Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: If you liked Summer of the Monkeys, read Where the Red Fern Grows, Shiloh, Hatchet and Old Yeller. All are classic stories of boys, animals and the outdoors.
Wilson Rawls wrote warm, funny stories about boys in the Ozarks. Summer of the Monkeys follows Jay Berry as he chases escaped circus monkeys for a reward. The books below share that outdoor setting, simple language and heartfelt animal bonds. Most are middle-grade classics, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where the Red Fern Grows | Wilson Rawls | 10–14 | more Wilson Rawls |
| Shiloh | Phyllis Reynolds Naylor | 9–12 | dog lovers |
| Hatchet | Gary Paulsen | 10–14 | wilderness survival |
| Old Yeller | Fred Gipson | 10–14 | frontier classics |
| Sounder | William H. Armstrong | 10–14 | emotional classics |
| My Side of the Mountain | Jean Craighead George | 9–13 | self-reliant kids |
| Island of the Blue Dolphins | Scott O'Dell | 10–14 | survival history |
| Julie of the Wolves | Jean Craighead George | 10–14 | animal bonds |
| Bridge to Terabithia | Katherine Paterson | 10–14 | imaginative readers |
| The Yearling | Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings | 12 and up | older readers |
| Rascal | Sterling North | 10–14 | true-life animal stories |
| Stone Fox | John Reynolds Gardiner | 8–11 | quick readers |
| Because of Winn-Dixie | Kate DiCamillo | 8–12 | modern companion |
| The Call of the Wild | Jack London | 12 and up | stronger readers |
| The Adventures of Tom Sawyer | Mark Twain | 10 and up | classic boyhood fun |
1. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
A boy saves money for two coonhounds in the Ozarks. Rawls's best-known book is a moving story of love for dogs.
Best for: more Wilson Rawls.
2. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Marty finds an abused beagle and hides him from his owner. A gentle, moral story about doing right.
Best for: dog lovers.
3. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Brian survives alone in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash. Fast, tense and practical.
Best for: wilderness survival.
4. Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
A boy and a stray dog protect a Texas family in the 1860s. A classic with a famously sad ending.
Best for: frontier classics.
5. Sounder by William H. Armstrong
A Black sharecropping family struggles in the South, with a loyal dog at the center. Short and serious.
Best for: emotional classics.
6. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Sam leaves New York City to live in the Catskills with a falcon. A dream for nature fans.
Best for: self-reliant kids.
7. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
A girl survives alone on an island for years. Based on a true story and quietly inspiring.
Best for: survival history.
8. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
A girl lost in the Alaskan tundra is accepted by a wolf pack. Vivid and absorbing.
Best for: animal bonds.
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Two friends invent a kingdom in the woods. A moving story about friendship and loss.
Best for: imaginative readers.
10. The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
A boy adopts an orphaned fawn on a Florida farm. A longer classic with real depth.
Best for: older readers.
11. Rascal by Sterling North
A boy raises a raccoon in 1918 Wisconsin. A warm memoir full of small-town details.
Best for: true-life animal stories.
12. Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
A boy enters a dog sled race to save his grandfather's farm. Very short and very emotional.
Best for: quick readers.
13. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
A girl adopts a stray dog and makes friends in Florida. Warm and funny.
Best for: modern companion.
14. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
A sled dog adapts to the brutal Yukon. A classic of survival and instinct.
Best for: stronger readers.
15. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
A mischievous boy has adventures on the Mississippi. Funny and full of mischief.
Best for: classic boyhood fun.
How to Choose
For dogs, read Where the Red Fern Grows, Shiloh or Old Yeller. For survival, Hatchet or My Side of the Mountain. For lighter humor, Tom Sawyer. Be aware that several of these have sad endings, so preview them for sensitive readers. These stories were written for readers who want adventure over lectures. Most chapters are short, which makes them good choices for family read-alouds or for children who are new to longer books. If your child enjoys one, the same author or setting often leads to the next favorite, so use the list as a map.
Related: 15 Books Like The Summer I Turned Pretty You’ll Love: Summer Love Triangles and Coming-of-Age Romance · What Age Is The Summer I Turned Pretty Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Summer of the Monkeys for?
Ages 9 to 13 is the usual range.
Is it as sad as Where the Red Fern Grows?
No. Summer of the Monkeys is funnier and lighter, though it has tender moments.
Where is it set?
It is set in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma in the early 1900s.
Which books are good for reluctant boy readers?
Hatchet, Stone Fox and Summer of the Monkeys are short, fast and easy to start.
Are these books in print?
Yes. All the titles listed are available in paperback and many as audiobooks.
Is Summer of the Monkeys good for read-aloud time?
Yes. Its humor and short chapters work well, and the dialect gives the narrator a distinct voice.
Is it based on a true story?
It is fiction, but Rawls drew on his boyhood memories of the Ozarks.
What other books did Wilson Rawls write?
Where the Red Fern Grows is his best-known novel, and Summer of the Monkeys is his second.
Do any of these books have animal deaths?
Yes. Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern Grows and Stone Fox include sad moments, so preview them if needed.