Old Yeller

A timeless American classic by Fred Gipson

January 28, 2025

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“I reached in and let him lick my hand. ‘Yeller,’ I said, ‘I’ll be back. I’m promising that I’ll be back.’”

— Fred Gipson, Old Yeller

What defines true love and sacrifice?

In Old Yeller, Fred Gipson tells a poignant story of a young boy's bond with a stray dog and the harsh realities of frontier life in Texas, exploring themes of loyalty, survival, and pain while growing up.

SMARTEST TAKEAWAYS
Frontier Survival Lessons

1️⃣ Family Comes First: Travis Coates learns responsibility and courage through caring for his family during his father's absence.

2️⃣ Unconditional Love: A stray dog becomes a loyal protector, transforming from an unwelcome intruder to an essential family member.

3️⃣ Tough Decisions: Sometimes love means making heart-wrenching choices to protect those you care about.

Fred Gipson (1908-1973) with his siblings

INSIGHTFUL EXAMPLE
The Rabies Moment

When Old Yeller contracts rabies after protecting the family from a rabid wolf, Travis must confront the most difficult decision of his young life—shooting the dog he loves to prevent further harm.

BOOK FACTS
Old Yeller

  • First Published: 1942

  • Print length: 192 pages

  • Listening length: 3:30

  • Ratings: 4.8 Amazon, 4.1 Goodreads

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MORE FROM THE AUTHOR
Additional Books

Savage Sam (1962): In this sequel to Old Yeller, Travis and his younger brother Arliss are kidnapped by a band of Apaches, and Savage Sam, the son of the beloved yellow dog, Old Yeller, leads a frantic chase to bring them back.

Cowhand: The Story of a Working Cowboy (1953): A vivid, earthy book about a cowhand tells what the job is really like: the hardships, the hell-raising, and the sheer monotony of daily tasks.

PODCAST
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