can make you love reading. That's how I feel about this book and think that you should definantly read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2018
Russel is a young Eskimo who is trying to live his life within the traditions of the Eskimo people. His grandfather tells him the stories and asks to go hunting with him. He then says goodbye as it is his time and Russel with his dog sled and team heads North to find himself . He meets someone along the way. It i in his dreams that he conquers a great monster of a foe. In his time of need he is able to conquer a similar foe in real life.
"Mother Wind and Father Ice " are there to show him the way. He learns to keep himself and his team alive.
"Mother Wind and Father Ice " are there to show him the way. He learns to keep himself and his team alive.
April 22, 2020
This book is most similar to Gary Paulsen's Hatchet series. This story, although, follows the classical eskimo way of life and culture. In comparison to the Hatchet series, I found this story to be a little slower since it takes place in the arctic tundra of Alaska where there is a lack of nature and wildlife.
November 20, 2021
Paulsen's books are a family fav: but Dogsong gets lost in such a repetitive pattern in the 2nd half that young readers will lose interest.
Oogruk was an interesting character - but when he left, we struggled to make it through.
Oogruk was an interesting character - but when he left, we struggled to make it through.
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November 6, 2022Beautifully written, with some important themes. The one signaled by the title is the most important, imo... not the survival story itself, really. I can see why some reviewers didn't like the ambiguous ending, but the point is that the young man's 'quest' has concluded, and now there will come all the challenges of a long life.
But I'm troubled. Nowhere can I find any indication that Paulsen does or does not know anything about the culture of the "Eskimo" people of whom he writes. I could not find any indications of controversy, but nor could I find praise, or evidence of research. There are quotes, used sort of like chapter headings, but the "old Eskimo" people quoted are not named. Nor is their actual Nation named. I don't want to recommend something that is disrespectful, inauthentic, or appropriated.
For example, is this wonderful section from Paulsen's imagination, or from respectful research?
"We used to have songs for everything, and nobody knows the songs anymore. There were songs for dogs, for good dogs or bad dogs, and songs to make them work or track bear. There were songs for all of everything. I used to know a song that would make the deer come to me so that I could kill it. And I knew a man who could sing a song for whales and make them come to his harpoon."
"Russel frowned. 'Could I get a song?' Oogruk thought for a time. 'It is not like that. You don't get songs, you are a song.'"
But I'm troubled. Nowhere can I find any indication that Paulsen does or does not know anything about the culture of the "Eskimo" people of whom he writes. I could not find any indications of controversy, but nor could I find praise, or evidence of research. There are quotes, used sort of like chapter headings, but the "old Eskimo" people quoted are not named. Nor is their actual Nation named. I don't want to recommend something that is disrespectful, inauthentic, or appropriated.
For example, is this wonderful section from Paulsen's imagination, or from respectful research?
"We used to have songs for everything, and nobody knows the songs anymore. There were songs for dogs, for good dogs or bad dogs, and songs to make them work or track bear. There were songs for all of everything. I used to know a song that would make the deer come to me so that I could kill it. And I knew a man who could sing a song for whales and make them come to his harpoon."
"Russel frowned. 'Could I get a song?' Oogruk thought for a time. 'It is not like that. You don't get songs, you are a song.'"
October 24, 2023
When being allowed to pick the book I wanted to read for my school I struggled to find a book. I decided since I liked Hatchet I’ll check of some of Gary’s other books and found Dogsong. Dogsong is a story of a Inuit boy, Russel, who lives in a remote government village wanting to escape. He decides to ask the crazy old man neighbor if he can use his dogs and dogsled and he agrees to let him. Russel then starts training with the dogs and learning how to control the sled. Once he gets the hang of it he goes out on a long trip where many things go wrong and many go right. The book is really slow and I STRUGGLED with the pacing of the book. The storyline was also average and just not the best. Gary Paulsen usually cooks with his books like Hatchet but I did not enjoy this book.
October 5, 2021
I really enjoyed this book about a young Eskimo going on an adventure to discover himself. I enjoyed reading about the Eskimo culture and the dog sledding.
My one complaint is that the ending did not have a satisfying conclusion. I wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters, but instead the book just ends. I know some people are fine with that, but that is not for me.
My one complaint is that the ending did not have a satisfying conclusion. I wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters, but instead the book just ends. I know some people are fine with that, but that is not for me.
July 7, 2022
A 14-year-old boy, raised on native Eskimo lore & unhappy with his life in the modern world, undertakes a 1400-mile journey by dog sled across ice, tundra, and mountains in order to prove his worth. Paulsen vividly depicts his struggles. Newbery Medal Nominee (1986), Vermont Golden Dome Book Award Nominee (1987).
February 14, 2024
This book was haunting. The stories shared in the beginning of each chapter grip you and don’t let go. This book was about living and living well. I had to stop multiple times and absorb each sentence as it held something I couldn’t quite take in. Like when you drink chocolate milk too quickly and it is too rich but it is gone in a moment. This book will be one I revisit again. I’ve always loved Gary Paulsen, but this book has worked its way to be one of my favorites.
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