You really get a sense of what life was like for this family with all their hard work and difficulties. I enjoy Fred Gipson’s writing as it’s very graphic with detailed descriptions and imagery. And a man can’t afford to waste all the good part, worrying about the bad parts. They may seem mighty cruel and unfair, but that’s how life is part of the time. I don’t guess it’s a thing you ought to forget. You couldn’t ask any more of a grown man… It’s not a thing you can forget.

And I’m mighty proud to learn how my boy stood up to it.

“That was as rough a thing as I ever heard tell of happening to a boy. I finally got teary in the end when Travis has a conversation with his dad about Old Yeller. The ending is sort of revealed within the first pages which spares the reader in a way. I recall being emotional over the book when I was a child, but honestly this time around it wasn’t as sad. I read this book when I was in elementary school and decided to read it with my children. There’s also a disease known as hydrophobia going around and killing animals which is a big risk for humans too.

There are also many daily chores to maintain: keeping animals out of the corn patch, branding hogs, fetching water, hunting, and milking the cow. Travis learns quickly that life on the frontier is often unpredictable and perilous. Travis gets to where he depends on Old Yeller to help him around the land and grows to love him. He’s a wonderful cow dog and great with the hogs too. Over time, Old Yeller doesn’t just keep Arliss entertained he earns his keep and saves their lives multiple times. “I guessed that when you are nearly a man, you have to learn to put up with a lot of aggravation from little old bitty kids.” Little Arliss is persistent and wins him over. Travis flat-out doesn’t want a dog again he had a dog before that died and it was hard for him to get over. Travis is extremely furious about it and wants to hurt the dog, but little Arliss insists they keep him. Not long after, a stray yellow dog shows up and steals some of their meat. He feels pretty confident that he can take care of things while his father’s away and looks forward to getting his own horse when his father returns. You look after the work and don’t wait around for your mama to point out what needs to be done.”Įven though Travis is now responsible for keeping his mother and younger brother Arliss safe, he’ll also have to keep up with chopping the wood and hunting for food. “Now, Travis,” he said, “you’re getting to be a big boy and while I’m gone, you’ll be the man of the family. His father is leaving for Abilene on a trip to drive cattle for money, and Travis will be left to man their home until his father returns. Travis is fourteen years old and yearns to be a man. Old Yeller is a coming of age story about a boy named Travis and his family living in Salt Lick, Texas in the 1860s.

Fred gipson novel