Looking for a Book: Involved Animals As Characters - One Was Killed When It Was Shot?

Question

When I was in junior high (about 12 years ago) we had an elective class where a teacher would read to us one of the books/short stories involved animals living in the wild as characters (they had human-like personalities) I believe that some of the characters were a wolf and a badger. At one point, one of them (the badger?) is shot and eventually dies. The description of the wound is pretty gruesome - something like one animal noticing that most of the others face is gone.

I have very pleasant memories of my math teacher turning down the lights while we all listened in awe...I would love to track this book down.

Answer 1

I'm not sure that it was Animal Farm as those animals weren't wild, they were domesticated farm animals ... pigs played a prominent roll in the story.

I'd suggest Watership Down by Richard Adams - but that story is about rabbits & I'm not sure any got shot - but there were some really guesome aspects in the book.

What about the Redwall books by Brian Jacques?
"The stories are known as the "Redwall" series, because they centre around Redwall Abbey. The heroes are peace-loving mice, moles, shrews, squirrels, and their friends who exhibit human characteristics in a medieval setting. They face the dark side of the animal world, represented by rats, weasels, stoats, foxes, and their villain allies, in the day-to-day struggle of good versus evil, life versus death."
Oh dear, no guns in there if it is medieval.

There's the Deptford Mice series by Robin Jarvis but not sure if they have a badger in it.

There's also the Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin Dann?
The books tell the story of a group of woodland animals whose home has been paved over by developers. They learn of a nature reserve, "White Deer Park", where they will be safe, and undertake to make the journey together. They form an oath, promising to protect one another and overcome their natural instincts until they reach their destination.
There's no wolf however.

However of all the books I've just listed (which seem to be a list of books like the one you heard in Junior High ... and if you fancy reading something similar .... ) It's possible that the Animals of Farthingwood is the most likely.

Answer 2

Animal Farm

Answer 3

that would be Animal farm by George Orwell