Julie's Wolf Pack facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Jean Craighead George |
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| Illustrator | Wendell Minor |
| Country | United States |
| Series | Julie of the Wolves |
| Genre | Children's novel, survival fiction |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
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Publication date
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1997 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover) |
| Pages | 191 pp |
| ISBN | 0-06-027406-9 |
| OCLC | 36245584 |
| LC Class | PZ7.G2933 Ju 1997 |
| Preceded by | Julie |
Julie's Wolf Pack is an exciting novel from 1997. It was written by Jean Craighead George. This book is the third and final story in the popular Julie of the Wolves series. It follows Julie. What makes this book special is that it tells the story from the wolves' perspective. Unlike the other books, you get to see the world through their eyes.
Contents
Why This Story Was Written
The idea for this book came to Jean Craighead George one day. She was flying over the North Slope of Alaska. She was looking for wolves from an airplane. That's when she thought of a third book for the Julie of the Wolves series.
What Happens in the Story
This book focuses a lot on the lives of the wolves. It is split into three main parts. The story follows Kapu, a black wolf, as he leads his pack. Later, his daughter Sweet Fur Amy takes over with her mate, Storm Call.
The Avalik Pack's Journey
The story begins with the caribou returning to Kangik. Kapu and his pack, called the Avaliks, plan to hunt. They need to regain their strength. Kapu is the alpha male, the leader, since his father Amaroq died. He has kept his leadership since the first book.
The pack includes Kapu, his mate Aaka, and his brother Zing. Also there are his daughter Sweet Fur Amy, his mother Silver, and Silver's mate Raw Bones. Raw Bones used to be an alpha wolf from another area. He often tries to take Kapu's place as leader. But Kapu always wins, sometimes with help from Zing, Aaka, and Sweet Fur Amy.
Kapu wants the pack to hunt caribou all year. This will help them become strong. Even though Kapu says the pack shouldn't have pups now, Silver becomes pregnant. Kapu knows Raw Bones did this to challenge him. Still, Kapu helps his mother prepare for the pups' birth. Sweet Fur Amy plans to be the pups' babysitter.
New Pups and Challenges
Silver gives birth to two pups, a male and a female. But Silver didn't eat enough while pregnant. She can't make enough milk. The pups, named No Growl and Tiny Whimper, become very weak. The pack worries they won't survive the harsh Arctic.
Then Julie arrives. She wants to see the pups. She convinces Kapu, Zing, and Silver to let her take the pups home. Julie and her family will nurse them. Julie promises to return them when they are strong.
With Julie's family, No Growl and Tiny Whimper grow strong and healthy. They are renamed Nutik ("jumper") and Uqaq ("to talk"). Kapu and his pack stay near Julie's home. They plan to get the pups back when ready. But problems arise. Silver starts to get weak. A rival wolf pack moves into Avalik territory. A strange white wolf named Ice Blink also appears.
Fights and New Pack Members
The Avaliks must leave Silver behind to face the rival pack. These are the wolves of Nuka River. Kapu fights their alpha, Low Wind. During the fight, Sweet Fur Amy and Aaka capture two Nuka wolves. They bring them to their side. These wolves are Storm Call and his sister Lichen. They are children of Low Wind and Moon Seeker.
The Avalik wolves accept Storm Call and Lichen into their pack. They return to Kangik. There, they find Ice Blink and Silver's lifeless body. Ice Blink offers to join the pack. Kapu says no, sensing something is wrong with her. But their pack numbers are low. So Kapu finally allows Ice Blink to join.
Kapu and Sweet Fur Amy go to get Nutik and Uqaq. They only get Uqaq before Julie stops them. Julie explains the pups need shots for rabies. She heard about a wolf from Canada with rabies. This wolf is later revealed to be Ice Blink.
Sweet Fur Amy lets Nutik go and returns to the pack. They are checking on Uqaq. Since Silver is gone, Sweet Fur Amy decides to raise Uqaq. She, Uqaq, and Storm Call wait for Nutik. Kapu and the others mark their territory. Nutik stays with Julie's family too long. Julie can't return him to Sweet Fur Amy. Sweet Fur Amy is sad but leads Uqaq and Storm Call away. They hunt caribou together all winter.
More Pups and a Trap
In March, Aaka and Ice Blink are ready to mate. Aaka and Kapu mate. Ice Blink feels she's not ready for pups. She lets Raw Bones try to mate with her. They travel to his old territory. This land is now taken by a pack from the mountains.
The mountain wolves attack Raw Bones and Ice Blink. Here, Ice Blink gets sick with rabies. She bites the alpha female, Cloud Berry, passing the disease. Ice Blink dies hours later. Raw Bones returns to the Avaliks.
Aaka gives birth to seven pups. But four die during the summer. Two fall from a cliff. Two more are killed by a bear. Kapu understands that death is common in the wild. The pups are mourned, and life continues.
In winter, a lone wolf named Wind Voice joins the pack. The wolves return to Raw Bones's old territory. It is empty of wolves. Ice Blink's rabies infection wiped them out. The Avaliks expand their territory to include this land. Raw Bones is very happy. This part ends when Kapu gets caught in a trap. Trappers sedate him for a scientific experiment. He is carried away.
Sweet Fur Amy Leads the Pack
The third part begins with problems after Kapu's capture. Sweet Fur Amy must lead the pack. Raw Bones tries to fight her for the alpha role. But she keeps him in his place. When it's time for pups, Sweet Fur Amy refuses to mate. She knows the pack might fight if she stays in the den.
Instead, Uqaq becomes a mother for the first time. She mates with Wind Voice. Her father encourages her to have her nine pups at his special den by the Colville River. But Uqaq was raised by humans. She finds it hard to care for her pups. They wrestle and nurse all the time. Overwhelmed, she leaves them.
Sweet Fur Amy, Storm Call, Lichen, and Aaka raise the pups. They only manage to keep three alive. One day, Raw Bones tries to fight Sweet Fur Amy. She is bringing food to the pups. She is tired of his behavior. She fights him and drives him away. Raw Bones is completely shamed. He leaves the Avaliks and lives as a lone wolf. The pack continues their life.
Kapu's Return
Meanwhile, the scientific experiment with Kapu finishes. The people think about sending him to a zoo. But Julie begs them to return Kapu to his family. Finally, Kapu is set free. Julie marries Peter. Sweet Fur Amy and Storm Call become parents to six pups. The book ends with Kapu reuniting with Aaka.
Wolf Packs in the Story
- The Avalik Pack: This is the main wolf pack from the Julie of the Wolves series. Kapu becomes the alpha male after his father Amaroq dies. Aaka is his alpha female. Later, Sweet Fur Amy becomes the leader with Storm Call. Kapu's brother Zing stays as the beta male.
- Other members include Uqaq, Lichen, Cotton Grass, Long Face, Wind Voice, Big Ears, Bird Egg, and Owl Feathers. Raw Bones is driven out in the third part.
- Many pups from Kapu and Aaka, and Uqaq and Wind Voice, do not survive. This shows how tough life is in the wild.
- Nuka River Pack: These wolves are rivals of the Avaliks. They are led by Low Wind and Moon Seeker. Their children, Storm Call and Lichen, join the Avaliks. Later, this pack has fewer members. The Avaliks think Ice Blink might have spread rabies to them.
- Mountain Pack: This pack moved into Raw Bones's old territory. They were led by Snow Driver and Cloud Berry. Ice Blink infected them with rabies, and they were wiped out. The Avaliks then took over their land.
- Lower Colville River Pack: This was Aaka's old pack. They were led by Storm Alarm and Star Gentian.
- Philip Smith Mountain Pack: Led by Sedge Ears and Alder Whisper. Ice Blink tried to join this pack but was turned away.
- Canadian Pack: This is Ice Blink's original pack. She led them with her mate Bear Scratcher. Rabies killed him, two of their sons, and the rest of the pack.
