Synopses & Reviews
andlt;bandgt;IN THE OLD DAYS THERE WERE SONGSandlt;/bandgt; andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; 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. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; 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. andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; A Newbery Honor Book andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; An ALA Best Book for Young Adults andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; An ALA Notable Book andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; A andlt;iandgt;School Library Journalandlt;/iandgt; Best Book
Review
"Unusual and moving...a remarkable book." -- andlt;iandgt;School Library Journalandlt;/iandgt;, starred review
Synopsis
Newbery Honor Book
His people no longer use dog sleds, instead they use snowmobiles; but Oogruk still has an old team of sled dogs, and they've grown fat and lazy. Russell wonders what it was like to run with the dogs, to look at the snow and ice and hear only the swish of runners along the icy crust, to be like his ancestors. To answer his thoughts, he turns to Oogruk who tells him of the old days and the songs of his people. But hearing about it is not enough, so Russell learns to run the dogs and soon takes off across the tundra, replicating journeys that have been made for thousands of years.
Synopsis
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.
A Newbery Honor Book
An ALA Best Book for Young Adults
An ALA Notable Book
A School Library Journal Best Book
Synopsis
A Newbery Honor Book An ALA Best Book for Young Adults and Notable Book A teen boy wants to trade in the noise of his contemporary world for the song of nature and the old ways in this poignant young adult adventure.
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.
About the Author
Gary Paulsen is one of the most honored writers of contemporary literature for young people. He has written more than two hundred books for adults and young people, and is the author of three Newbery Honor titles: andlt;iandgt;Dogsongandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Hatchetandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;The Winter Roomandlt;/iandgt;. He divides his time between New Mexico, Alaska, and on the Pacific.