White Wolf [Paperback]

Henrietta Branford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 2007 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

"An engaging survival story told from a white wolf’s point of view. . . . Rich, realistic, and highly readable." — KIRKUS REVIEWS

A young white wolf is trapped in the world of humans, where a young boy considers him a pet, a father sees him as a safeguard against attack by native tribes, and an entire tribe believes he is a powerful figure who has come to protect them from the encroaching white men. But the wolf knows he needs to be free — that he must journey away from humans into the wild and become part of a pack, where he can sing under the stars, hunt for his dinner, and discover what it truly means to be a wolf. With startling vividness and splendid writing, Henrietta Branford takes readers into the mind of a most magnificent creature.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Less compelling than her Fire, Bed, and Bone, Branford's latest novel again uses a canine perspective to explore social history, this time through the thoughts of Snowy, a white wolf being raised by North American trappers. Snowy's first owners, Jim and his young son, Jesse, believe the white wolf will protect them against "heathen savages" ("I got my gun and you got your wolf," says Jim). But eventually a North American tribe kills Jim and kidnaps Jesse and Snowy, who they believe holds the power to reawaken the dead spirits of their ancestors. Snowy escapes during a religious ceremony and returns to the wild: "A wolf needs water that splashes all summer and turns to ice when the sun goes red. A wolf needs sun on his pelt in the springtime and snow on his snout in the fall." Because Snowy is more removed from people and society than the loyal pet featured in Fire, Bed, and Bone, readers see only fragments of his owners' suffering and the laments of "the barefoot people." Thus readers will likely feel less sympathy for the two-legged characters than for the pack of wolves Snowy joins. Ages 9-12.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6To Jesse, a boy who lives deep in the unsettled wilderness of the northwest coast, the white wolf is a much-loved pet. To Jesses father, who believes that the Native Americans will not attack if they see the animal in the yard, he is a safety measure. To one of the local tribes, he is a sacred beasthalf animal, half godthat must be sacrificed for the good of the people. Whether he is imprisoned in a cage, warm and safe by a cabin fire, or tied up in a longhouse, the wolf longs to be free. He knows what he needs: sun and snow on his back, the changing of seasons, live food tasting of warm blood, and a pack. As in Branfords Fire, Bed, and Bone (Candlewick, 1998), the story is told from a canine point of view. Children will empathize as the animal grows from a confused and howling pup to a young wolf that leaves human company in order to become the wild creature he was meant to be. The authors poetically fluid prose fully involves readers senses and emotions. They will feel that they have, at least briefly, known what it means to be a wolf.Lisa Wu Stowe, Great Neck Library, NY
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (May 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763632899
• ISBN-13: 978-0763632892
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.2 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #216,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Foxes & Wolves > Fiction

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical!, November 12, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: White Wolf (Hardcover)

This story is told through the eyes of a wolf cub, known as Snowy to his human family- Jesse, a young boy, and his father. Snowy has no pack, and he longs to be free. When he is older, American Indians come and kidnap him, but he escapes. What follows is a spellbinding tale as the young wolf strives to survive in the wilderness. It is a fantastic story, so well written i could almost feel as if I was Snowy, and it has no tacky Disneylike anthropomorphism to spoil it- all in less than 100 pages. Highly reccomended for wolf lovers or anybody who enjoys a good wild tale.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars White Wolf, December 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: White Wolf (Hardcover)

This book is about a white wolf who, as a cub, was captured. It tells about his life as he is running from the Indians who want to sacrafice him. No illustrations are contained in this book. I recommend it for the students at the 6th grade level.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars White Wolf, December 10, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: White Wolf (Hardcover)

I think this book was really good and short I had to read it for a 6th grade reading assiment and I thought it was cool!