Julie of the Wolves
Summary
Julie of the Wolves, Jean Craighead George’s 1972 Newbery Medal-winning novel, tells the story of a young Inuk girl's survival in the Alaskan wilderness. Set against the backdrop of cultural change in Alaska, the book explores themes of identity, resilience, and the connection between humans and the natural world. George's vivid portrayal of Arctic wildlife, particularly wolves, has made this coming-of-age tale a beloved classic in children's literature.
Plot
Julie of the Wolves tells the story of Miyax, also known as Julie, a 13-year-old Inuk girl who finds herself lost and alone on the Alaskan tundra. Fleeing an arranged marriage to an abusive man, Miyax sets out to travel to San Francisco to live with her pen pal. However, lacking food and supplies, she soon becomes disoriented in the vast Arctic wilderness. Desperate to survive, she turns to a pack of wild wolves for help.
Drawing on her father's teachings about traditional Inuit ways, Miyax learns to communicate with the wolves. The pack's leader, Amaroq, eventually accepts her as one of his own cubs. The wolves provide Miyax with food and protection as she struggles to survive in the harsh environment. As she bonds with the wolf pack, Miyax begins to reconnect with her Inuit heritage and identity.
As Miyax makes her way closer to civilization, she faces difficult choices between her life with the wolves and returning to human society. Through Miyax's journey, readers gain insight into traditional Inuit culture and the challenges faced by Alaska Natives in the modern world.
Themes
• Survival in the wilderness
• Cultural identity and assimilation
• Human-animal relationships
• Coming of age and self-discovery
• Traditional knowledge versus modern ways
• Isolation and belonging
• Adaptation and resilience
Setting
Set in the early 1970s, Julie of the Wolves unfolds in the harsh, frigid landscape of Alaska's North Slope. This barren tundra stretches for hundreds of miles between the Brooks Range and the Arctic Ocean, presenting a desolate and challenging environment for the young protagonist, Miyax, as she struggles to survive.
The story primarily unfolds in the wilderness, far from human settlements. Miyax finds herself lost on the frozen tundra, where howling winds and an unchanging horizon create a sense of isolation and vulnerability. The Arctic setting plays a crucial role in the story, testing Miyax's resilience and traditional Inuit knowledge.
While the majority of the tale takes place in the wild, the book also touches on the contrast between traditional Inuit life and the encroaching modern world. This juxtaposition is reflected in Miyax's journey, which begins in a small Alaskan village and was meant to end in San Francisco, representing the cultural shifts occurring in Alaska during that era.
Characters
• Julie/Miyax: The 13-year-old Inuk protagonist who runs away from an arranged marriage and survives in the Alaskan wilderness by bonding with a wolf pack.
• Amaroq: The alpha male wolf who accepts Julie into his pack and protects her.
• Kapugen: Julie's father, who taught her traditional Inuit survival skills before disappearing on a seal hunt.
• Daniel: Julie's young husband, who becomes abusive towards her.
• Aunt Martha: Julie's cold and distant great-aunt, who takes her in after her father's disappearance.
• Kapu: A young wolf in Amaroq's pack who befriends Julie.
• Silver: The alpha female wolf in Amaroq's pack.
• Naka: Another wolf in the pack who initially distrusts Julie.
• Tornait: Julie's deceased mother, who is occasionally mentioned in her memories.
Quick facts
• Jean Craighead George was inspired to write Julie of the Wolves during a research trip to Barrow, Alaska, in 1971, where she observed wolf behavior and spotted a young Inuk girl walking alone on the tundra.
• George went through three drafts of the novel and considered multiple titles, including “The Voice of the Wolf” and “Wolf Girl,” before settling on Julie of the Wolves.
• The character of Miyax/Julie is based on a real Inuk woman named Julia Sebevan who taught George about traditional Inuit ways.
• Julie of the Wolves won the prestigious Newbery Medal in 1973.
• The novel was also nominated for a National Book Award and won the German Youth Literature Award in 1975.
• Julie of the Wolves is generally considered a middle-grade novel, suitable for ages 10 to 14, although some content may be too mature for younger readers.
• The book has been challenged in some schools due to a scene depicting attempted sexual assault.
• The novel is divided into three parts—“Amaroq, the Wolf” (present), “Miyax, the Girl” (flashback), and “Kapugen, the Hunter” (return to present)—allowing readers to explore Julie's past and present simultaneously.
• George wrote two sequels to the novel, Julie (1994) and Julie's Wolf Pack (1997).
• Julie of the Wolves has been translated into at least 13 languages, including Arabic and Japanese.
About the author
Jean Craighead George
Jean Craighead George (1919-2012) was an American author of more than 100 books for children and young adults. Growing up in a family of naturalists, she developed a deep connection to the environment from an early age. This passion for nature became a central theme in her writing, as evidenced by her most famous works, including the Newbery Medal-winning Julie of the Wolves and the Newbery Honor book My Side of the Mountain.
George's background in both science and literature, which she studied at Penn State University, informed her unique approach to storytelling. Her career path was diverse, including stints as a reporter for The Washington Post, a member of the White House Press Corps, and a writer and editor for Reader's Digest before focusing on writing books full-time.
Committed to authenticity, George conducted extensive research for her books. For Julie of the Wolves, she spent time at the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory in Barrow, Alaska, studying wolf behavior and even learning to communicate with wolves in their own language. Throughout her life, George continued to explore the natural world, often bringing wild animals into her home and backyard, which became inspirations for her characters. She continued writing and exploring until her death at the age of 92, leaving behind a rich body of work that continues to inspire young readers.