Jean Craighead George’s children’s novel Julie of the Wolves (1972), set in 20th-century Alaska, tells the story of a 13-year-old Inuit girl named Miyax who is lost in the wilderness after escaping a violent husband and a life that does not suit her. Miyax struggles to survive in a harsh environment as she attempts to make her way to San Francisco. A pack of wolves helps her, and she learns to deepen her appreciation of Inuit life, ultimately choosing to remain in Alaska. Julie of the Wolves won the 1973 Newbery Medal for American children’s literature and was nominated in the same year for a National Book Award. The novel has also been selected by the Children's Literature Association as one of the top 10 American children's books of the last 200 years. Building on the success of her novel, George wrote two sequels to Julie of the Wolves: Julie (1994), and Julie’s Wolf Pack (1997). This guide references the 1972 HarperCollins edition of Julie of the Wolves.

Content Warning: The source text uses the outdated and offensive term “Eskimo” to name the Indigenous Alaskan people now recognized using the term “Inuit.” This guide uses Inuit to refer to this Indigenous group and repeats “Eskimo” in direct quotes only.

Plot Summary

Part 1 opens with 13-year-old Miyax lost on the North Slope of Alaska; after her husband Daniel assaulted her, she ran away from home to escape him. Her father Kapugen is presumed dead after he was lost on a seal hunt, though he later turns out to be alive. Believing she has nowhere else to go, Miyax is attempting to travel to San Francisco and live with her pen pal, Amy. She has lost her way in the Alaskan tundra and is desperately in need of food.

Miyax notices a pack of wolves nearby and begins to observe their behavior. She recalls Kapugen mentioning that wolves have been known to bring food to people in need. By watching the wolves, Miyax convinces them to give her food, first regurgitated as they give it to their pups, then as shared portions from caribou carcasses. Miyax builds relationships with the wolves, particularly the leader, Amaroq, and one of the pups, Kapu (named after her father). One of the wolves, Jello, is troublesome and attempts to steal from her, but Miyax survives and continues across the tundra, pursuing her plan of heading out of Alaska and to Amy in San Francisco.

Part 2 steps back in time to tell Miyax’s backstory. Her mother died when she was young, but she became very close to Kapugen. She was given the English name Julie but prefers her Inuit name, Miyax. After her mother’s death, Miyax lives with Kapugen for a time in a traditional Inuit seal camp, learning about her culture’s customs and wisdom. Eventually, however, she is sent to live with her Aunt Martha and go to school. Miyax attempts to fit in at school and in town life, but she is unhappy. She begins a pen pal relationship with Amy after Amy’s father, the visiting manager of a reindeer company, puts the two girls in touch.

Before Kapugen left Miyax with Martha, he told her he could arrange a marriage between Miyax and Daniel, the son of his friend Naka. After Miyax has lived in town for a while, the marriage goes forward. Miyax is told that Kapugen disappeared while alone on a seal hunt and is presumed dead. Life with Daniel and his family is unpleasant. Naka is an alcoholic, and Miyax feels uncomfortable around Daniel. One day, Daniel assaults Miyax and attempts to rape her. She stops him but immediately leaves home and heads into the wilderness.

Part 3 returns to the setting of the tundra. Jello steals food and supplies from Miyax’s camp, leaving her situation precarious. Without her tools and other basic supplies, it will be difficult for Miyax to survive. Soon after, however, she finds her supplies next to Jello, who has been killed by Amaroq as punishment for stealing from Miyax.

Miyax continues her journey and becomes closer to the town of Barrow. She sees a plane flying hunters overhead. The hunters shoot and kill Amaroq and injure Kapu. Miyax is devastated. She begins to rethink her plan of going to San Francisco. A pack of hunters she meets on the tundra inadvertently lets her know that Kapugen is still alive, and where he lives. Miyax changes plans and decides to visit him, but she is disappointed to learn that Kapugen has given up traditional Inuit ways and has adopted modernized, Americanized life. She leaves Kapugen and heads back to the wilderness. However, in the last moment of the novel, she changes course again and heads back to Kapugen.