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Dogsong  By  cover art

Dogsong

By: Gary Paulsen
Narrated by: Robert Ramirez
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Publisher's summary

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)

What listeners say about Dogsong

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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.

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Dogsong

Great book for teen readers or anyone interested in eskimo culture. AR test takers will enjoy this easy read.

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    4 out of 5 stars

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.

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2 people found this helpful

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Nice

really nice book good ending little sad but nice and inspiring I loved it so much

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Good adventure story

My kids enjoyed listening to this book, as they like anything written by this author. This gives a glimpse into a different world.

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The reader stood out the most

I liked the author I did not like that the chapters were all messed up

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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.

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Great Story, Quick Listen

This book gives a captivating detailed narrative of a unique culture and lifestyle known to the Arctic.

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Ponderous narration of a coming of age back to basics story

Set in the far north, a teenage Eskimo boy yearns for something he cannot name, though he knows Jesus Christ will it have the answer for him as it was for his father. Russell seeks the counsel of a blind village elder and from thence unfolds a physical, psychological and emotional journey to the north, to the source of Wind, and to the elegant culture of the Eskimo Old Ways.

The story is probably best consumed with the eyes. The narrator either is Eskimo or striving to impart Eskimo cadence. To me Western ear I found him earnest yet ponderous.

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3 people found this helpful

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good

While I did enjoy this book, it was not one of my Gary Paulson favorites.

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