Lone Wolf (Wolves of the Beyond, Book 1) - Hardcover

Lasky, Kathryn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0545093104 ISBN 13: 9780545093101

Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2010

Synopsis

From bestselling author Katherine Lasky comes the first book in WOLVES OF THE BEYOND, a stunning new spinoff from her legendary owl series, Guardians of Ga'hoole.

A wolf mother has given birth, but the warm bundle snuffling next to her brings only anguish. The pup, otherwise healthy, has a twisted leg, and the mother knows what the harsh code of the pack demands. Her pup will be taken from her and abandoned on a desolate hill. The pack cannot have weakness - the wolf mother knows that her pup is condemned to die.

But alone in the wilderness, the pup, Faolan, does not perish. This his story - a story of survival, of courage, and of love triumphant. This is Faolan's story, the wolf pup who rose up to change forevever the Wolves of the Beyond.

About this title

About the Author

Kathryn Lasky is the Newbery Honor-winning author of over one hundred books for children and young adults. Her beloved Guardians of Ga’Hoole fantasy series has sold more than 4 million copies, and she is the author of the Daughters of the Sea series, the Wolves of the Beyond series, as well as A TIME FOR COURAGE and other Dear America titles. Kathryn has also written a number of critically acclaimed nonfiction titles, such as BEYOND THE BURNING TIME and TRUE NORTH. She lives with her husband in Cambridge, MA.

Reviews

Grade 4–7—A wolf pup is left to die by his pack because his malformed foot is considered bad luck. A grizzly bear, Thunderheart, whose cubs have been killed, rescues Faolan and nurtures him until her accidental death. As the young wolf continues on alone, he discovers "the Cave Before Time" with wall paintings portraying the history of the wolves and realizes that he must return to his own kind and learn their ways. This anthropomorphic fantasy has a number of the traditional characters found in these tales, such as the young outcast Faolan; the wise and solitary Gwynneth, the owl; and the powerfully maternal Thunderheart. The relationship between the wolf and the bear is particularly touching as they develop a strong and loving bond. After her death, the story meanders a bit as Faolan deciphers the message in the cave. As it ends, enough questions remain about his future to leave room for a sequel. Those who enjoy this genre will probably be intrigued enough by this young wolf to tag along on his journey.—Carol Schene, formerly at Taunton Public Schools, MA
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The literary grandchildren of Richard Adams’ Watership Down (1974) proliferate in this complex and nuanced talking-animal adventure. Lasky’s descriptions of a newborn wolf pup’s craving for light, milk, and meat are wonders of sensory economy—immediately you’re invested in his struggle. But wolf custom decrees that he be abandoned to die because of a deformed paw. A childless bear named Thunderheart finds the pup and names him Faolan. Under her guidance, he grows to be unusually strong and savvy. Then a tragic event compels him to seek out his own kind. This is a soulful, searching read consumed with the spiritual journeys of animals and the ethereal connection between slayer and slain. At times it becomes mired in mythos, but when the story lets loose, it pays off, as when Faolan encounters a metalsmithing owl (with connections to Lasky’s Guardians of Ga’hoole series), who rights the wolf’s crooked path. A sedate start to the Wolves of the Beyond series, perhaps, but with an invigorating ending that bodes well for the next volume. Grades 5-8. --Daniel Kraus

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0545093104
• ISBN 13: 9780545093101
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240