Jack London

Children's Literature

This biography brings to life the intriguing details of a man who grows up as a good fighter, a hard drinker, a skilled thief and a bookworm. In 1889, at age thirteen, London leaves school to work fourteen-hour days in a cannery for ten cents an hour. By 1909, the popular author of The Call of the Wild has become the best paid writer in the United States. His journey is as colorful as it is fascinating. Adventure and hardship give him a firm belief in the survival of the fittest and the knowledge that brains, not muscles, are necessary to support himself and his parents. Reading constantly, he educates himself in philosophy, science and history, and becomes a new kind of writer—one who experiences danger and adversity and records it with literary authenticity. Streissguth never sugarcoats London's controversial life—his racist opinions of Asians, his socialist politics, his "scientific" marriage or his excessive drinking. While London's exciting adventures and personal tragedies are riveting, his against-the-odds rise to success and one thousand words-per-day work ethic is inspirational. Although a map detailing his Alaskan adventures would have made that portion clearer, his engaging life story will entertain and motivate a broad range of readers. Part of the "Lerner A&E" series. 2001, Lerner. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Betty Hicks

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-London's adventurous life reads much like one of his novels, as many of his stories derive from his own personal experiences. Streissguth effectively conveys the writer's restlessness and personal struggles through the occasional use of quotations. Throughout London's life, he worked to support his parents and siblings; frustrated with his inability to make a decent living, he flirted with political activism. At one point, he decided to seek his fortune in the Klondike gold rush. Although he did not find the sought-after gold, he met a man with a dog that inspired the character Buck in The Call of the Wild and began a lucrative writing career. Black-and-white photos of London and his family draw readers into his life and times. Unfamiliar terms are often defined for younger readers; although, in targeting this audience, the book's broad scope and brevity sometimes sacrifice details. Both succinct and honest, this biography will more than suffice for reports and may encourage young people to seek out some of London's classics.-Laura Glaser, Euless Junior High School, TX Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.