Orange Blossom,
Yes, it IS reading for younger folk! I am a middle school teacher, and while we were doing our annual testing this past week, the other teacher had brought in this book for the middle schoolers to read while they were waiting for the other testers to finish. I had seen movies of this film, but never read the book, so I picked it up, and then found I couldn't put it down!
It really IS quite a statement about treatment of animals, as well as the true nature of dogs, and their ancestry. Now I want to read more of Jack London's books!
Patty