Dogsong

Dogsong is a powerful, coming of age adventure. Paulsen clearly depicts the conflict that Russel Susskit feels as he is seeking balance between the modern world and the traditional world. The reader is able to picture the barren, cold environment of the far north. The struggle to survive alone in

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this harsh environment is well detailed. The hunts are well documented and easily understood by readers with little or no experience with hunting. The story moves slowly as Russel tries to understand his place in the song. It bothered me that Paulsen chose to use the term Eskimo instead of Inuit.

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Native Alaskan Russel Susskit hates waking up in the morning to the sound of his father's coughing and snowmobiles starting up. Oogruk, the shaman, has the last dog team in the village. Driven by a strange, powerfuld dream of a long-ago self, Russel and the dogs set out on a journey of

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self-discovery. Bundle up warm and had a hot drink beside you as you read this tale of the Arctic cold.

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Russel learns the ways of the olden times and sets off to find his own song. On his way, he keeps having dreams of the older version of himself and meets a prengant girl half dead, and set off to the north pole.

I’ve read many books in my lifetime, some I liked, some I didn’t, but I had never read a book like DOGSONG. This book was different from many books I have read because it got me thinking, not just about the story, but about my own life and what it means. Unlike other books DOGSONG used elements

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of suspense and adventure that I had never experienced in other books, which made this book hard to put down. DOSONG was written by Gary Paulsen an author that really understands what his readers like, and then incorporates those aspects into the book. I have read many of his books which typically follow some of the same themes of man vs. himself and man vs. nature, but all the books are very different from one another.
Russel Susskit, the main character in this book had many qualities that made him likeable to numerous types of readers. Russel’s main goal s in life are to understand life and understand himself, which many people can relate to. I especially liked his motivation and sense for adventure, because I don’t know many teenagers who would travel across the Arctic with a dogsled team by themselves. Paulsen did a phenomenal job construction a charter that was very likeable and interesting, which he has done in many of his books.
DOGSONG had an excellent story line one of the best that I had ever read. The story line is unique and works with the message the book is try to convey to its readers. The story line is packed full with non-stop adventure, struggle, and suspense that always had me thinking about what is going to happen next. Although, the storyline can get confusing considering it has hallucinations and dreams of Russels’ it is easy for a reader to get lost.
Despite the book being a great success it is no one hundred percent perfect in my opinion. In many cases the book was intended to hint about an upcoming event, for example Russel would dream a great dream about a man and his struggles and the next day when he woke up and variants of his dream would happen to him. I understand that these dreams helped him discover himself, I would rather just not be told hints throughout the book I would rather them just happen.
Altogether DOGSONG was an excellent book and lived up to being A Newbery Honor Book. Paulsen out did himself again producing a book that I actually enjoyed and let alone one that I could not put down. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in adventure and self discovery.

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“Dogsong” is a contemporary realistic fiction about a fourteen year old Eskimo boy, Russell, who can not understand why he is not happy with himself. Russell lives in a government winter house with his father. Russell hates the sound of his father’s cough from the cigarettes, the sound of the

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snow machines, and the smell of diesel oil. He hates all that came from Outside. His father sends him to talk to Oogruk “whose words don’t make sense, but if you listen to his song there is much to learn”. Oogruk, who is blind, tells Russell that before the missionary came “everybody had a song…that song was just for that person” but they became afraid to sing and dance and lost their songs. After many days of learning about the old ways of the people before the white man came, Russel takes Oogruk’s dogs, sled, and “weapons of the old way” and starts an incredible journey across the ice to the North to discover his song --- or his end.

This story is an incredible tale of a “boy” whose inner struggles intensify his conflict with accepting the modern ways. These struggles can only be resolved by discovering his song. The old way for a boy to become a man is to leave with the dogs, run long and find his self. The book describes the mystical partnership the boy has with the dogs which becomes necessary to survive the harshness of the environment. I was amazed at how a “boy” could develop such amazing hunting skills and survival techniques. The hints of the “old ways” of the Eskimo people stimulated my curiosity to know more about a people that lived simple, but lived happy, in a land that would seem uninhabitable to most.

In the classroom this book could be used in discussions about how a culture can change as a result of modernization. A teacher could use a replica of what a tent made of skin would have looked like and how it kept the extreme cold out. A demonstration of what the native food (raw meat) versus modern food could be presented to the students. The book could be used to discuss the different ways fourteen year old boys live in different cultures and what is expected of them by their society. The students could write a paper about what they think is considered normal social activities for boys in our society.

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Russel is a young man who sees his people are estranged from their Eskimo culture. He makes his way to Oogruk, an Eskimo shaman and wise man. Oogruk teaches Russel how to hunt and how to survive and sends him off on his own to test his abilities. This is what our young men are seeking, I think,

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even in America today…a way to connect with their elders and learn to make it on their own…heroism…adventure…sacrifice.

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A boy ants to bring back the old ways to the village. But it is said that you go to hell if you do. I reccomend this book for people who like dogs and adventure.

Want to read about an fourteen year old Eskimo who sled races across Alaska?
Russell Susskit is the boy you’re looking for! Of course, he’ll have to break in the dogs, brave the elements, and pray he doesn’t starve to death or get killed by caribou. To win this race, he’ll have to draw from

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the strength of his people to become a true leader….a pack leader. If for no other reason than to save the girl that fate has put onto his sled.

Gary Paulson’s done it again! His tale of bravery in the face of nature will awe any young mind. Especially your male students. There’s no better way to introduce them to literature than to get their adrenaline pumping with this story of survival!

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This book shows kids what you can accomplish on your own. Teaches kids to be more independent.

Too many dead dogs. :(

I didnt find this book as great as I expected. I tried to read it but ended up dropping it by halfway..It wasnt that it was a bad book. I just didnt end up enjoying the subject as much as I expected. The very beginning didnt catch as much either because I found the whole living in a town that isnt

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very technological not very exciting. The father being all about christianity was strange to me because it was described as having pictures everywhere of it. I didnt enjoy the part where his dad would bring back things from outside their town. Then there is the old man with a pack of dogs. It was just not very interesting as his other books and I couldnt read it through to the end. I dont want people to just not read the book. I just didnt find it that good to myself but who knows. Maybe someone else out there loves this kind of story.

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This is my second Gary Paulsen book, and I think I liked it better than the first, "Hatchet", which I liked a lot.

This story revolves around an young teenager who is suddenly unhappy about his life, but is not sure why. His father has found hope and life in his faith, but Russel is drawn to the

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ways of the past, of the sled and dogs, of the closeness with the natural world. He seeks out the elder in the village, and through his teaching and dreams, finds himself on a quest to run his sled and dogs as long and as far as he can.

The author has a writing style that is interesting, that draws you into the story and keeps you turning the pages. I started this book at the bus stop before work, picked it up again after supper, and proceeded to complete it just past midnight.

I'm tired today, but "Dogsong" was worth it!

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Russell is a young boy in an Eskimo village who is unhappy that his people have strayed from their traditions. He takes the village shaman's dogs and sled out alone, on a quest to find his own song.
I've generally enjoyed Paulsen's books, but I couldn't get into this one at all. Just not my cuppa, I

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suppose.

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