The Wolf's Boy

by Susan Williams Beckhorn

Overview

An outcast boy and a young wolf against an Ice Age winter . . . Kai burns to become a hunter and to earn a rightful place among his people. But that can never be. He was born with a club foot. It is forbidden for him to use or even touch a hunter's sacred weapons. Shunned by the other boys, Kai turns to his true friends, the yellow wolves, for companionship. They have not forgotten the young human they nurtured as an abandoned infant. When Kai discovers a motherless cub in the pack, he risks everything to save her, bringing her back to live with him. But as winter draws near, Kai's wolf grows ever more threatening in the eyes of the People. When the worst happens, Kai knows that they must leave for good. Together, they embark on a journey into the north???a place of unimaginable danger???that tests the power of friendship and the will to survive. Award-winning author Susan Williams Beckhorn delivers a tale set in Paleolithic times. Inspired by modern discoveries, Susan's careful research creates a vivid picture of a time when the first wolves came to live with humans and forged a bond that lives on to this day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781484725764
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	06/04/2016
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Lexile:	570L (what's this?)
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Susan Williams Beckhorn is the award-winning author of half a dozen children's books. Her novel, Wind Rider, a "first horse" story set in prehistoric Asia, received acclaim by KLIATT and Booklist, was a Book Sense Pick, and was selected to ALA's Amelia Bloomer List for literature which promotes equality for women. Susan grew up in a family where kids, animals, and the outdoors are cherished. She lives and writes in Rexville, NY.

Editorial Reviews

08/08/2016
The drive to survive propels this tense historical novel, set in prehistoric times, about the friendship between a wolf and a boy. Kai is left to the wolves after being born with a clubfoot; instead of attacking the child, the wolves nurture Kai until his mother finds him and brings him back to their people's village. The narrative resumes as the artistically talented Kai, now 12, struggles to find purpose in a society that forbids him to hunt or handle weapons because he is believed to be "tabat" (cursed). Kai's challenges escalate when he finds a wolf cub, Uff, and with great reservations his parents allow him to raise her. Beckhorn (Wind Rider) deftly sketches canine behavior, the bullying Kai suffers, and the oppressive suspicion of his people. A tragic accident leads Kai to exile himself, forcing him into dangerous, uncharted territory where he meets an "Ice Man," discovers cave paintings, learns to hunt, and finds true confidence. This strong adventure with a memorable central relationship offers insight into the beginnings of mankind's long history with dogs. Ages 8–12. Agent: Brianne Johnson, Writers House. (June)

Publishers Weekly

KIRKUS BEST MIDDLE-GRADE BOOKS OF 2016— Kirkus Reviews

"This bracing, well-told story, laced with themes of self-responsibility, compassion, and honor, is both vital and nourishing."— Kirkus (starred review)

"Beckhorn weaves together a striking account of survival and an engaging look into how the wolf became such an integral part of human life."— School Library Journal (starred review)

"...this first-dog, coming-of- age, and survival story hits all the right psychological notes for the middle-school reader."— BCCB

From the Publisher

★ 05/01/2016
Gr 4–7—Kai was born with a club foot and should not have lived. His mother left him with the yellow wolf mother, who had two cubs of her own, believing this was certain death for her young baby. Instead, the wolf mother nurtured Kai, and one day his human mother returned to the den to reclaim the baby she left for dead. Now, Kai is ridiculed and tormented by the other boys, including his older brother Sen. They call him "Wolfboy." He longs to join the hunt, but tradition forbids him from even touching any of the weapons. Kai often finds himself back in the company of the yellow wolves, the only place he feels truly at home. When he happens upon a cub in need, Kai decides to take the tiny creature back to his takka and nurse her back to health. With his father's approval, Kai keeps the cub and names her Uff. The two become instant companions. But as Uff grows, she becomes more threatening. When a terrible accident leaves Sen scarred, Kai knows that he must leave for good, embarking on a dangerous journey into the North. Beckhorn weaves together a striking account of survival and an engaging look into how the wolf became such an integral part of human life. Set in prehistoric times, Kai's story is based on modern discoveries in France, where fossilized footprints of a boy and a canine were found walking side by side. VERDICT Strong writing and character development combined with a little-seen setting in middle grade historical fiction make this a first purchase.—Annette Herbert, F.E. Smith Elementary School, Cortland, NY

School Library Journal

★ 2016-03-30
Sometime in prehistory, a crippled boy and his wolf companion face coming-of-age challenges.Twelve-year-old Kai was not supposed to live. Born with a crippled foot, he would be a burden to his community, so his father left the infant Kai near a wolf den. Instead of killing him, though, the wolves nurture him. When Kai's mother discovers her infant is still alive, she brings him back to the family, where he grows up bullied and considered cursed. One day, Kai brings home a weak, motherless wolf pup to raise—an unheard-of event. Beckhorn skillfully explores the early beginnings of the human-wolf interaction that led to modern-day dogs in heartwarming scenarios that show the growing bond between Kai and the pup, Uff. But when Uff is threatened by the community's leader, Kai and Uff set out to try to survive on their own in the territory of the feared Ice Men. Painting her prehistoric world with now-extinct animals, pristine landscapes, and descriptions of survival techniques that will fascinate readers, Beckhorn also makes it an accessible one by giving Kai the fears and doubts of many adolescents searching for their roles in life. As Kai faces challenges, he comes to believe in his unique talents and, ultimately, in himself.This bracing, well-told story, laced with themes of self-responsibility, compassion, and honor, is both vital and nourishing. (Historical fiction. 9-14)

Kirkus Reviews