Balto and the Great Race

“Sled drivers, known as mushers, could look at a dog and know in an instant if he was a natural for a team.”

The Bond Between Dogs and Humans is a prominent theme in the novel that is exhibited by the relationship between sled dogs and their mushers. The connection forged between sled dogs and their mushers was an important part of the success of the serum run. In this quote, Kimmel also explains what a musher is, so that when she uses the term throughout the novel, her audience can understand what they are reading.

“After hundreds of generations working with people as guard and work dogs, Siberian huskies have become a gentle breed. They are known for their great devotion to their owners.”

Siberian huskies and their centuries-long relationship with humans is a prime example of The Bond Between Dogs and Humans. Throughout the Serum Run, Balto and the many other dogs who participate demonstrate their devotion to humans through their eagerness to help and endure difficult circumstances.

“In January 1925, winter settled over Alaska like an iron blanket.”

Kimmel utilizes a simile to illustrate the severity of the winter in Alaska in 1925. The Alaskan winter is always severe, but this year was worse, bringing more storms and snow than usual. The Alaskan wilderness presented a challenge and was a source of tension and conflict for the mushers and their dogs, but thanks to their intuition, Perseverance, and teamwork, they were able to overcome it.

“Today, children are given a simple injection to prevent them from catching the disease, but in 1925 the only cure was an antitoxin serum.”

In the 1920s, medicine was still in a developmental phase and many vaccines had not been invented yet, including a vaccine for diphtheria. As a result, the 1910s and 1920s saw the disease spreading across the continent. It was most likely to infect children and Inuit people, and these were the groups living in Nome awaiting the crucial serum from Anchorage. This quote illustrates the contrast between 1920s medicine and medicine of today.

“He had an experienced, powerful team, and he trusted them with his life.”

Kaasen, described in this quote, is a devoted musher who worked with dogs all of his life. He is in tune with their needs and is able to understand their body language to know what they are trying to tell him. When Kaasen enlists Balto’s help, he does so with pure confidence. This is one of the many qualities that makes Kaasen a Great Leader.

“And most important of all, a lead dog must have intuition—a natural inner knowledge of what to do. If Balto had all these skills and qualities, no one knew it—yet.”

Kimmel foreshadows the heroic leadership that Balto shows in the novel’s climax when she mentions the lack of knowledge that anyone has of his capabilities beforehand. Although Kaasen knows that Balto is a special dog, he is not yet aware of just how special he is. Balto later demonstrates The Qualities of a Great Leader and guides his team to safety in the final hours of the serum run.

“The icy gusts could also bring temperatures down as far as sixty degrees below zero. Once the sun set, a musher ran the risk of freezing to death.”

The Alaskan wilderness is known to be unforgiving and dangerous at the best of times, and the winter of 1925 was particularly terrible. Seppala takes a brave but risky chance by deciding to cross the Norton Sound with his team. In doing so, he knowingly risks being exposed to temperatures cold enough for him to freeze to death, and with minimal hours of sunlight in the winter, he puts his full faith in his dogs to lead him and the serum to safety.

“Curled in his bed of hay, Balto heard Seppala’s name being spoken. It had not been that many years since he had been brought as a puppy to Seppala.”

Balto’s intuition is regularly pointed out as his most important characteristic as a Leader, and this is often done in subtle ways. As Balto listens to Kaasen talking about Seppala, he knows they are discussing the matter at hand and about his owner and trainer. Balto makes it clear that he remembers his past when he leads Kaasen’s team through a blinding blizzard when all the other dogs are lost.

“Balto’s patient example reminded Kaasen that he needed to eat.”

Balto and Kaasen share a strong Bond that was forged by shared experiences, time, and a deep caring for one another. Kaasen admires Balto’s wisdom and intuition, and Balto’s strong character often acts as an example not only for the other dogs, but for humans as well. Balto’s example continues to inspire people to this day.

“The wide plateau of ice was unprotected by hills or trees and gave no shelter from the wind or the blinding sun. The water beneath the ice, nudged by the current of the Bering Sea, rose and fell.”

The Norton Sound is one of the most dangerous parts of the journey between Nenana and Nome, and it is there that Seppala and his team nearly drown. The bay is known to experience severe winds in the winter that shift the ice and the water beneath it, and at one point, Seppala’s dogs all fall into the ice. This quote also contains the poetic element of consonance, as it moves from the wide plateau to the wind and the water.

“There was one ray of light in all this darkness. Her name was Emily Morgan.”

Light and dark is a key motif in the novel, and Nurse Morgan is an example of how light is often used to represent the hope and optimism of the people of Nome and the rest of Alaska. Nurse Morgan proves to be crucial in both planning for the arrival of the serum and in treating the many patients affected by diphtheria and was known for her ability to Persevere in the Face of Great Obstacles.

“Togo—the lead dog, who had trained with Balto—had keen eyesight. His intuition was even keener. Seppala knew Togo would do his best to keep them off unstable ice.”

Balto is not the only strong lead dog in the novel; Togo, Seppala’s favorite dog, also possessed The Qualities of a Great Leader. His connection with Seppala was unmatched, and Togo was devoted to Seppala from the time he was a puppy. Togo’s greatest skill was his ability to avoid danger and keep the team moving directly toward the goal.

“Just one panicking dog could cause both Seppala and the sled to fall into the water. But each dog kept his head. Each dog remained calm, trusting in his musher’s ability to pull him out of the freezing water. Not for the first time, Seppala was proud of his Siberian huskies.”

Kimmel successfully illustrates both the danger of the situation and the ways in which the dogs and mushers continuously overcome said danger. Each time they are faced with a crisis, they work together and rely on one another to get through it. Seppala’s team is always able to Persevere, and by showing each dog equal concern and care before moving on, Seppala demonstrates his skills as a Leader.

“Balto leaned forward in his harness, straining to be on his way. He leaned, without being told, in the direction of Nome. He remembered what they had left behind in that town and why they needed to return.”

When Balto is finally made the lead dog, he does not hesitate to prove his worth as a Leader. Balto knows the terrain extremely well and is also deeply aware of the importance of his mission and what their end goal is. He proves this by leading the team back to Nome without failure and despite the blizzard and darkness of night.

“Compared with his human musher, Balto didn’t depend as much on his vision. Balto knew this trail—he knew its smells, he knew the feel of the land beneath his feet. Even in the blackest of night with snow erasing all hints of the landscape, Balto could sense the sea to his left. He could feel the rocky spread of the Topkok region to his right. He could recognize the presence of the Bonanza river several miles ahead.”

Balto has a keen intuition, above that of the other dogs on Kaasen’s team. Kaasen entrusts Balto to lead the team to safety when all the other dogs are lost. Balto’s experience running the land with both Seppala and Kaasen for years has led him to a point where he can navigate on instinct alone.

“The wind screamed into Balto’s face, but he did not turn from it. Instead, he strained forward, and the dogs behind him followed his example.”

Kimmel personifies the wind to illustrate its influence and severity, as well as to showcase Balto’s courage and Perseverance in spite of it. Balto’s Leadership abilities seem to be innate within him, and the other dogs intuitively sense this and fall into step.

“In the heart of the blizzard, Kaasen never saw the buildings of Solomon to their right. The town’s lights and the shapes of its buildings had been erased by the snow.”

The lights of Solomon, which are on to help Kaasen navigate and find his way to the town, are muted by the blizzard. Kaasen instead must rely on Balto’s intuition to get the team safely to Nome. This quote illustrates the motif of light and dark that persists throughout the novel.

“The dogs tensed as Kaasen cried out in dismay. The crate was gone!”

Kimmel uses exclamation marks as a basic way of indicating to her audience that there is a situation that warrants alarm and concern. In this case, the crucial serum crate was knocked off the sled by the wind and Kaasen is tasked with finding it. The quote also demonstrates The Bond Between Dogs and Humans, as the dogs empathize with Kaasen’s feelings of urgency and terror.

“It was Balto, he kept telling them. It was Balto the whole time. Balto found the trail. Balto got them through.”

When the team arrives in Nome, Kaasen refuses to take the credit and insists it should be owed to Balto. Balto surprised Kaasen and the people of Nome by proving himself to be a fierce Leader who could navigate the Alaskan landscape on his instincts alone. Balto’s achievement was also an example of Perseverance in the Face of Great Obstacles.

“Word was triumphantly telegraphed across the United States that the relay teams had been victorious.”

Kimmel uses alliteration to emphasize the importance of the final moments of the serum run and what the success of the sled teams meant to not only the people of Nome, but to the country. The country had been following the race closely, and what followed was two years of celebrating the victorious sled teams.

“He was extremely proud of Balto, but for the rest of his life he felt a pang of regret when he remembered how Togo’s achievements had not been recognized.”

Seppala experiences conflicting emotions about Balto’s fame and recognition. He knows that Balto deserved the praise he received, but also felt that praise should have been shared with other dogs. In particular, Seppala felt that his lead dog Togo also exhibited Great Leadership qualities by leading his team across 250 miles of dangerous terrain.

“Balto spent a curious moment staring at his bronze image, which towered over the crowd.”

When a statue is erected in Balto’s honor, he and Kaasen are invited to witness the unveiling. Balto is a wise and intuitive dog and seems to understand the significance of the statue when he sees it. The statue also towers over everyone, indicating the sled dogs’ and Balto’s influence and the inspiration that he instills in those who hear his story of bravery.

“Across Cleveland, children emptied their piggy banks and sent their pennies in.”

When Balto and the rest of the sled dogs are sold to a museum in Los Angeles, they quickly begin to deteriorate in health. They are discovered by a man from Cleveland who cares for their welfare, and he asks the children of Cleveland to come together and raise money to save the dogs. Just as the dogs once saved the children of Nome, the children of Cleveland raise the funds to give the dogs a long, healthy life in Ohio. The act demonstrates The Bond Between Dogs and Humans.