Man's best friend
In a similar way to Gipson's first book Old Yeller, this sequel explores the loyalty of dogs. Savage Sam is shown to be courageous and caring like his father, saving the children from their capture. Overall, in these stories dogs are shown to be an incredibly valuable member of the family, offering friendship, loyalty, and protection.
Abduction
This book follows Travis, his younger brother Arliss and Lisbeth as they are captured by a tribe. Gipson explores the fear and violence of this situation, emphasizing the gruesome reality of abduction. This is especially achieved through his characterization of Travis, who is afraid for his life and fears he will never return home to his family.
The realities of life
Gipson's writing style is different from many other authors, as he does not shy away from writing about the dangers and violence of real life. Although some parents have complained about the violence in Savage Sam, some argue that it is directed towards older children, and respect the fact that it does not sugarcoat the world as many children's novels do.
