now i’m sure that the last thing a hormonal mess like a 7th grade boy has to deal with is sitting for 40 minutes and reading Jack London novels, but you should explain to them that it’s a thrilling tale of survival in nature’s worst. i think you should read it aloud (with all the perfectly dramatic pauses and such… almost act it out with just your voice) and that alone should start to get their attention.

also, you could try reading Hatchet by Gary Paulsen before reading Call of the Wild. this will be more time consuming, but i don’t think that any adolescent boy would dislike Hatchet. heck, even girls like Hatchet. the students can relate to the book easily and it’s a perfect reading level for them. it will get them interested in “survival” themes and simply rip-roaring to read Call of the Wild. i know for a fact that after my 4th grade teacher read Hatchet to us, every single person in the class was hooked on survival stories.

hope I helped! (despite my less-than-professional opinion lol)