Firstborn
by Tor Seidler
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2015. 227p. Fiction
Maggie is a magpie who was born on a farm in Montana. She makes friends with a young wolf, Blue Boy, who has wandered out of
Yellowstone Park. She follows Blue Boy as he finds and joins a small pack
and eventually becomes its leader. Together Maggie and Blue Boy lead their
pack back to the safety of Yellowstone Park, where they brave the wrath of
other established packs to make a home for themselves.
Here is a new book for readers who have enjoyed the animal series by Erin Hunter. Although the animals are highly anthropomorphized, Seidler does not gloss over the laws of nature and the struggle for survival animals face in the wild. The book is nicely written with plenty of action and adventure. The author did quite
a bit of research in Yellowstone and explores the real issues and challenges surrounding the reintroduction of wolves into the park.
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