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The Wolf’s Boy

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The Wolf’s Boy
By Susan Williams Beckhorn
Disney-Hyperion, 2016. Fiction. 240p.

Set in prehistoric times, this book tells the story of Kai, abandoned to the wolves as a baby because of his club foot, who miraculously survives and is brought back to the human village. Forbidden to hunt or even touch a weapon because of the bad luck his people believe follow him, he shocks the village even more when he adopts a motherless wolf cub.

This middle-grade book made it onto the list of Provo City Library’s “Best Children’s Books of 2016.” It’s a story about many things, including growing up, disabilities and bullying, how wolves transformed into dogs, surviving the harshness of nature, the ties of family, and the power of determination. It’s a great survival adventure with vivid descriptions of hunting, spear making, wolf packs, encounters with Neanderthals, vicious mountain cats, shamans, and a landscape of ice and snow.

The characters are memorable, with real emotions and complicated motives. For me, this story never took a misstep, and I wanted more of Kai’s journey. Here’s hoping that the slight possibility the author leaves for a sequel turns into something!
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Ms. Yingling said…
Frydenborg's A Dog in the Cave is a good nonfiction accompaniment to this. A bit long, but if you have readers who really like this one, it's worth looking into. My own personal wolf thought both books were great, since she got to snuggle in my armpit while I read them both!
April 12, 2017 at 3:40 AM
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