The Dog with Golden Eyes [Paperback]

Wilbur (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

A unique and involving story of a young girl who inadvertently adopts an arctic wolf. Filled with meticulous detail about wolves and animal behavior, "The Dog with Golden Eyes" will be fondly enjoyed by lovers of both animals and adventure.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Winner of the Milkweed Prize for Children's Literature, "The Dog with Golden Eyes" is not only a factual nature story but also a book about responsibility in the face of tough issues. Cassie feels that the world is collapsing. Her father leaves her and her mother alone, Cassie's best friend dumps her, and her mother refuses to let her have her fondest wish: a dog. When a big white dog shows up at her house, Cassie decides to adopt it, naming it Toklata. She learns to earn money to pay for dog food, and, in her curiosity about Toklata's background, she comes to realize that her adopted dog is an Arctic wolf. Cassie also realizes that a wolf can't be treated like a dog nor is a wolf safe living near human society. When Cassie comes to terms with the inevitability that Toklata must be returned to the wilderness, she also finds out that, for her own future, what seems like a closed door can really be an open window of opportunity. --Susan Swartwout

From Publishers Weekly

Thirteen-year-old Cassie's plight is not new: she wants a dog and her mother won't allow it. Cassie is trying to "adopt" a stray without her mother finding out. However, this particular "aristocratic"-looking canine with fur "so white it shines like silver" is actually an arctic wolf?though Cassie does not realize it until halfway through the story. As Cassie struggles to tame the animal and save it from a dog catcher, she is plagued by other typical adolescent worries: losing her best friend, being overweight, having her parents separate (her father left without saying good-bye) and receiving poor grades at school. Wilbur (A Horse Called Holiday: A Guide for Parents of Horse-Crazy Kids) offers pat solutions to most of Cassie's problems and provides a happy ending for all, including the wolf, who is reunited with his original owners. Though it is written in unconvincing, pedestrian prose ("She put up with reports of freeway smashups and gang violence in order to watch the TV show about a teenage girl and her friends"), this tale is chock full of information about dog and wolf behavior, and may be of interest to animal lovers. Illustrations not seen by PW. Ages 8-13.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Milkweed Editions; First Edition edition (July 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571316159
• ISBN-13: 978-1571316158
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #561,285 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #84 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Foxes & Wolves > Fiction

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sarah`s Super Review, March 9, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Dog with Golden Eyes (Paperback)

I like the book The Dog With Golden Eyes.On a scale from 1 to 1o, I would give it a 9.One of the things I like about it is that one of the main characters is a dog. I think many third graders would find this book interesting.It is about a girl who finds a dog and takes care of it.But what she later learns is that the dog is an Arctic Wolf.Read this book to find out what happens.I think the author did an excellent job Describing the setting and charactors. I learned from the book that caring for an animal is a big responsibility. So next time your looking for a good book try The Dog With Golden Eyes!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Luv Wolves, May 10, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Dog with Golden Eyes (Paperback)

Animal lovers will love this book. It's great and since I've read it I've been interested in wolves. I love animals an I think it was perfect for my age. My teacher even read it! It was sad that Tokie had to go back and not stay with Cassie, but it's still five stars!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the dog with golden eyes, November 22, 2010

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Dog with Golden Eyes (Paperback)

This book is the best book ever. I love the detales and story. If you rate this book on one to ten i would pick ten right away. Im only ten nd this book still entertand me. I love dogs and wolfs so this book was definitley stoll my eye. This is my review and I say it was an ausome book.Best of luck to you.