Julie of the Wolves facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Julie of the Wolves

First edition cover
Author	Jean Craighead George
Illustrator	John Schoenherr Julek Heller (1976, UK)
Cover artist	Schoenherr
Country	United States
Series	Julie of the Wolves
Genre	Children's novel, survival fiction
Publisher	Harper & Row
Publication date	1972
Media type	Print (hardcover)
Pages	170 pp (first ed.)
ISBN	0-06-021943-2
OCLC	578045
LC Class	PZ7.G2933 Ju
Followed by	Julie

Julie of the Wolves is a popular children's book written by Jean Craighead George. It was published in 1972. The story is about a young Inuk girl named Miyax (also known as Julie). She lives in the wild Alaska North Slope. The book shows how her traditional culture changes because of the modern world.

Jean Craighead George wrote two more books that continue Julie's story. These are Julie (1994) and Julie's Wolf Pack (1997). The last book is even told from the wolves' point of view!

How the Story Began

In 1971, the author, Jean Craighead George, went to Barrow, Alaska. She went there with her son, Luke. They wanted to study wolves for an article. As they flew into Barrow, they saw a young Inuk girl on the wide, open tundra. Her son thought she looked very small to be out there alone.

At a research lab in Barrow, George watched scientists studying wolves. They were trying to understand how wolves communicate. She saw a man communicate with a wolf using soft sounds. This event really stuck with her. George herself was able to communicate with a female wolf.

Remembering the young Inuk girl she saw, George decided to write a book. It would be about a girl surviving alone on the tundra. The girl would communicate with wolves. The character Miyax, or Julie, is based on a real Inuk woman. Her name was Julia Sebevan. She taught George about the old ways of the Inuit people.

The author worked on the book many times. She used different titles before choosing Julie of the Wolves.

Years later, readers asked George for more stories about Julie. At first, George felt she did not know enough about Inuit culture. But when her son, Craig, moved to Alaska, she felt ready. That's when she wrote the sequel, Julie. She wrote Julie's Wolf Pack after learning even more about how wolves live in a pack.

The story of Julie of the Wolves has three main parts. First, it shows Julie's current situation with the wolves. This part is called Amaroq, the Wolf. Then, there is a flashback that tells about her past. This part is called Miyax, the Girl. Finally, the story returns to the present. This last part is called Kapugen, the Hunter.

Story Summary

Julie, whose real name is Miyax (My-yax), is an Inuk girl. She feels caught between the modern world of Alaska and the old Inuit traditions. After her mother dies, her father, Kapugen (Kah-Pue-Jen), raises her. He teaches her to be smart and observant. She learns to live in harmony with the Arctic tundra.

Life is good until Miyax is sent to live with her Aunt Martha. Aunt Martha is a distant and cold woman. Soon after, her father goes hunting for seals and does not come back. Parts of his boat are found, but he is gone. Everyone believes he has died.

As an orphan, Miyax feels unwanted at Aunt Martha's house. When she is 13, she agrees to marry a boy named Daniel. She hopes this will let her leave her aunt's home. But life with Daniel is not better. Daniel has some difficulties that make their life together very hard.

Miyax decides to run away. She hopes to find her pen-pal in San Francisco, California. But she soon realizes she has no way to reach her friend. She finds herself lost in the Arctic wilderness. She has only her own strength and knowledge to survive.

She finds a wolf pack and learns to live alongside them. She learns how to communicate with the wolves. They help her find food and water. Over time, the wolves become like family to her. When she finds a way to return to her old Inuit way of life, she faces a tough choice. Should she stay with her wolf family or go back to her human home?

Adaptations for Stage and Screen

Julie of the Wolves has been turned into a musical play. Peter Dalto directed it, and Barbara Dana wrote the story. Chris Kubie wrote the music. A special showing of the musical happened in 2004.

The author, Jean Craighead George, announced in 2007 that the book was being made into a movie. Robert and Andy Young Productions Inc. were working on it. Andy Young went to Nunavut in 2008. He wanted to find a young Inuk or Inupiat person to play Julie. However, he later said they were talking to an actress who was not Inuk. This was because they had trouble finding someone who felt right for the role. Also, investors wanted a more experienced actress. Young also wanted to film in Nunavut. But he thought about filming in Alaska instead. This was because Nunavut has fewer roads and less financial help for filmmakers.