The Call of the Wild: book club questions by chapter

🦉 The Call of the Wild · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “Stolen”; Part Two, “The Law of the North” (pages 1–6, about 8 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 6, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why was Buck stolen from Judge Miller's estate?
   The story's answer: Manuel needed money to pay his gambling debts
2. What did Buck learn from watching what happened to Curly?
   The story's answer: That in the north, once you are down, you are finished
3. Who have we met so far, and what does each of them want?
   Listen for: Make a list together on the board; keep it for next time and add to it.
4. The part we just read is called "The Law of the North". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
5. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 The Call of the Wild · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Three, “John Thornton” (pages 7–10, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 10, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What did Thornton whisper to Buck before the great pull in Dawson?
   The story's answer: "As you love me, Buck"
2. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
3. The part we just read is called "John Thornton". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
4. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 The Call of the Wild · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Four, “The Call” (pages 11–13, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 13, the end of the story.

1. Why did Buck refuse to get up when Hal whipped him at the river?
   The story's answer: He sensed the ice was too thin to cross
2. What does the story suggest finally lets Buck answer the call of the wild?
   The story's answer: The man he loved is gone, so nothing holds him to people
3. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
4. The part we just read is called "The Call". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
5. Now that you know the ending, was it the ending you expected?
   Listen for: Ask what in the earlier parts pointed to it, or pointed the other way.

About the whole story

1. Which character changed the most from the beginning to the end?
   Listen for: Ask what changed them.
2. Which scene would you put on the poster if this were a film?
   Listen for: A way to find the scene that mattered most to each reader.
3. Is there a line or a moment you will remember? Why that one?
   Listen for: Let readers find it in the book and read it aloud.
4. Who would you give this story to, and why them?
   Listen for: A reader who can name the right person has understood what the story is like.
5. If you could ask the person who first told this story one question, what would it be?
   Listen for: Collect the questions; some have answers on the story's page in the library.