Kavik the Wolf Dog

Kavik is wolf dog, three quarters malamute and one quarter wolf. He had been trained by Charlie One Eye to win the North American Sled Dog Derby at Fairbanks, AK. The dog is then purchased by George C. Hunter, who owns mining and fishing interests in Northern Alaska. However, the plane on which Hunter sends Kavik is downed in a storm. The pilot is killed, but Kavik survives, though badly injured, and is found by fifteen-year-old Andy Evans, who lives with his father and mother in northern Alaska. Mr. Evans works at one of Hunter's fisheries. With the help of Dr. Vic Walker, Andy nurses Kavik back to health. Unfortunately, Kavik has been injured emotionally as well and runs in fear from other dogs in Copper City. When Mr. Hunter comes to the fishing village, Kurt Evans tries to tell Hunter about Kavik's fear but the owner takes Kavik anyway. However, Kavik keeps escaping and going back to the Evans home, so Hunter sends him on a boat to his other home in Seattle, WA. Hunter's trainer, Tom McCarty, sees that Kavik longs to go back north, so he "accidentally" lets the dog escape to start the 2,000 mile journey to northern Alaska. Along the way Kavik is taken to the pound, adopted by a sailing couple named John and Martha Kent, and allowed again to go. He is attacked by wolves, finds a wolf mate, and himself is hunted as a wolf. What will happen to the dog? Will he make it back to Andy? Lassie Come-Home meets The Call of the Wild. I read Kavik mostly while on vacation and found it to be an enjoyable and exciting adventure. It is well written and easy to read. The Horn Book said, "Swiftly paced from the first page...dramatic and absorbing." There is very little objectionable. There is some savagery, but the book is about animals living in the wilderness. I'm sure that the picture given is true to real life, and nothing is gratuitous. The only thing to note about language is that the euphemistic term "darnedest" is found once. Those who enjoy dog stories should like it. Author Walt Morey is perhaps best known for his book Gentle Ben.

This was my first chapter book when I was in 3rd grade in 1971.

Great story with lots of adventure. I used this novel for years teaching 6th grade. Makes children want to read more. Lots of things for discussion.

This novel is a great read for any adolescent— whether he or she loves to read or not. Morey does a phenomenal job of relationship building and third person omniscient narration to tell a lovely story of an amazing animal, Kavik. I have read this book with my 7th graders many times, and it becomes an instant hit every time. My anthologies with it got thrown out in a consolidation, so I had to spring for the paperbacks. You will NOT be disappointed!!!

Walt Morey is my favorite children's author. I read several of his books each year to my fifth- and sixth-graders all my 32 years of teaching.

I read this when I was a kid and recently passed on to my daughter. Great book, great story.

I ordered this book for my cousin. I read it when I was younger, and loved it. It's a simple, dog adventure story. There are plenty of lengthy reviews on this book, so I won't go into depth. Suffice to say, that the book is an easy read and entertaining. The price was great, so I really couldn't ask for more. Ordering from Amazon allowed me to get it from my desk at home, rather than drive all over town, just to most likely have to special order it anyway. Five stars!

Used in kids reading program

Good book. Thanks

This was a gift for my Daughter as a much loved story from her childhood. Her copy was old and so well used that the pages were falling out. I said it was well past it and did she want to keep it. She said she loved it and would never throw it away. So I got her a new one.

Enjoyed it

very good

A bit too long delivary time but otherwise I've got a perfect book