Maggie Mayfield Mayfield itibaren Paschim Ghoshpur, West Bengal, India
I first read "Old Yeller" when I was in the third grade back in the early 80's, and found it a great story, albeit a bit sad when, of course, the dog dies. Other than that, though, I didn't really remember much of the detail or character interaction. It was a long time ago. The movie is a little different in the way they handle the ending, but it's a great old film too. Tommy Kirk, Beverly Washburn, etc. Fun stuff. My re-reading of "Old Yeller" in 2014 came about with story-time with my 6-year-old daughter. We read books together every night. She has one she is reading and I have one that I am reading to her. This time it was "Old Yeller." We both loved it. We read a chapter a night and the characters are so colorful and well-drawn that she and I both laughed out loud every time Little Arliss would go skinny-dipping "again" in the drinking water. We both agreed that the lazy neighbor was a good-for-nothing, and we both loved Yeller form the start and appreciated the way Travis comes to love the dog for a time as well. We both cried at the death and laughed again by the end with Little Arliss and the pup together in the drinking water, again. ;-) Now, from a literary perspective, this book was originally written for a younger audience and the narrative flows solidly form that perspective. Action is quick and description is tight and not overdrawn. Historical accuracy is surprisingly excellent considering the harsh reality of pioneer life in mid-19th century Texas. It's not all sunshine and roses when you are a pioneer trying to eek out an existence in the frontier. The dialogue vernacular is also brilliantly written. You can almost hear the accent of the speaker. Overall, an excellent novel, a quick read, and a heartfelt tribute to a beautiful, harsh, and unforgettable time in settler history. Two thumbs up. Every schoolkid should read this book at some point.