Savage Sam is Gipson's second book about the Coates family, following on from his first book, Old Yeller. The first book follows a courageous and loyal dog called Old Yeller, who tragically dies at the end of the book. However, before his death he has puppies, and this is the story of one of them.
Following on from the first book, this sequel chronicles what happens after Old Keller's death. Savage Sam is shown to have inherited his father's courage and bravery, as we see as the plot unfolds. Set in the 1800s, Savage Sam is set on a Texan ranch owned by the Coates family, who learn from their neighbor that a Native American tribe are approaching.
Travis is the oldest son of the Coates family, who struggled a lot after the death of Old Keller. In this story, he is captured along with his brother Arliss by an Apache tribe and must find a way to escape. Travis worries about his future and begins to believe that he will never return home. The boys experience a lot of violence and fear during their capture, which some readers have suggested is too graphic for a children's book. For example, Travis is forced to eat raw terrapin meat. Savage Sam shows bravery and resilience in trying to return the brothers to safety, and eventually, they are able to escape.
