Fred Gipson (1907–1973)

Growing up in the 1980s, I probably watched this movie between five and ten times. Not only at my grandma's, she had cable, but it was a movie subs showed at school, or teacher showed before holidays. A reader, I duly read it around that time, between, say, 7 and 10, so 1987-1990. I just reread it (December 2020) and found it just as interesting a story as I remember and as I remember the movie.

(Having grown up on the movie, I couldn't help but visualize the characters with the general show more faces of the Disney actors. In my mind's eye, though, as a historian of Texas, I corrected the landscape to the Texas Hill Country. Side note, the cover of the old permabound, school edition I bought, probably printed in the mid-1960s, is wholly laughable. The dog looks more like the Disney version, but in the book he's missing most of his ear and most of his tail. Though the book is set in 1865 or 1866, on the cover the boy is wearing blue jeans, terribly anachronistic. And the landscape looks like the rolling hills of Indiana more than the Hill Country of frontier Texas.)

*******Here be spoilers*******

I remember the frontier/pioneer knowledge in the book, the hunting, etc. All good Texas stuff my ancestors probably had to do. I remember the story. Though I remember the movie's ending to Old Yeller's life, shut up in corncrib, waiting, weeks of waiting, then crying, deciding, crying, gunshot. In the book the decision is made immediately after the attack by the rabid wolf: "I reloaded my gun and called Old Yeller back from the house. I stuck the muzzle of the gun against his head and pulled the trigger." Bam. Done.

Different, but still the lesson: when being a man (or adult, if you prefer) sometimes the right decision requires some painful feelings and painful decision-making.

A good book and justifiably a classic. show less

Old Yeller is a timeless work of historical fiction aimed at younger audiences, yet its emotional depth and unforgettable characters resonate with readers of all ages. Set in the rugged Texas Hill Country during the 1860s, the novel tells the story of fourteen-year-old Travis Coates, who must take on adult responsibilities when his father leaves on a cattle drive. Left to care for his mother and younger brother, Travis’s world changes forever when a stray yellow dog wanders onto their show more farm.
At first, Old Yeller is nothing more than a nuisance—stealing meat and causing trouble—but he quickly proves his worth in the harsh frontier wilderness. Through a series of trials, dangers, and sacrifices, the bond between Travis and Old Yeller grows into something profound. The dog becomes a symbol of loyalty, protection, and love, helping Travis navigate the challenges of growing up.
Fred Gipson’s storytelling captures both the harshness and the beauty of life on the frontier. The themes of duty, courage, and loss are delivered with sincerity and strength. The ending, though heartbreaking, is powerful and emotionally honest, making Old Yeller not just a coming-of-age story, but a lesson in the realities of life and love.
I loved this book, even though it definitely made me cry. It's the kind of story that stays with you long after you've turned the last page—a classic that continues to move readers, generation after generation. show less

This is the sequel to Old Yeller. Same style of writing, same characters except this time the dog is the offspring of Old Yeller. The dog does a lot of running around and has one good 'savage' moment, but otherwise you don't get to know the 'genuine amalgamated Pot-hound' too much.

The plot is that Travis, Arlis, and Lisbeth get kidnapped by Indians who ride out across Texas. The writing is good in that you get the sense of action, but what I loved was the descriptions of the countryside. No show more direct quotes I felt like saving, but just nice. In there are crossed paths with buffaloes and riding in rutted paths created by them. Fred did a good job of giving you a feeling for the wild frontier.

It is a cowboys and Indians story. We of course know that no one got screwed over in American History more than the Native Americans. The story is pretty raw and bloody at times. From a historical perspective you can enjoy the action, but Indians kidnapping them, especially Travis who is a teenager, doesn't make sense. If you can put that aside, I think like me, you may like the story and action. show less

Gipson’s simply told tale of a boy and his dog living in the Texas Hill Country of 1860 is a genuine classic of children’s literature. Travis Coates is only 14 years old, but while his father is off for months on a cattle drive, he is the “man of the house,” left on the homestead with his mother and younger brother, 5-year-old Arliss. A stray yellow mutt of a dog, with one ear virtually chewed off, and only a stump of a tail, shows up one day. He’s a no good, thieving rascal – show more taking their meat and stealing eggs when he can – but he proves himself to be a key defender of the family when he faces a bear that is targeting Arliss. Just as Old Yeller worms his way into the family’s hearts, this book will burrow into the reader’s heart. I am not a “dog person,” but I really connected with this book. I think this in part due to the fact that I grew in the Texas Hill Country, so the scenery was alive in my imagination. But more importantly, I connected to the way Gipson portrayed the characters’ emotions – fear, love, irritation, loyalty, happiness, sorrow. This little book packs a big wallop show less