Awarded the Newbery Honor
When a novel like Huckleberry Finn, or The Yearling, comes along it defies customary adjectives because of the intensity of the respouse it evokes in the reader. Such a book, we submit, is Old Yeller; to read this eloquently simple story of a boy and his dog in the Texas hill country is an unforgettable and deeply moving experience.
When his father sets out on a cattle drive for the summer, fourteen-year-old Travis is left to take care of his family and their farm, and he faces new, unanticipated and often perilous responsibilities in the wilderness of early fronteir Texas. But Travis is not alone. He finds help and comfort in the courage and unwavering love of the stray animal who comes to be his most loyal and very best friend: the big yellow dog Travis calls ""Old Yeller.""
An enduring and award-winning American classic, Fred Gipson's Old Yeller stands as one of the most beloved novels ever produced in this country, and one that will live in the hearts and minds of readers for generations to come.
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"I have read this book many times and read it about a month ago again. I have a very old copy that used to be my grandmothers book and she would always let me borrow it when I went to her house and I got it when she passed away, it brings back childhood memories for me, and I remember when the cover was intact on it and it looked like new. Now it has been read so many times and is so old that I am afraid now its going to fall apart, but I will continue to read it when I feel like taking a walk down memory lane!"
— Andrea (5 out of 5 stars)
“Occasionally, but very rarely, one reads a book with the increasing certainty, as one turns the pages, that a classic is unfolding before one's eyes.”
— Chicago Sunday Tribune“A bestseller for generations, the combination of excellent writing and the sensitivity to human emotions places it on a shelf with the classics in juvenile literature.”
— Saturday Review of Literature“One of the classics of juvenile fiction…This is a story that is both moving and humorous, and familiarizes readers with what it was like to live in this time and place.”
— Children’s Literature“Exciting and heartwarming indeed. Recommended for adults and teenagers.”
— Library Journal“Ranks high in the annals of boy and dogdom…A moving segment of early frontier America.”
— Kirkus Reviews" Classic, my children really enjoyed this book. They read along while listening. "
— Dana, 1/11/2017" HATED that he had to shoot Yeller. Why does it seem that in nearly every classic with a dog in, the dog dies? SO ANNOYING> Why can't the dog live? But then look at Because of Winn-Dixie. The dog didn't die there, which was a BRILLIANT change. "
— Andrew, 2/17/2014" Cute but I like the movie better "
— Allison, 2/16/2014" This is a book that shows the loyalty of having a dog. It is quite tragic but a good book "
— Manny, 2/12/2014" So far I think this book is great. I could easily compare it to the other books I have read. I think that Travis is doing a good job at doing his work but Old Yeller is getting in his way. "
— Rachel, 2/12/2014" i think it is sad when the dog dies, poor old yeller. "
— Celina, 1/25/2014" Very good, easy to read and relax with. Much less disturbing than I remember the movie being. It has good morals and a good simple story. "
— Sparrow, 1/22/2014" Simply one of the best stories ever. "
— Alan, 1/16/2014" Some children cry but love to have this book read to them. "
— M.ann, 1/13/2014" I read this to my class and we all loved it. The setting and characters are great and even though Travis is so much different than my students, they totally connected to him and his ol yeller dog. "
— Alison, 1/11/2014" Why do people write sad books ? :( "
— Ruthie, 12/21/2013" Don't remember reading the book in school. My son did a project for his class and decided to read it. Liked it as much as the movie. "
— Ella, 12/4/2013" We just finished it AGAIN and Loved it again. "
— Jennie, 10/21/2013" Storyline never gets old and you can just keep reading it over and over and over again. A book that makes you cry, I did all the times I read it. Fred Gipson really builds up the friendship between owner and dog, an unforgettable book. "
— Blair, 10/20/2013" The stray dog and a thieving rascal. But he sure was clever, a smart dog could be a big help on the wild Texas frontier, especially with Papa away on a long cattle drive up to Abilene. "
— mimi, 9/12/2013" I read this out lout with my son this summer. We really enjoyed the story. I'd never read it before, so my husband warned both my son and I in advance that it did not end happily. We cried a little over the ending, but it was worth it. "
— Nikki, 8/31/2013" I love old yeller. I have't read it since I was a kid and just re-read it. Still a great book. "
— Crystal, 5/27/2013" SOOOOO SAD I cried!!!! "
— Tarah, 4/18/2013" SPOILER: HE SHOT THE FUCKING DOG. THAT'S NOT COOL. "
— Gilmore, 2/13/2013" Newbery Honor book, 1957. "
— Bill, 12/28/2012" It *Sniffle* was *sniffle* so *sniffle* sad! *bursts out crying* "
— Emily-, 11/16/2012" Hate books about animals that die. Hated the movie, too. "
— Regina, 10/21/2012" At first, Travis couldn't stand the sight of Old Yeller. The dog was ugly, and a thief. But he sure was clever, and a smart dog could be a big help on the wild Texas frontier, especially with Travis'father is away on a long cattle drive up to Abilene. "
— Jiraphat, 7/27/2012" i loved this book until the midle of the book wich had bad words. "
— Angeli, 7/26/2012" sooo sad! But a really good book!! "
— Sophie, 3/8/2012" Made me cry and still does... EVERY SINGLE TIME I READ THIS BOOK I BURST INTO TEARS. I can't help it! I'm as sentimental as they come. "
— ♣Corina, 2/6/2012" I was told by an author that whenever you see a picture of a dog on the cover and a medal on it. The dog is going to die. This book was okay. But, I will always prefer Where the Red Fern Grows. "
— Leah, 11/19/2011" Another childhood favorite of mine. I haven't read it in many years, but my son brought home a book order from school and I saw it in there and ordered it! LOVE this very heartbreaking story! Anyone who has ever had a dog should read it! "
— Tracy, 9/11/2011" i would recommend to people who like these kind of books. "
— Amadorgonzalez, 5/16/2011" It was a good book "
— Victor, 5/16/2011" I cried it was so sad.. But i also thought it was one of the best books i had ever read. "
— Moonianna, 5/14/2011" The ending is sad, but I still like the story. O how I wish I own such faithful dog~ "
— Jie, 5/14/2011" I liked it because i twas a good book<br/> "
— David, 5/13/2011" I liked the dog but it was sad how old yeller had to die. This book was okay. Old Yeller did some pretty funny stuff and he was brave to save his owner's life. "
— Beatriz, 5/13/2011" I like this book because it is so interesting. i like how they act in the book "
— Juan, 5/13/2011" This book is a great book for most ages. A family finds a dog eating all the meat they had hanging up and after days of trying to stop him they decide to keep him. The book is a very good book but predictable. "
— Alexander, 5/13/2011" It showed Travis growing up with Old Yeller and he learned new experiences. "
— Roxana, 5/13/2011" This book was ohkay not exciting kinda sad and stuff but yeah "
— *Timara, 5/13/2011" I think it was a really great book it was about a dog and a little boy and of course the mom the dad and a little brother and at first the dog and the little boy hated each other and at the end they end up being best friends. It’s a really cool book I really recommend it! "
— Yanet, 5/13/2011" Old yeller is about a dog that gets rabies and later on his owner find out he has it and has to put him down. "
— Pedro, 5/13/2011" it was a very good book because it had dogs, action, and rabies. Also because it was in the 19s the book was pretty interesting. "
— Luz, 5/13/2011" Amazing book. My favorite book ever. :) <3 <br/>Live Love Laugh "
— Rachel, 5/5/2011" I love this book it's the saddest book I have ever read it reminds me of one of my dogs only I didn't have to shoot it (sombody ran over it) "
— Nat, 4/27/2011" It was okay, I guess. It was pretty boring, and the plot never tied together. The way it was written was meh, and I just think it was okay, borderline bad. It didn't make any emotions arise from me, and I could never get into it. "
— Nathan, 4/18/2011Fred Gipson (1908–1973) secured his place as one of the finest novelists in America with the publication of Old Yeller. The book was published to instant acclaim and has become one of the most beloved children’s classics ever written. Since its publication in 1956, Old Yeller has won countless awards, including the 1957 Newbery Honor. Gipson’s other works include both fiction and nonfiction, and many are perennial favorites. He grew up in the Texas hill country, which was often the setting for his books.
Peter Francis James is an accomplished actor on both the stage and the screen. His theater credits include roles in On Golden Pond, Much Ado about Nothing, and August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean. His many film and television credits include Jahfree Neema in Oz, Raymond Parks in The Rosa Parks Story, Joe Gould’s Secret, The Guiding Light, Law & Order: SVU, and Third Watch. James’ audiobook narration has won him nine AudioFile Earphones Awards.