Customer Reviews

Irish Red

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Runt, mistake, muttonhead. Red's son Mike is given quite a beating when he shows himself to be a worthless puppy. Nothing like what the son of a champion should be. When he escapes his kennel he sets out for the two men he loves, Danny and ross Picket. When Danny becomes lost, Mike proves himself to be the champion he is. A worthy sequel to "Big Red".

In my opinion, I liked the story because it was really interesting. I like reading books about dogs and about adventure in nature. It is fascinating to read about the out-of-doors and man's relationship with dogs. The only part I didn't like about the book was how the book ended. The ending could have been better, but I think Mr. Kjelgaard was setting the stage for the next book in the sequel.

REVIEWED BY: Wayne Walker

Back in late 2002 or early 2003, I read Kjelgaaard's Big Red out loud to our boys and we enjoyed it. Irish Red is a sequel. Danny Pickett and his father Ross live in a cabin on the Wintapi estate of Mr. Haggin to help him raise Irish setters for hunting and show. After Big Red was injured while killing the bear Old Majesty, Danny and Ross own him, but his mate Sheila and their four puppies still belong to Mr. Haggin. However, Haggin's nephew, John Price, has come to convince his uncle to raise English setters instead. Big Red's son Mike is the best hunter, but when Danny and his father try everything to train him, Mike seems to be a bone-headed, self-willed misfit and loses a birding contest to one of the English setters.
While Haggin is away, Danny and Ross are supposed to work with Joe Williams, the new trainer for the English setters, but the two quit after a major disagreement on how to treat the dogs and move back into their old cabin off the Haggin estate. However, as winter draws near, Mike escapes the kennel and makes his way to the Picketts' place. While Danny and Mike are out trapping marten on Tower Head, Danny is hit by a falling tree during an early blizzard and is in danger of freezing to death. Will Mike have enough sense to do anything to help save him? And will the dog ever make a good hunter?
The book is a heart-warming story that is characterized by perceptive writing and an interesting plot. It leaves the message that a person can do just about anything if he or she really tries hard enough. Those who like dog stories should relish it. The only warning is that Kjelgaard is not above using an occasional "h---" or "d---" word. Personally, I would prefer that authors not use such language at all, especially in books for children, but to be honest I have seen a lot worse in much of what passes for children's literature today. The story of Big Red's descendants continues in Outlaw Red.

Some authors just have a knack for bringing a natural setting to life, and Jim Kjelgaard is one of those rare authors.

The story is a by-the-numbers tales of survival in the wild, pitting the initially-inept Mike and woodsman Danny up against a host of natural dangers, including a mammoth snowstorm and a bloodthirsty Puma.

The writing is clean and simple, and the events are exciting enough to hold the interest of the reader.

I think that Kjelgaard has written better books in this vein, but it is nice to see some continuity between these kinds of books. The relationship of Irish Red to the ever-popular Big Red lets us experience Big Red all over again.

I do recommend this book, but not as an introduction to this author. Snow Dog or Big Red are better books to cut your teeth on; this book is a nice return to an established world.

I read this book when I was about 10 years old and I still remember how much I loved it! I read several of his books and somehow remembered (25 years later) that the author's first name was Jim and last name started with a K. Now that my kids are learning to read, I wanted to share with them some of my favorite books, so I did a search and found it quite easily. I don't remember the details of the book, but the fact that I remember it fondly after all these years, is quite a testament!!!

Big Red is probaly one of the greastest and most famos of the books by Jim Kjelgaard. I like his books mostly because of the dogs but the adventure in this one is tops! anna

Irish Red is known as a Jim Kjelgaard classic, it is supposed to be one of his best books ever, I feel the same way about it. Irish Red contains not only suspense but it also has plenty of action. Old Red has fathered a few pups to Sheila and Mike is the runt. What he lacks in size he makes up for in spirit and effort. Although he may lose a pig, and get into the garbage, Mike helps to save the day. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone who thinks that the outdoors is an interesting place, if not you probably won't enjoy it. This book is for people of all ages to enjoy, so read on.

Mike proves that what's on the outside doesn't count as much as what's in the inside. What he did not have in appearances, he carried inside of his heart and soul.

I read this book when I was maybe ten years old, then read it again and again. I found the wilderness adventure quite exciting, especially the snow storm, and I loved that the runt of the litter proved himself worthy. For any kid who loves dogs, outdoor adventure, the wilderness, and snow, this is a great read.

This is the story of the underdog of the litter, Reds son, and runt Mike. The dog who everyone thought wouldn't amount to anything. A trouble maker, and a muddle head that loves to get into trouble where ever he goes. When Danny and Ross move, he escapes his kennel and survives in the wild wintapi wilderness, to find the men he loves. This book does have some very funny moments in it. It also has an underlying plot of which breed of dog is the best hunter, when Mr haggin considers replacing his Irish setters with English Setters. Who is the best, Irish, or English? Not going to give this away, readers can find out for themselves at the end.