Wolf Dog of the Woodland Indians - Paperback

by Margaret Searcy (Author)

Facing unpredictable weather, wild animals, and fierce tribal enemies, Cub ventures into the forest with Wolf, where he faces the most harrowing experiences of his life, which propel the Indian boy into manhood.

Back Jacket

For Cub, a young Copena Indian boy growing up in the southeastern part of North America almost two thousand years ago, life is confusing and sometimes frightening. The hardships that he and his tribe must face are very different from the hardships we face today, and Cub must learn how to stay alive in his harsh and dangerous world.

When a strange visitor convinces Cub's parents that the boy's pet is too dangerous to keep, Cub decides to run away into the forest with Wolf, his faithful companion who is half dog and half wolf.

Battling his own very justified fears--the winter months were known as "the lean months" because food was so scarce that many of his people died, and the threat of attack by unfriendly tribes was a real and serious risk--Cub ventures into the woods in search of a safe place for Wolf and himself to spend the winter. Here, away from friends, with little food or protection, Cub must face the most difficult and harrowing experiences of his life as he encounters violent storms, fierce enemies, and the loneliness and secrets of the forest.

Based upon actual archaeological findings, "Wolf Dog of the Woodland Indians" introduces young readers to ancient Indian Culture through a truly exciting adventure.

Author Biography

A retired anthropologist and a member of the University of Alabama Emeritus Faculty, Margaret Zehmer Searcy dedicates herself to teaching the richness of Native American culture. Searcy's series for the intermediate reader is based upon extensive archaeological data and ethno-historic accounts. Her titles have prominently featured in both television and education. Ikwa of the Mound-Builder Indians was dramatized on Alabama Public Television and aired numerous times as a part of the school curriculum. In 1976, it won the Charlton W. Tebeau Prize of the Florida Historical Society for the best children's or young adults' book dealing with a Florida-related subject. Searcy served as president of the Alabama Archaeological Society and as vice president of the Alabama Academy of Science. She is a founding member and former chairperson of the Guild of Professional Writers for Children. In 1979, Searcy was chosen as Educator of the Year by the Gamma Psi chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma as well as Woman of the Year by the Tuscaloosa chapter of Business and Professional Women. The following year, Auburn University named Searcy A Woman of Distinction for her contribution to Southern culture. In 1984, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan signed a United States Presidents' acknowledgment for her twenty-five years of volunteer work with juveniles in crime prevention and diversion programs. The Alabama Humanities Foundation selected her as a humanities lecturer for 1988 and 1989 and she served in a similar role on the Alabama Arts Council. Reading Is Fundamental, the Smithsonian, and the American Museum of Natural History have encouraged Searcy's titles. The Equal Educational Opportunity Team of the University of South Dakota selected her as one of three authors writing appropriate books for Indian education. Searcy is also an adopted Mowa Choctaw. Searcy and her husband, Joseph, currently reside in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.