Wolf Club - by James Bird (Hardcover)

About the Book

The Breakfast Club meets Hatchet in this middle-grade novel about three kids who ditch detention to search for an elusive white wolf, who may have the magical powers they need to face their challenges and heal their hearts.

Book Synopsis

The Breakfast Club meets Hatchet in this middle-grade novel about three kids who ditch detention to search for an elusive white wolf, who may have the magical powers they need to face their challenges and heal their hearts.

A story of adventure and friendship from James Bird, an author whose work is praised as "big-hearted" by School Library Journal

What do a raccoon, a skunk, and a moose have in common?

Okan, the raccoon, is a 13 year old whose mom works so hard he never sees her.

Sarah, the skunk, has been teased relentlessly about her body odor ever since her mom died.

And Marcus, the moose, is the bully, the rich kid who seems to have everything, except his parents' love.

When they hear a white wolf has been spotted in the nearby forest, this unlikely trio heads out on a quest that turns into an adventure of a lifetime.

Review Quotes

A Junior Library Guild Selection

★ "The book's mixture of humor, heart, sad realities, and satisfying outcomes delivers a remarkably readable mystical adventure. Each character, encounter, and movement wonderfully expands this odyssey of understanding and resilience. A shining addition to the middle-school canon of survivor stories, Wolf Club needs to be shared and savored." -- Booklist, starred review

★ "Ojibwe author Bird infuses fantasy elements into an engrossing adventure novel about three middle schoolers becoming unlikely allies in a quest to protect an elusive white wolf. ...Following a physical altercation at school, Okan, ... bully Marcus, and ... classmate Sarah become inextricably linked. When a white wolf is spotted in the Sawtooth Mountain woods surrounding his Minnesota town, Okan receives a message from the spirit world urging him to rescue the animal from hunters; his vision also suggests that major challenges in Okan's, Sarah's, and Marcus's lives will be resolved if they protect the wolf together. Okan's sincere first-person narration presents observations about his companions and their situation with endearing frankness as the children embark on their journey. Bird ratchets up the tension of this enjoyable action-packed offering--part survival expedition, part identity exploration--one swiftly moving chapter and increasingly perilous scenario at a time."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Bird...seamlessly interweaves Ojibwe words and stories into the story along with spiritual and cultural elements. Strong character development of all the teens elevates this work from mere adventure to a thoughtful exploration of Okan's Indigenous ancestors' perspectives on the world. While the Wolf Club sets out to find the wolf in the hopes of being helped in some way, each kid discovers pieces of their own inner strengths, validates each other's struggles and humanity, and recognizes the power of friendship to make it through any challenge. "--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB)

"The story includes thoughtful social commentary about protest, preservation, and gentrification. The main characters, who are coming to terms with deep trauma, enjoy an emotional and happy conclusion."--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

James Bird is the author of The Brave, The Second Chance of Benjamin Waterfalls, and No Place Like Home, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, praised by SLJ in a starred review as "a big-hearted story of growing up through hardship." He is also a screenwriter and director at the independent film company, Zombot Pictures. A California native of Ojibwe descent, he now lives in Massachusetts with his wife, the author and actor Adriana Mather, and their son.