by Lauren Wolk
Dutton Children's Books, 2016
I almost couldn't read this book. The tension and conflict from the very beginning nearly did me in. But the language and the characters kept me going. I was not at all surprised to find that Lauren Wolk is a poet.
Maybe this could be a read aloud in 5th grade. It's a hard story, but the stories on the news aren't much better. Perhaps it would give us a safe way to talk about the wolves out there, about honesty, about the choices we make, about how we can't control what happens...but we can try.
Whew. Just thankful that it's summer and I could curl up on the couch for four hours straight and read this all in one gulp. I feel like going right back and rereading it for the beautiful language.
I almost couldn't read this book. The tension and conflict from the very beginning nearly did me in. But the language and the characters kept me going. I was not at all surprised to find that Lauren Wolk is a poet.
Maybe this could be a read aloud in 5th grade. It's a hard story, but the stories on the news aren't much better. Perhaps it would give us a safe way to talk about the wolves out there, about honesty, about the choices we make, about how we can't control what happens...but we can try.
Whew. Just thankful that it's summer and I could curl up on the couch for four hours straight and read this all in one gulp. I feel like going right back and rereading it for the beautiful language.
I just placed a hold on it at my library, and there were 5 requesting for the first returned of 5 copies -- which means others are also hyped about this book! Thanks for sharing/.
ReplyDeleteI read it in one sitting also. Grabbed me and I wouldn't let go until I knew what would happen. I appreciate your review because I was on the fence about it in terms of fifth grade.
ReplyDeleteI think we have to think about reading hard stories more. I think there's some messages here about putting a book down because it was too much but sticking with it for other qualities and then even mentioning rereading it.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the book, too. What you say about how this book might be an entry into talking about "the wolves out there" is so true, as is the poetic language (and attention to detail) that Wolk uses to tell the story.
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