Book Review on The Wolf Wilder

 The Wolf Wilder

AUTHOR: Katherine Rundell

REVIEW BY: Aarti Thejus

CATEGORY

Fiction, Adventure, Animals

SETTING

Russia

MAIN PLOT

This story starts off with wolves, and wolf wilders. In this story, people have tried to domesticate wolves, for pleasure and for show. There is one problem though - wolves are not easily domesticated. So, sometimes, they lashed out and attacked someone. The people believed it was bad luck to kill a wolf, so they would send the wolves to people called wolf wilders. The wolf wilders took these wolves and made them wild again. One such woman was Marina Petrovna and her daughter (the main character), Feodora, more commonly called Feo. Feo and her mum loved the wolves - and made them wild. Some wolves mingled with Feo after they became wild - whenever they felt like it. Their names were Grey, White, Black, and Tenderfoot. When Rakov, a famous and powerful general comes to Feo's hut, they try to make Feo and her mum kill all the wolves that are sent to them, because the wild wolves hunt animals in the forest. Feo and her mum refuse and do not kill any of the wolves. When Rakov finds out he is furious and takes Marina away and burns their hut down. Thankfully, Feo escapes, but Rakov kills Tenderfoot. Feo runs away with Ilya, a soldier who has turned away from that life, Grey, White, Black, and Tenderfoot's pup. When Feo finds out her mum has been locked up in a jail in St Petersburg, she decides to try and save her. Feo and Ilya have many adventures and meet different people, but the final question remains - Will Feo be able to save her mum and keep the wolves safe with Rakov on her tail?  

AGE GROUP

I personally think anyone can read this book, but people between the ages of 8 and 13 will especially enjoy it. (I'm not sure about older people, I'm only 12!)

ROLE MODELS

People like Feo, Ilya, and Alexei are strong figures and role models. Here is why I think they are role models.

Feo - Feo is a strong girl, full of love and care for the people and wolves that she loves. She is strong-minded and looks ahead. She perseveres even when things look impossible. She is full of bright ideas and will see her goal through.

Ilya - Ilya is trustworthy. Once he makes a friend, he will not leave them in danger. He knows a lot about the lifestyle of the nobles, and helps Feo considerably, making her mission his.

Alexia - Alexia is also strong-minded. He starts a revolution against Rakov - after Rakov burns his village. Together, with Ilya's knowledge and skill, and Feo's experience and ideas, they break into Kresty prison, not only to save Feo's mum - Marina, but also to avenge those that Rakov has killed. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR

I think that anyone can read this book, and it is not clearly directed to specific people.

INAPPROPRIATE AREAS

None

QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION POINTS

How do you think Feo feels when so many people come to help her?

Why do you think the wolves were loyal to Feo and not to their previous owners?

How has Katherine Rundell made the issue about many people, and not only Feo?

How do you think Feo's life changed by the end of the book?

Do you think this book is inspirational? why not?

If  you wrote a sequel to this book, what would Feo's gaol be, and what would she be afraid of?

Why do you think the wolves were loyal to Feo and not to their previous owners?

English Extension

When has the writer used imagery in the book? How has that helped the reader's imagination? 

How has the writer used personification in the context of the wolves?

What language technique has the writer used to show that Feo is:

        a) close to the wolves?                         b) close to Ilya?

OTHERS

Minor references to the Bible as a  book, and a commandment found in the Bible, Do not kill.