Outlaw Red (Bantam Skylark Book) [Paperback]

Jim Kjelgaard (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Bantam Skylark Book

He was Sean, a champion, the biggest, handsomest son of Big Red, the famous Irish setter. Bursting with hunting instincts, he fretted under his pampered kennel life, and longed for the wilds. Then suddenly his life changed. He found himself on his own in the Wintapi wilderness, lost, his human protectors gone. An outlaw, he was hunted and shot at by the hill men. How Sean learned to survive amidst constant danger, how he challenged a coyote killer to save his mate, is a stirring tale of bravery and an exciting wilderness adventure. It is also the heartwarming story of another unwilling outlaw--the boy who loved Sean and wanted him for his own.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

He was Sean, a champion, the biggest, handsomest son of Big Red, the famous Irish setter. Bursting with hunting instincts, he fretted under his pampered kennel life, and longed for the wilds. Then suddenly his life changed. He found himself on his own in the Wintapi wilderness, lost, his human protectors gone. An outlaw, he was hunted and shot at by the hill men. How Sean learned to survive amidst constant danger, how he challenged a coyote killer to save his mate, is a stirring tale of bravery and an exciting wilderness adventure. It is also the heartwarming story of another unwilling outlaw--the boy who loved Sean and wanted him for his own.

From the Inside Flap

He was Sean, a champion, the biggest, handsomest son of Big Red, the famous Irish setter. Bursting with hunting instincts, he fretted under his pampered kennel life, and longed for the wilds. Then suddenly his life changed. He found himself on his own in the Wintapi wilderness, lost, his human protectors gone. An outlaw, he was hunted and shot at by the hill men. How Sean learned to survive amidst constant danger, how he challenged a coyote killer to save his mate, is a stirring tale of bravery and an exciting wilderness adventure. It is also the heartwarming story of another unwilling outlaw--the boy who loved Sean and wanted him for his own.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (December 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553156861
• ISBN-13: 978-0553156867
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #604,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not this author's best, September 6, 2005

By 

Matt Hetling "Matt" (Bethel, ME USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Outlaw Red (Bantam Skylark Book) (Paperback)

Personally, I can only read so many stories about Irish Setters that exceed all realistic performance expectations, and this book somehow cheapens its predecessors.

By putting Sean on the same pedestal that Big Red himself already occupies, Kjelgaard does a disservice to Big Red.

That being said, this is still a pretty strong book. I enjoy Kjelgaard more when he tackles other breeds (such as Snow Dog, Lion Hound, and Desert Dog), but there's no question that he brought all of his considerable writing skills to this exciting novel.

Fans of Kjelgaard know to expect taciturn human characters with hearts of gold, exciting encounters with local wildlife, and vivid descriptions of the natural setting. They will not be disappointed here. While the plot is pretty predictable, I think most readers will enjoy the journey.

An established Kjelgaard fan will certainly want to read this book, but if you're trying this author for the first time, start with Big Red or Snow Dog.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outlaw Red by Jim Kjelgaard, March 31, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Outlaw Red (Bantam Skylark Book) (Paperback)

This book was much better than I expected, even though I knew about its critical acclaim. The story of a dog in the wilderness takes the reader into a world that you may have thought you could never go. But it's not just about dogs, it's about all the emotions of life and adversity for animals as well as people, and it helped me understand dogs better for it. It's no wonder that Outlaw Red won the prize for best peaceful book. Wonderful read. I recommend it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All_time Favorite Book, December 4, 2002

By 

sharon lupton (Grifton, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Outlaw Red (Bantam Skylark Book) (Paperback)

I first read Outlaw Red and as yong girl about 30 years ago. I still go back and read it from time to time. The story is clean, honest, and it takes the reader right to the setting of the Wintapi in Canada. I love all three of Kjelgaard's books for that reason. Kjelgaard masterfully used imagery to keep his readers' interest This however, is my favorite. Sean, the pampered showdog, is haphazardly thrown into the wilderness. Through cunning and instinct the dog manages to survive the perils of his situation.
Sean's courage in adversity makes this book a perfect read for anyone of any age.