Julie of the Wolves (by Jean Craighead George)

Against the backdrop of a young girl's harrowing trek across the Arctic tundra, author Jean George explores the situation native peoples face when their culture is threatened by Westernization. As Miyax recalls her Eskimo upbringing and learns to survive on the tundra, readers are presented with the science of the Eskimo culture and its interdependence with native plants and animals. Miyax uses native and natural wisdom to gain acceptance by the wolf pack that saves her life.

As Miyax, and the reader, becomes more steeped in Eskimo ways, she reconsiders her decision to leave Alaska. The book's uncertain ending invites readers to decide whether traditional Eskimo culture can survive in the face of Americanization, and whether individuals can make a difference within their society.