“Hunted. That was the sensation: the feeling of being hunted. Hunted down. Terror gripped his wolven side. But even the part of him that was human felt the loss of freedom. He felt suffocated.”
For Jackson, being a new student entering the seventh-grade at Bear Creek Valley Middle School in Ashland, Oregon is challenging. Even though English is the common language between the U.S. and England, he feels like an alien in this different land in the foothills of the mountains.
His summer was an adjustment learning to live with the wildlife in their remote home away from the small town. The magic of nature and this particular place developed into a friendship with the granddaughter of his nearest neighbor and landlord.
Making friends is always a little awkward for Jax. He is comfortable with animals, but teenagers can be a challenge for anyone. Also Jax is a little different. He spent his summer learning about his new habitat but people are a little more complex.
Noah observes Jax holding a wren on his finger in the middle of a group of girls. He states that he is saving the girls and throws the wren against a window.
Jax immediately verbally attacks Noah revealing a part of him that needs to stay hidden. Noah is much bigger and older and has friends who treat him like a leader.
Miraculously, after Jax holds the injured bird, it can fly away. Jax feels relieved. Noah, angry, calling Jax, a Freak. Is Noah jealous of Jax’s attention from the girls or did he see something that scared him?
Noah wants revenge. For what, saving a bird? Making him look bad in front of a bunch of girls?
Noah also is good friends with three other boys who like to bully other students. Four against one are not great odds for Jax. How can one seventh-grade boy fight four eighth-graders?
For tweens, having thirty-one chapters is perfect for young readers. Also unique about this series is that the books are boy-oriented. Most literature for this age-group is girl-based.
Lone Wolf is an excellent fantasy adventure for eight to twelve-year-olds. The story is appropriate for tweens with issues of bullying and an overlying theme of friendship. Learning the value of being one with nature and preserving the wildlife and their habitats is also a major component throughout this series.
While recommended for young readers, Lone Wolf has lessons for everyone of all ages.