Savage Sam

by Fred Gipson

Book Overview

What Mr. Gipson has written is the story of a grim situation, a desperate chased, filled with brutality and heroism, yet he has written it with a sense of young wonder and even, at time, with humor. -New York Times Book Review

In this sequel to Old Yeller, Travis and his younger brother are kidnapped by an Indian raiding party, and Savage Sam, the son of the beloved yellow dog, leads a frantic chase to bring them back.

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060803770
• ISBN13: 9780060803773
• Release Date: July 1976
• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 3.9" x 7.3"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Heart-pounding, nail-biting tale

Savage Sam is a heart-pounding, nail-biting tale of terror as Travis, his younger brother Little Arliss, and their neighbor and friend Lisbeth Searcy are kidnapped and dragged across the plains of Texas. The sequel to Old Yeller, this novel opens up with a mild beginning. Brothers are fighting as brothers will do, and eventually the younger boy heads off with his faithful dog, the son of Old Yeller, whom his father has affectionately named Savage Sam. Soon, though, the neighbors appear with warnings of Apache raids, and Travis and Lisbeth head out to bring Arliss and Sam home. Unfortunately the threat of raids are real, and the children are seized by the Apache (and a sole Comanche) and hustled off along with a herd of stolen horses. Little care is given to their well-being, and soon the children are battered and bruised and in a near hopeless situation - but they are some tough kids, and they do not give up. Every waking minute of their captivity the three are plotting escape, with Little Arliss making some bold moves and Travis doing everything he can to protect the younger children. Their last hope is Sam, hot on their trail and unwilling to give up on his beloved human, and the small possibility that their parents can hear and follow Sam long enough and far enough to rescue them. Savage Sam is set in Texas in the 1870's, during a time when tensions between Native Americans and settlers were rising swiftly. Clearly some of the language and terms used in this novel are no longer acceptable, but are completely accurate and true to the time period in which this is set. Although the book is sympathetic to the settlers, understandable considering they are chasing down the captors of their children, the author does not ignore the gray areas in this fight. One of the settlers raises the idea that the Native Americans were painted into this corner from which they fought, and even Travis recognizes that some of his beliefs about Native Americans are founded on the unknown of how they think, what they believe, and how they live. I don't think it's fair to expect this novel to paint a fair and balanced picture of the conflict, because the one thing we know for sure here is that they've captured three children and their plans for them are not anything we'd wish on our own children. Overall this is an absolutely gripping tale of survival and inner strength. Just when you are sure no one can continue, they dig deep into their souls and come up with another ounce of courage and endurance, past anything we can imagine - Sam most of all. The entire adventure plays out in under 10 days, but I can understand why it would feel like a lifetime to the children - it was certainly a surprise as I came up for air at the end to realize just how fast and furious the action had played out. There is quite a bit of violence depicted against humans and animals, and Gipson doesn't mince words at describing the harrowing ordeal that the children and Sam faced. Trigger warnings (view spoiler). Surprisingly, there are moments of soul-searching in the midst of all the chaos that are seamlessly woven into the story and ultimately show a maturity in Travis that you might not have expected. Listening to his inner-struggle pitting his rage against the brutality of his situation with a clarity of how small his life is in the bigger picture of things is the finest example of that. Overall this is not a cutesy story of a boy and his dog, but a survival story married with daring rescue mission. The bond between boy and dog propels that plot forward, as do the strong, caring relationships between the humans in the story. I was spellbound throughout; it is an emotional journey from start to finish.

Savage Sam the son of old yeller

Did you like the book old yeller? If yes then you will love this book about his son Savage Sam. Sam is a lot like his father. He would fight the cats just for some fresh milk. When Sam and Little arliss go out hunting with out the knowledge of the raiding Indians. When Travis and lisbeth go out looking for them and find Sam and little arliss in a hole fighting with a bobcat. They forget about that until after the fight when the get captured by the Comanche. Will Savage Sam be able to save them read and find out.

A must read book

I thought the book was great! it had a lot of adventure and action. I couldnt put it down! I loved the ending. best book i have ever read. i could read a hundred more times. it was so descriptive and really catches a readers attention. it is a must read for all of you adventure fans.

This is the BEST book,by far....that i have EVER read!

Anyone who reads this book will be telling his or her friends about it in no time.this book,it's incredible,its funny,and,im probably gonna read again and again and again ^^ i love this book SO much....now i want a dog just like Savage Sam!!I'm 12....and i usualy don't like the books i read >.< but this one...i couldnt put it down till i was done....if you HAVE read it...i know you love it.....and if you havent.....you will love the book as much as me....its a great book...and i suggest reading it ^^

" Great Book "

I think this book was awesome !!!! We just got through reading it in class. My class and myself really got into this story. We didn't want to stop reading, and that should say ALOT for 7th graders!!!! I feel Mr. Gipson did a great job with this story line. I loved Old Yeller, and I love this one as well. I hope there is more to come !!!!!! Keep up the GOOD work.

This was the book that made me a reader!!!!!!

When I was 9 years old I had no idea who I was or what I wanted to be. My teacher "made" me read this book, and it gave me an answer to one of "lifes many questions." I was going to be a reader !!!!!!! A little reminiscent of "Old Yeller", but a whole lot more adventurous!!!! This book kept me going from start to finish. I can't wait to share it with my 7 year old son!!!!!!!!