Skip to main content

Wolfie & Fly

Written by Cary Fagan
Illustrated by Zoe Si
Tundra Books, 2017. Intermediate. 84 p.

Renata Wolfman is called Wolfie by her classmates because she’s a lone wolf - a misanthrope, wary of change, happy to be on her own. Her neighbor Livingston Flott, called Fly, is another loner, though not by choice. When he barges in on her quiet afternoon, Wolfie is annoyed. But Fly, a rambunctious, unstoppable force, takes Wolfie's cardboard submarine (which she built for purely educational reasons) and creates an adventure in make-believe that changes Wolfie’s reluctant mind in more than one way.

This J Intermediate chapter book clips along with a fun energy. Its premise is simple, the writing is snappy and straightforward, and the book’s treatment of imagination as fluid, all-encompassing, and irresistible is exciting to experience. Lots of books in the children’s section are about imaginative children which makes Wolfie’s resistance to playing pretend interesting, especially when that resistance gets swept up in a larger-than-life undersea adventure. With two misfits as the main characters, Wolfie & Fly makes a case for befriending people who might as well be your exact opposite. It’s good to be self-sufficient, but new friends can expand your entire world.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: The Mixed-Up Owl

The Mixed-Up Owl  Written by Marzena Sowa Illustrated by Joanna Lorno New York : Hippo Park, 2025. Picture Book. When Owl can't sleep at night, he heads off to see if any forest animals can help him understand why, and even more so, how to fix it!  Unfortunately, all the animals Owl runs into at night are asleep and all the animals he meets during the day are too rude or too busy to answer him.  Will Owl give up or will a chance meeting with a grumpy hedgehog provide all the solutions Owl was looking for? The premise of an owl trying to stay awake during the day because all the other animals around him do is very fun. Kids who know that owls are nocturnal will get a kick out of Owl's confusion and be quick to try to tell him what's going on.  Readers who don't know many facts about owls (or nocturnal animals in general) will get a brief introduction to the different ways animals sleep. The illustrations are charming, especially cute Owl and his expressive body langua...

Display: Be A World Traveller

Real Castles Around the World Written by Kaitlyn Duling Vero Beach, Florida : Rourke Educational Media, 2025. Informational. 48 pages Take a trip around the world as you read about the most impressive castles ever built! Explore fierce fortresses, castles that have inspired stories, uniquely colorful castles, and the history behind them all as you Travel to Real Castles Around the World! Part of the Travel to Children s Book Series, this 48-page nonfiction book explores castles both past and present, the kings that inhabited them, and knights that fought to protect them! Lower the drawbridge, cross the moat, and travel to real castles from all around the world as you learn about our magical history with fun-filled facts and vibrant photos. History Book Features: Before- and after-reading activities. Extension activity. Glossary About Rourke Educational Media: We proudly publish respectful and relevant nonfiction and fiction titles that represent our diverse readers, and are designed to...

Review: Grounded for All Eternity

Grounded for All Eternity By Darcy Marks New York : Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, 2022. Fiction. 375 pgs. Malachi, Crowley, and Lilith are just your average, normal, middle-school kids. That is, if you consider living in the suburbs of Hell and having black feathered wings normal. They want to enjoy their school free vacation, but Hell is on lock down after the soul of Reverend Samuel Paris, leader of the 1693 Salem witch trials, escapes. Malachi and his friends travel to Earth, looking for some fun, but accidentally bring the Reverend's soul with them to modern day Salem, Massachusetts. Chaos ensues, and Malachi meets many new types of characters, such as witches, angels, and humans. Malachi and his friends must work together to return Reverend Sam's soul to Hell, or else all of Salem will be destroyed. Or worse, be grounded for all eternity.  Read this book for the ultimate Halloween experience, and if you want to revisit the ...