Owls in the Family
Encyclopedia
Owls in the Family is a children's
novel
written by Farley Mowat
first published in 1962.
found by Billy, Bruce and Murray in Saskatoon
, Saskatchewan
. The owls become part of a larger pet collection. Wol is the larger bird and is a lighter colour (pure white with a little black).Wol was found under a bush after a storm. Weeps is a mottled brown. Weeps was found in a barrel filled with oil. When Billy witnesses children throwing stones at Weeps, who is unable to fly, he trades his scout knife for him. Wol, who is able to fly, was found after a storm. Both Wol and Weeps are given to Bruce before Billy and his family move away to Toronto, Ontario.
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
written by Farley Mowat
Farley Mowat
Farley McGill Mowat, , born May 12, 1921 is a conservationist and one of Canada's most widely-read authors.His works have been translated into 52 languages and he has sold more than 14 million books. He achieved fame with the publication of his books on the Canadian North, such as People of the...
first published in 1962.
Plot summary
The story concerns two Great Horned OwlsGreat Horned Owl
The Great Horned Owl, , also known as the Tiger Owl, is a large owl native to the Americas. It is an adaptable bird with a vast range and is the most widely distributed true owl in the Americas.-Description:...
found by Billy, Bruce and Murray in Saskatoon
Saskatoon
Saskatoon is a city in central Saskatchewan, Canada, on the South Saskatchewan River. Residents of the city of Saskatoon are called Saskatonians. The city is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Corman Park No. 344....
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. The owls become part of a larger pet collection. Wol is the larger bird and is a lighter colour (pure white with a little black).Wol was found under a bush after a storm. Weeps is a mottled brown. Weeps was found in a barrel filled with oil. When Billy witnesses children throwing stones at Weeps, who is unable to fly, he trades his scout knife for him. Wol, who is able to fly, was found after a storm. Both Wol and Weeps are given to Bruce before Billy and his family move away to Toronto, Ontario.
About the author
Farley Mowat was born in 1921 in Belleville, Ontario. He was allowed to roam the countryside while growing up and keep animals at home. His father worked as a librarian during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Mowat's family moved frequently, eventually settling in Saskatchewan. Mowat has written several books about animals, nature, and the Far North. His stories mix humor, personal experience, and his love of nature and wildlife. He is one of the most widely read Canadian authors worldwide.Characters
- Weeps: An owl being hit with rocks in an oil barrel before being rescued by Billy
- Wol: An owl found under a bush after a storm
- Billy: The boy who adopts Wol and Weeps
- Bruce and Murray: Billy's friends
- Mr. Miller: A teacher who wants to get pictures of owls in a tree
- Ophelia: The former maid of Billy's family
- Fifi: Billy's French teacher
- Mutt: Billy's dog
- Rex：Bruce's dog